Alleviation of Poverty and Unemployment Essential in Fighting Poaching in South Africa

A pair of white rhinos - one dehorned to discourage poachers - in Kruger National Park. 

Whenever there are incidences of poaching, the typical response is to investigate the crime scenes, identify the suspects, arrest the suspects, and convict them. In addition, strict laws are implemented to warn people of the consequences of poaching. However, what most people overlook is that it is connected to poverty and unemployment in countries where poaching is rampant. This was seen in an interview conducted by TRAFFIC. The interview was geared at 73 people from South Africa's correctional institutions. Many of them were youngsters with less than high school education, who admitted to have participated in the illegal wildlife trade due to unemployment and peer pressure. One interviewee claimed that he could earn more by selling two rhino horns than what most people in his community earn in a whole year. Another explained his involvement due to his legal job being seasonal. In the midst of restricted opportunities and very unequal society, the interviewees had noticed that the people with the money are the ones who had engaged in the illegal wildlife trade. Furthermore, none of these youngsters were ever informed about the severity of penalties towards poaching. This was seen when one interviewee explained how he thought he would serve only six months for rhino poaching, but ended up serving ten years.

A tracker dog and its handler at the Kruger National Park K-9 Center. 

It really disturbs me how youngsters are becoming involved in illegal poaching in order to make ends meet. These kids are forced to give in to peer pressure, due to high levels or poverty and unemployment in South Africa. This study conducted by TRAFFIC should be taken into serious consideration in efforts to mitigate poverty and unemployment in the country. Just enforcing anti-poaching laws followed by arresting and convicting poachers alone will not alleviate poaching and the illegal wildlife trade. South Africa is infamous for having the highest economic inequality in the world. The high levels of poverty and unemployment are directly linked to the country's high crime rate. Criminals consist of not just adults, but youngsters too. It is highly essential to conduct large-scale awareness programs targeted at the local youth. These programs should be designed to educate them about poaching and illegal wildlife trade and what they should do in order to help mitigate them. I also strongly urge the South African government to conduct measurements to alleviate poverty and unemployment in the country as a whole. This includes eliminating corruption and guaranteeing that wildlife officers and other authorities are properly paid for their work in ensuring safety for both people and wildlife.

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