& We Say "It's about time!"
Dominick Mezzapesa
Wildlife Planet In a move long over due Anti-Poaching Groups In Africa Becoming “Militarized” To Protect Elephants, Rhinos. Poachers hunting Africa’s elephants and rhinos are getting more, and more bolder, killing the animals at an alarming rate and except for an a few honest rangers they have little to fear from countries anti-poaching units. The Poachers boldness or recklessness depending on how you view it , is driven to supply China and Vietnam's ever growing demand for Ivory and Rhino horn. With profits at an all time high from international black markets where ivory and rhino horn can be worth more than cocaine, these armed poachers are getting their hands on bigger, more powerful weapons. But now it looks like they will have something more to worry about. |
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"Anti-poaching forces are becoming increasingly militarized, using military-style weapons and adopting more aggressive tactics,” reads the Small Arms Survey 2015: Weapons and the World, released this week.
In Central Africa, where poaching has had an especially large impact, poachers come from all walks of life. Some are armed militia members or commercial poachers, while others are subsistence hunters lured by the money or even rogue law enforcement personnel. And as poaching rates continue to go up, those trying to stop the killing are finding themselves in a difficult position.
“Despite the efforts of national wildlife agencies, security providers, conservancy organizations along with the undependable and spineless U.N. bodies to combat illegal poaching, armed groups continue to kill elephants for their ivory,” the report says.
Botswana, Cameroon, Kenya, South Africa and Zimbabwe have all started using military technology and techniques to fight poachers. This includes special training for their rangers, creating anti-poaching task forces and using satellite imagery or drones to gain intelligence for certain areas.
Some will question this tactic and claim there is no evidence to support that militarizing of anti-poaching rangers. They will point out that there is no data that "militarizing" will deter or slow down poachers. We say only to these morons "Shut the hell up"
Wildlife Planet sully supports this move wholeheartedly. While idiotic skeptics will look for graphs and numbers as proof, normal people will use common sense to know that if poachers know anti-poaching Rangers are now armed with real weapons and have orders to shoot to kill it will have an effect on the poachers ability to kill elephants and Rhinos.
Is has been too long in coming because for years organizations like the UN and the WWF want to "Talk" things out with illegal poachers and dangle carrots to try to curb their slaughter but at some point you have to hit them with the stick. Judging by the numbers and the almost year to year doubling of animals slaughtered it's way pass time this step had been taken.
Wildlife Planet can only hope that countries fully back this effort and give Anti-poaching Rangers the training, tools and equipment necessary to make Poachers an endangered species.
In Central Africa, where poaching has had an especially large impact, poachers come from all walks of life. Some are armed militia members or commercial poachers, while others are subsistence hunters lured by the money or even rogue law enforcement personnel. And as poaching rates continue to go up, those trying to stop the killing are finding themselves in a difficult position.
“Despite the efforts of national wildlife agencies, security providers, conservancy organizations along with the undependable and spineless U.N. bodies to combat illegal poaching, armed groups continue to kill elephants for their ivory,” the report says.
Botswana, Cameroon, Kenya, South Africa and Zimbabwe have all started using military technology and techniques to fight poachers. This includes special training for their rangers, creating anti-poaching task forces and using satellite imagery or drones to gain intelligence for certain areas.
Some will question this tactic and claim there is no evidence to support that militarizing of anti-poaching rangers. They will point out that there is no data that "militarizing" will deter or slow down poachers. We say only to these morons "Shut the hell up"
Wildlife Planet sully supports this move wholeheartedly. While idiotic skeptics will look for graphs and numbers as proof, normal people will use common sense to know that if poachers know anti-poaching Rangers are now armed with real weapons and have orders to shoot to kill it will have an effect on the poachers ability to kill elephants and Rhinos.
Is has been too long in coming because for years organizations like the UN and the WWF want to "Talk" things out with illegal poachers and dangle carrots to try to curb their slaughter but at some point you have to hit them with the stick. Judging by the numbers and the almost year to year doubling of animals slaughtered it's way pass time this step had been taken.
Wildlife Planet can only hope that countries fully back this effort and give Anti-poaching Rangers the training, tools and equipment necessary to make Poachers an endangered species.