What Is Being Done To Stop Poaching And Animal Trade

A prince from Dubai hugs his white lion

Wild animals shouldn't alive in palaces, continued to leashes and paraded around streets in the Gulf Region like they are trophies. Dolphins shouldn't be captured to live in cramped, private pools (read this story on the 4 dolphins living in a filthy pool in Egypt). Elephants shouldn't exist killed for tusks, or wild birds kidnapped from the nest to exist sold at an exotic pet shop.

At that place are so many moral and spiritual reasons as to why animate being trafficking has to stop. Sadly, the deep pockets of Middle East millionaires with wild animal fetishes makes the Middle East a prime location for illegal animal import.

Deep pockets and access to private jets are another reason. And then how tin we as individuals cease brute trafficking in its tracks? Near of us aren't brave or bold enough to pack up our lives and caput to the jungles – where fauna trafficking starts. Merely we can follow the following guide to help bring an end to this sorry and gruesome hobby.

Putting crime in a museum

Wildlife trafficking is wreaking havoc on peculiarly vulnerable animal populations beyond the world, and stands as both a disquisitional conservation concern and a threat to global security.

"This is a real problem that impacts united states all, even if nosotros are not the ones making the product purchases," states Janine Vaccarello, chief operating officeholder of the Crime Museum in the U.s.a.. "Nosotros should all take an interest in ensuring these animals are non being treated cruelly and that we no longer diminish their populations."

The Criminal offence Museum in Washington, DC is putting a spotlight on this disquisitional issue, marking World Surround Twenty-four hours by opening a new temporary exhibit titled "Ivory, Tortoise Shell, & Fur: The Ugly Truth of Wild fauna Trafficking."

The showroom aims to heighten awareness among museum visitors nigh an oftentimes overlooked criminal offense.

"This is an result that we are taking seriously and are determined to address," explains William R. Brownfield, Banana Secretary of State from the Agency of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs. "The government is on lath with the fight against illegal wild fauna trafficking, only it's also important that consumers get on board, too."

five facts about wildlife trafficking:

1. They are going extinct. Information technology is estimated that in the terminal century we have lost 97 percent of the world's tigers. In just the last 13 years there has been a 76 pct decline in the elephant population. In 2014 lonely, there were over ane,200 rhino killed in South Africa. Each of these beast populations are beingness severely depleted in large part due to illegal wildlife trafficking.

2. Organized crime pays. Wildlife trafficking has become one of the most lucrative types of transnational organized crime in the world, with almanac revenues conservatively estimated to be worth billions of dollars per year. With such a lucrative market, this has led many criminals to engage in this illicit activity, driven past high demand and high profits for illegal wild fauna as well as a low risk of detection. The items illegally traded include tiger bone, elephant ivory, bear bile and fish bladders, rhinoceros horn, sea turtle shells, pangolins, and more.

three. Know what you are buying. Despite the conservation concerns, at that place are people who knowingly purchase such items, only in that location are also those consumers who buy the products unknowingly, thus further contributing to the issue. They may buy wildlife products, such as tortoise crush hair clips or elephant ivory carvings, without whatsoever awareness of the impact it has on the poaching situation in local communities.

4. Don't smuggle into America. The Usa government is taking a potent stand in the fight against wild animals trafficking, through the recently released Implementation Program for the President's National Strategy for Combating Wildlife Trafficking. The Plan includes such directives as strengthening domestic and global enforcement, reducing demand, and expanding international cooperation.

5. Consumers have power. Buyers can play a office in helping to combat this global problem, starting with non purchasing any wildlife or wildlife products. When the demand for the products stops, so besides will the number of animals being poached. Consumers can also learn about the issue, share that data with family unit and friends, and bulldoze retailers to stop carrying illicit wildlife products.

5 ways to end animal trafficking

Ofir Drori runs the Eagle project to stop trafficking in Africa. He got the thought to fight wildlife offense while he was working as a announcer in Due east Africa.
PHOTOGRAPH Past JEAN FRANCOIS LAGROT

1. Support anti-trafficking people and projects. Ofir Drori has been fighting poachers for 2 decades in Africa. He puts life and limb at pale while making sure those in the chain become arrested and face up the punishment of the crime.

ii. Never buy wild animal products. Don't fetishize them in any style, every bit fur, as tusks, every bit horned-rimmed glasses. An upstanding question: should nosotros stop wearing animal prints, even if they are simulated?

3. Beware of natural medicines from countries like Communist china. They are notorious for using rare animate being parts that decimate wild populations of animals. They apply tusks, teeth, brains, testicles.

iv. Eat only sustainable seafood and meat. Not rare lion steaks. Not sharks. Or shark fin soup. Here are vii Gulf fish totally okay to swallow.

5. Written report whatsoever illegal wildlife trade or products to your local authorities or to Light-green Prophet. Wild animals oftentimes announced in unregulated markets in the Eye Eastward in Beirut, Tel Aviv, Istanbul, Cairo, Amman and Dubai. Yous might non believe your optics when y'all encounter it, but it's more mutual that you lot think. As one of our writers found out in the Emirates.

emirates sharks market illegal fin soup

Russel Simmons confronting wild fauna trafficking

Numerous celebrities have also weighed in on this important consequence.

Russell Simmons. (Photograph by Andreas Branch/Patrick McMullan)

"More than awareness about the process and consequences of illegal trafficking is the central to stopping the harming of innocent animals," says Russell Simmons, an amusement mogul. "Raising public awareness is the first stride in stopping the purchase of jewelry made of ivory or tortoise shell or wearing apparel fabricated with real fur and helping these animals."

The Wildlife Trafficking showroom was held at the Law-breaking Museum from June 2015, through February 2016, and it provided an opportunity for visitors to view a serious crime issue, and learn how to be a part of the solution. For more than information, delight visit their website here.