New tactics being used to help tackle poaching

Stricter law enforcement and employing tactics to tackle the poaching industry are seen to be becoming more prioritized.

The world is becoming increasingly concerned about the continuously reducing numbers of endangered species that are being recorded in 2014. Over 1,100 rhinos have been poached in South Africa alone this year (Save the rhino, 2014) and in 2013, the official figure for the amount of poached elephants over Africa has been announced as 20,000 (CITES, 2014).

Although an agreement by The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) in 1989 meant that its member nations banned international trade ivory, the population of elephants has been continuously declining (Lemieux and Clarke, 2009). The ineffective law enforcements drove thousands of demonstrators to get involved in large marches that were carried out across 136 cities and towns including Africa and Paris on 4^th October this year. The aim was to pressure world governments to take more action in protecting elephants and rhinos, and curbing world wildlife trade (France-Presse, 2014).

A march organizer, Dex Kotze, explains why the protest was needed: “We are protesting against the political leaders of the world, who do not have the guts and political will to make changes in their laws.” (France-Presse, 2014).

Earlier this year in April, Kenya made use of drones which provides 24 hour surveillance in a protected wildlife area and discovered it reduced poaching by almost 96%. The success of this project made it a fundamental plan of action to deploy drones in every one of its 52 national parks. (Njeru, 2014).

A spokesperson for Kenya Wildlife Service (KWSU) Paul Udoto announced that as well as deploying drones, “we are purchasing more equipment such as fire arms, bulletproof vests, and night equipment. We will also be training our rangers and recruiting new ones." (Njeru, 2014)

It has been announced that the British army have joined the fight against poaching. A team of 25 paratroopers are training and supporting Kenyan rangers in the army’s base in Nanyuki in order for them to help safeguard the animals and combat the widespread problem (Vaughan, 2013).

Other ways that the Kenyan parliament is attempting to tackle poaching is by potentially allowing some poachers to be sentenced to lifetime imprisonment as the current maximum sentence is three years imprisonment. Additionally, in September 2013, Kenya proposed the idea of microchipping all of the country’s rhinos, however, any plans to do this has not yet been confirmed. (Vaughan, 2013).

Meanwhile in South Africa, canine units at an anti-poaching academy are training dogs such as Belgian Malinois and German Shepherds to detect the scent of poachers, firearms and concealed contraband such as ivory (Torchia, 2014).

Efforts to combat poaching can often resolve in violence and conflict which is a dominant concern in current anti-poaching tactics. National park rangers have been involved in armed conflict with poachers when providing protection for the animals resulting in deaths on both sides (Lemieux and Clarke, 2009).

CITES. (2014). Elephant poaching and ivory smuggling figures released today. [Press release]. [Accessed 23^rd December 2014]. Available from: http://www.cites.org/eng/elephant_poaching_and_ivory_smuggling_figures_for_2013_released

France-Presse , A. (2014). Elephant poaching: thousands march worldwide for wildlife protection. The Guardian. 5^th October. [Accessed 23^rd December 2014]. Available from: http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2014/oct/05/elephant-poaching-thousands-march-worldwide-for-wildlife-protection

Jachmann, H and Billiouw, M. (1997). Elephant Poaching and Law Enforcement in the Central Luangwa Valley, Zambia, Journal of Applied Ecology. 34. pp.233-244.

Lemieux, M and Clarke, R. (2009). The International Ban on Ivory Sales and Its effects on Elephant Poaching in Africa, Centre for Crime and Justice Studies. 49. pp.451-471.

Njeru, G. (2014). Kenya to deploy drones in all national parks in bid to tackle poaching. The Guardian. [Online]. 25^th April. [Accessed 23^rd December 2014]. Available from: http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2014/apr/25/kenya-drones-national-parks-poaching

Save the Rhino. (2014). Poaching: The Statistics. [Online]. [Accessed 23^rd December 2014]. Available from: http://www.savetherhino.org/rhino_info/poaching_statistics

Torchia, C. (2014). South Africa Turns To New Breed Of Anti-Poaching Crime Fighters. Huffington Post. 29^th November. [Accessed 23^rd December 2014].Available from: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/11/29/south-african-academy-tra_n_6239952.html

Voughan, A. (2013). British army joins fight against elephant and rhino poaching. The Guardian. 1^st November. [Accessed 23^rd December 2014]. Available from: http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2013/nov/01/british-army-elephant-rhino-poaching-kenya