Where is poaching illegal

Tigers are one of the most trafficked animals in Laos. It is not uncommon to see tiger farms, or zoos that are really fronts for tiger and big cat breeding. Many of these tigers are breed, much like livestock, for the soul purpose of slaughter. Tigers are killed for their skins, tails, bones - and any number of other parts - and sold globally. Enforcements are trying to crack down on this illegal farming and trading, but more tigers still exist in captivity today than in the wild, a statistic to which Laos contributes greatly.

Vietnam is the top importer of rhinoceros horn in the world. These horns are usually ground for medicinal uses and are thought to have healing powers. Because of this, Vietnam is directly effecting poaching rates. Vietnam is also known for keeping poor regulations on tiger raising and trading.

Like Laos, Thailand, and other South Asian countries, regulations on big cat trade is lax or often overlooked. This means these majestic creatures are often kept in captivity, traded globally, or raised on farms for slaughter.

India also has a significant role to play in the global wildlife trade. While there are wildlife markets in various Indian cities, the biggest problem for India is the demand for its animals by other countries. Over the last few decades, India has received significant pressure from China to export many of their big cats and megafauna.

Tigers, leopards and other big cats are in high demand for their claws, skins and bones in various Asian countries. This has driven up the poaching and trading rates of many endangered wild cats. Indian elephants have also felt the pressure, and have been known to be poached all across India.

Ivory demands have continued to be steady world wide, despite efforts to educate and decrease consumption of these products. Overall, organizations such as the World Wildlife Fund, National Geographic, and various governments have been working towards highlighting these high traffic areas and non compliant countries. Because poachers in Africa and Asia are often impoverished local people who make small profits in comparison to traders and kingpins, penalties for poaching wildlife are generally less severe than those for trafficking wildlife.

There are also numerous nonprofits around the world working to end wildlife poaching. Some of these groups have helped to promote alternative, more sustainable ways for poachers to earn a living. Another way people are working to end poaching is by trying to decrease demand for illegal wildlife and wildlife parts. If no one's buying the products, there will be no need to kill the animals.

All rights reserved. Why animals are poached Poachers sometimes kill or capture animals to sell them locally or for the global trade in wildlife. Read more about poaching and wildlife crime at National Geographic's Wildlife Watch. See all of National Geographic's videos about poaching here.

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You can help a great deal by spreading the word about wildlife trafficking and helping us put a stop to illegal activity. In addition to habitat loss, these turtles are threatened by the illegal pet trade. Photo by Gary Peeples, U. Asian songbirds frequently die while being trafficked. Photo by U. Photo by Levi Novey, U.

A doctor works on a primate Ebola study at the U. Souvenirs made from wildlife in Peru. Photo by Richard Ruggerio, U. Cheetah trafficking is increasing. A confiscated baby alligator. The partnership operates along the entire illegal trade chain in ivory and rhinoceros horn from the countries of origin in Africa to the consumers mainly in Asia.

Specific measures are defined in four areas of work:. The partnership works closely with the responsible German federal ministries and their subordinate authorities. Concrete activities in the partner countries and regions are implemented jointly by governmental and non-governmental implementation partners and regional organisations and in close cooperation with bilateral German development cooperation projects and programmes.

Context Poaching and illegal trade in wildlife products, especially ivory and rhinoceros horn, are a global problem.