poaching

Poaching refers to illegal hunting, capturing, killing, or trading of wildlife, or the illicit collection of animal products such as ivory, skins, or horns. It typically involves activities conducted in violation of national laws or within protected areas, or outside legal hunting seasons or without permits. Poaching spans a range of species, from large mammals to birds and reptiles, and may include illegal fishing, or the harvesting of protected plants or eggs. In some contexts, the term has historical roots in unauthorized hunting by peasants against aristocratic game laws, but modern usage generally emphasizes wildlife crime and illegal trade.

Enforcement and law: Poaching is criminalized in most jurisdictions. Penalties can include fines, imprisonment, and confiscation of equipment or the proceeds of crime. International instruments such as CITES regulate cross-border trade in endangered species and parts. Effective enforcement often involves game wardens or wildlife rangers, border controls, forensics, and cooperation with local communities. The illicit trade is linked to organized crime and involves networks for poachers, traders, and buyers.

Impacts: Poaching can drive population declines, threaten endangered species, and disrupt ecosystems. It can undermine legitimate livelihoods such as tourism and farming and erode rule of law. Poaching also fuels corruption and armed confrontation in some regions, complicating conservation efforts.

Response strategies: Strategies include anti-poaching patrols, community-based conservation, demand reduction campaigns, economic alternatives for communities, and technology like drones, camera traps, and DNA forensics. International cooperation and funding are often critical to sustained enforcement.