WLM 802: GRADUATE SEMINAR

MARK CHERUIYOT BETT-NRM/PGW/04/13

QUESTION: IS HARSH PENALTY FOR POACHERS A GUARANTEE FOR SURVIVAL OF ENDANGERED SPECIES?.

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INTRODUCTION

� Poaching is the illegal hunting, killing or capturing of wild animals, usually associated with land use rights and the illegal harvest of wild plant species.

� Endangered species is a species of organisms that will � Endangered species is a species of organisms that will likely become extinct.

� Violations of hunting laws and regulations concerning wildlife management, locally or internationally constitute wildlife crimes that are typically punishable.

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Cont’

� In Africa key motives for poaching are: lack of employment opportunities and a limited potential for agriculture and livestock production.

� Wildlife is in demand to generate cash through sale of bush � Wildlife is in demand to generate cash through sale of bush meat and for traditional medicine and ceremonies.

� The existence of an international market for poached wildlife implies that well-organised gangs of professional poachers enter vulnerable areas to hunt.

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DETRIMENTAL EFFECTS OF POACHING

� Defaunation of forests-predators, herbivores and fruit-eating vertebrates hence altering seed predation and dispersal rates.

� Reduction of animal populations in the wild and possible � Reduction of animal populations in the wild and possible extinction.

� Reduction in size of protected areas as poachers use the edges of these areas as open-access resources.

� Wildlife tourism destinations face a negative publicity.

� Emergence of zoonotic diseases.

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AFRICA’S PERSPECTIVE ON POACHING

� Most poachers carry out their activities based on the value derived from the animals they kill.

� Elephants and Rhinos in various parts of Africa are poached for their ivory.poached for their ivory.

� South Africa lost close to 1,000 Rhinos in the year of 2013 alone according to their ministry statement.

� The Kenya Wildlife Service Annual Reports stated that as of June 2013, 137 elephants and 24 rhinos had been poached in the region.

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� Economic gain is the main factor behind this ivory trade.

� Conservation biologists fear that these two species could easily become extinct in the near future.

Due to this rising epidemic, new laws in African countries � Due to this rising epidemic, new laws in African countries are underway or have been enacted to combat the poaching crisis which may place poachers into life sentences for their actions.

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A REVIEW OF THE NEW WILDLIFE ACT IN KENYA

� The Kenya Wildlife Conservation and Management Act, 2013 provides a platform for stiff penalties on poachers.

� Part XI subsection 92 of the act on offences relating to endangered and threatened species stipulates thatan endangered and threatened species stipulates thatan offender shall be liable upon conviction to a fine of not less than twenty million shillings or imprisonment for life or to both such fine and imprisonment.

� Subsection 95 on trophies and trophy dealing provides for a fine of not less than one million shillings or imprisonment for a term of not less than five years or to both.

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Cont’

� On offences relating to sport hunting subsection 96 it provides for: (a) a fine of not less than twenty million shillings or imprisonment for life; (b) a fine of five million shillings or imprisonment of five years or to both; (c) a shillings or imprisonment of five years or to both; (c) a fine of one million shillings or imprisonment of two years or to both.

� The act on offences relating to import and export of wildlife species subsection 99 stipulates a of not less than ten million shillings or to imprisonment for not less than five years on category A wildlife species.

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Cont’

� From the Kenyan perspective its evident that harsh and stiff penalties on poachers is already on force.

� A similar scenario is happening across the African countries as seen in South Africa. South Africa’s countries as seen in South Africa. South Africa’s Department of Environmental Affairs upped the penalties for rhino poaching with the maximum fine increased to about $110,000, with a prison time of up to ten years double of what it had been.

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� Are harsh and strict penalties on poachers enough to save critically endangered wildlife species?.

� South African authorities don’t concur with this statement and argue that the monetary payoff for rhino horns is and argue that the monetary payoff for rhino horns is exorbitant, and that new penalties would not likely dissuade would-be poachers.

� According to Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) a combination of conservation measures, strong enforcement, public awareness and adequate resources can reverse the current alarming trends.

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INTEGRATED MANAGEMENT OF WILDLIFE RESOURCES

� Stiff penalties and new laws will lead to low supply of wildlife products but their demand and value will shoot up leading to poachers using sophisticated techniques.

� Organized crime syndicates using military-grade � Organized crime syndicates using military-grade helicopters, night-vision equipment and guns fitted with silencers, taking poaching to a whole new level and leaving conservationists struggling to keep up.

� Therefore integrated management of wildlife resources is required as opposed to solely being dependant on harsh penalties and strict laws to curb poaching.

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Cont’

� One method of this is through the use of microchips and forensic DNA technology to strengthen animal monitoring, protect the animals on site and also support anti-trafficking mechanisms nationally and regionally.mechanisms nationally and regionally.

� Another way is the use of drones, South Africa and Kenya have invested in unmanned drones, sniffer dogs and increased security.

� The Kenya Wildlife services are initializing the use of alarm fences. The fences will sound an alarm and text wildlife rangers if it is tampered with either by poacher or by an animal.

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Cont’

� Focus should be placed on adjacent communities that border endangered wildlife species and ecosystems.

Community conservation should be emphasized and funds � Community conservation should be emphasized and funds raised for the crucial conservation work. With such resources the team will be able to hire additional wildlife rangers and purchase better equipment, enabling them to combat poaching on the ground.

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CONCLUSIONS

� Poaching is perhaps the greatest current threat to endangered species world wide.

� Tigers, elephants and rhinos are particularly vulnerable, their body parts being prized in traditional Asian medicine. their body parts being prized in traditional Asian medicine.

� The current wave of poaching is carried out by sophisticated and well-organised criminal networks.

� The introduction of new wildlife laws and policies with stiff and harsh penalties will without a doubt significantly reduce this vice but to boost its effectiveness as well other measures need to be put in place.

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THANK YOU

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