At one point probably in the mid-nineties, elephants were in the list of endangered species due to poaching for the valuable tusks. The dwindling in number of elephants were mainly felt in Tanzania, Zambia, and Sudan.
The common believe is that when the buying stops, the killing stops but history might prove it wrong. Trade bans have hardly work, and it offers a pessimistic lesson. Over the last few decades, the black rhino has become extinct in 18 countries where they were common and their population continue to fall drastically in other countries. The same goes to the Yangzi river dolphin. Even with a fall in consumption, as with ivory, demand - and thus poaching - has a habit of coming back.
In addition, contrary to stopping the poaching by way of trade bans, it has actually made poaching more rampant. This is due to the fall in supply, and the very fundamentals of economics explains that continuing growth in demand but with difficulties in sourcing for supplies only spurs the increase in price. To make matters worse, the trade ban opens a very lucrative door to illegal traders to make a lot of money in the black market. Over the recent years, there has also been an increse in criminal gang activities that is as close as impossible to eliminate.
Moreover, species worldwide are reducing in numbers due to many other reasons besides poaching. Wildlife is threatened by the loss of land, fragmentation of habitats, deteriorating ecosystems and invasive foreign species - all of which are human doing. By banning trade, it has not help in protecting species but rather made the problem of dwindling number worse because trade ban makes such animals worthless - killing is made simple or these animals are simply left to die.
The better solution, would be the revers - by making wildlife more valuable to man. Tourism, for instance offers great rewards. Gorillas in Rwanda are doing well population-wise and the country earn financially with tourists paying handsomely to see the gorillas. On the contrary, gorillas in Congo are suffering due to hunters who clear them out and possess their land.
Another way available is to exploit the animals in more sustainable manner. After all, killing individual creatures need not necessarily harm the populations. Animals can be bred for trade purposes - Rhino horns can be cut off without killing the rhinos.
In a nutshell, it is understandable that sustainable exploitation is not easy and will not always work. But it is a start, and a good start would be create a valuable product - animals. From there, get the backing from the law and the government. The locals must feel the sense of ownership and the sense of security in what they produce if they are going to protect them. But one thing is for sure - sustainable exploitation beats trade bans: it earns money thereby giving these precious animals a glimmer of hope!
The common believe is that when the buying stops, the killing stops but history might prove it wrong. Trade bans have hardly work, and it offers a pessimistic lesson. Over the last few decades, the black rhino has become extinct in 18 countries where they were common and their population continue to fall drastically in other countries. The same goes to the Yangzi river dolphin. Even with a fall in consumption, as with ivory, demand - and thus poaching - has a habit of coming back.
In addition, contrary to stopping the poaching by way of trade bans, it has actually made poaching more rampant. This is due to the fall in supply, and the very fundamentals of economics explains that continuing growth in demand but with difficulties in sourcing for supplies only spurs the increase in price. To make matters worse, the trade ban opens a very lucrative door to illegal traders to make a lot of money in the black market. Over the recent years, there has also been an increse in criminal gang activities that is as close as impossible to eliminate.
Moreover, species worldwide are reducing in numbers due to many other reasons besides poaching. Wildlife is threatened by the loss of land, fragmentation of habitats, deteriorating ecosystems and invasive foreign species - all of which are human doing. By banning trade, it has not help in protecting species but rather made the problem of dwindling number worse because trade ban makes such animals worthless - killing is made simple or these animals are simply left to die.
The better solution, would be the revers - by making wildlife more valuable to man. Tourism, for instance offers great rewards. Gorillas in Rwanda are doing well population-wise and the country earn financially with tourists paying handsomely to see the gorillas. On the contrary, gorillas in Congo are suffering due to hunters who clear them out and possess their land.
Another way available is to exploit the animals in more sustainable manner. After all, killing individual creatures need not necessarily harm the populations. Animals can be bred for trade purposes - Rhino horns can be cut off without killing the rhinos.
In a nutshell, it is understandable that sustainable exploitation is not easy and will not always work. But it is a start, and a good start would be create a valuable product - animals. From there, get the backing from the law and the government. The locals must feel the sense of ownership and the sense of security in what they produce if they are going to protect them. But one thing is for sure - sustainable exploitation beats trade bans: it earns money thereby giving these precious animals a glimmer of hope!
Further reading: The Economist March 8th 2008.
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