Poaching and

Endangered Animals
Claudia Mongeau, Angela Rosica & Simon Conrad
What is poaching?
• Poaching is the illegal taking of wildlife and violating laws in the area by
doing so

• Started in the 1700's in Europe

• 1918 Lacey act prevented interstate poaching trade in the U.S

• 1960: C. I.T.E.S (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species)

is formed to conserve wildlife

• In 1973- the Endangered Species Act is passed, promoting the conservation

of extinct animals

• In 1989 the Global Ivory ban is passed in hopes to save the tusks on
elephants
 Two
African
boys
holding the
horn of an
elephant
that was
just killed.
African endangered species

LEFT: African
Black Rhino (2,500
left)

ABOVE: African
elephant (470,000 left)
LEFT: African White

Africa's
Rhino (20,000 left)

threatened
animals
Why are these animals important?
• Elephants considered the 'keystone species in African landscape'

• Elephants shape the landscape naturally

• They can create more waterholes/ sources for animals and humans can use

• Their manure is good for fertilizer

• Rhinos and Elephants both attract many tourists

• Rhinos are "mega herbivores" they eat lots of grass, which can shape the
landscape as well
Why kill them?
Who is killing/selling them?
• Generally the poorer community kills
and sells the tusks/horns of these
animals
• One pound of ivory can cost 1,500$ on
the black market, while one tusk can
weigh 250 pounds
Why? For what?
• Over all both animals are killed for
their horns
• In some countries, like Vietnam,
owning an ivory horn is a sign of
wealth
• Used for piano tiles, decoration,
jewelry, pool balls and sculptures
• Used for medicine in some parts of
Asia
 (LEFT)Ivory can be
used as a form of
decoration, by carving
into it

(ABOVE) Ivory piano

keys were very common
(LEFT) Piles of ivory, until made illegal
being cleaned for selling
The major effects
of poaching in
Africa
• Massive population
decrease
• Decrease in the
tourism business
• The extinction of a key
species will cause a
major unbalanced
ecosystem in Africa
What is being done to prevent
poaching/extinction?
• The South African Dept. Of Environmental Affairs has placed stricter
regulations on the rhino horn.

• China's Chief Executive, Mr. Leung making efforts to ban the import and
export of ivory

• Ad campaigns and political cartoons (seen below)

• Injecting dye into the tusks and horns of these animals is helping increase
the population

• Using drones to keep watch of the animals

Dye injected into rhino
and elephant horns to
prevent poaching -
Barcroft TV
Drones used to prevent rhino
poaching- NBC News
Current Rhino Statistics from SaveTheRhino