Poaching – Why It’s So Important to Stop It
Today, I have 2 super videos for you, all about poaching – but two very, very different concepts.
We know that poaching is a huge problem.
When I was growing up in Ireland, I remember people poaching salmon from rivers, or shooting game birds such as grouse. It wasn’t good, but it was small-scale – one person with a fishing rod will catch some fish, but not huge quantities.
It wasn’t green and eco friendly, but it also wasn’t causing major havoc.
Now, it’s very, very different.
Wildlife crime is a big business run by dangerous international networks. Wildlife and animal parts are trafficked, a bit like illegal drugs and guns.
Often, we think of poaching being an African problem – elephant poaching and rhino poaching are well-known, for example.
But the problem is global. Hundreds of other species are over-exploited – bears, marine turtles, big-horned sheep and many more. Even timber trees are over-exploited.
And then add the non-illegal trade. Wild plants and animals from tens of thousands of species are caught or harvested from the wild, according to the World Wildlife Fund (WWF). They are then sold as food, pets, ornamental plants, leather, tourist ornaments and medicine.
Hunting (both legal and illegal) often removes prime animals from the gene pool (like when Cecil the Lion was killed by a hunter). But it’s not only large animals that are hunted for trophies – many smaller animals are threatened due to the numbers being killed.
Lemurs for example are the most endangered mammals. Sturgeon fish, sharks and eels are killed in alarming numbers. Even coral is under threat.
Both the legal and illegal wildlife trades are now so huge that they directly threaten the survival of many species.
We already know that habitat destruction is a major problem – when land is cleared for mining or for agriculture, the animals and birds who lived there have their homes, security and their food sources destroyed.
And now, wildlife crime is the second-largest threat.
With so many species endangered or critically endangered, many people want to help.
And that’s where these 2 great videos come in.
Emirates airline was one of the first to ban passengers from carrying hunting trophies.
Now, they have transformed two A380s with a special livery from United for Wildlife featuring endangered animals.
“The world is in a global poaching crisis, and everyone has to do their part to stop this, before it is too late,” said Emirates Airline president Tim Clark.
So, watch the timelapse video of the first plane getting a makeover:
Next, watch this poignant video on the ivory trade. It shows how elephant families are being torn apart – elephants have a very deep bond with each other, so when one is killed, it has a huge impact, much like when humans die.
The video was created by illustrator Hugo Guinness who used purely pen to paper illustrations throughout. He also illustrates the life-saving work done by the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust for orphaned elephants whose parents were killed by poaching.
“I really wanted to make people cry,” Guinness told Vogue by phone. “I just wanted to do something really powerful and emotional and without humans in it.”
What Can We Do To Stop Poaching?
Part of green living is protecting everything on the planet, and that means doing what we can to help stop poaching. Here are some ideas:
- Don’t buy souvenirs made from animal parts
- Donate to wildlife organizations – a good one is WWF’s Back a Ranger project which helps the rangers who work on the front lines.
- When you are hiking or bird watching, know what can be hunted and what can’t during that season.
- If you see suspicious activity, don’t confront anyone. Get a description of the poacher, any vehicle and the surrounding area. Then contact local authorities.
- Search online for anti-poaching petitions, sign them and spread the word.
Please share these 2 great videos and spread the word about poaching – sharng buttons below and right – thank you!
