Possibilities, Punishments, and Poachers

Poachers bring out some of the worst of human nature. How are poachers punished, and more importantly, are the punishments enough? On a general scale, one can guess that laws and penalties have deterred many average criminals from committing crimes such as theft or arson. Poachers are different from these types of criminals because killing elephants or rhinos can be so rewarding to them. In an article from ProQuest Research Library, Washington Post reporter Darryl Fears interviews an analyst who states that poachers are usually fined when they are caught with ivory, “but the value of the goods is much higher than the fine." Many believe that this fine should be increased, as it sometimes seems that it is ineffective against poachers. On the other hand, the fines will still significantly cut any monetary gains that were made on the horns or tusks. An increase in the fines would be a great help to deter poachers, but for now, they may return to poaching yet again because the reward is still greater than the risk.

A poacher. Source: theafricachannel.com

            On the contrary, some areas have taken steps to absolutely ensure that poachers do not return. Though severe, some countries impose a “zero-tolerance” policy with poaching and may kill offenders on the spot. Rangers hope that this will send a message to other poachers and will help deter them from committing the crime. In February 2013, “South African law enforcement officials killed 279 Mozambique citizens involved in poaching," according to the same article. This is a very large number of poachers who were killed in only one year from one country, but it seems to be an effective way to send a message and ensure that poachers do not continue with their actions. Not all countries have come to a point that poachers need to be killed, but some are coming close. Though harsh, the action is another beneficial step to stop the brutal act of animal poaching in Africa. Although this problem may continue on, it is imperative to do as much as possible to prevent it. If poaching stopped completely, what effect would it have on various economies that buy the animals' goods?