Poaching Threats

Poaching doesn't simply threaten well-known animals like elephants and rhinos; it also destroys forests, rivers, and delicate ecosystems worldwide. At Patrol, we clearly identify each poaching threat, what is being targeted, why these items are valuable on the black market, and how conservation teams are working to address these issues.

Being aware of these concerns empowers you to take meaningful action to protect species that are at risk of extinction.

Major Types of Poaching Threats

Below, we list the primary forms of poaching threats, so you can see the impact they have on wildlife conservation and natural environments.

Ivory and Rhino Horn Trade

The illegal trade in ivory and rhino horns is still a menace to wildlife all over the world. Elephant ivory is highly sought after for intricate carvings and decorative objects, whereas rhino horns are mistakenly believed to have medicinal properties, particularly in certain parts of Asia.

The high prices and demand for these animal parts lead to active poaching, which puts whole populations at risk.

Illegal Bushmeat Trade

Illegal bushmeat hunting involves capturing wild animals for sale, primarily in urban markets. Although subsistence hunting for personal food consumption can sometimes be legally permitted, large-scale commercial bushmeat trade is highly destructive.

It dramatically reduces wildlife populations, disrupts ecosystems, and often fuels organized crime networks.

Unlawful Timber Logging

Illegal timber logging involves harvesting rare and valuable hardwood trees at unsustainable rates. Trees such as mahogany and rosewood are highly prized for use in luxury furniture, flooring, and decorative items.

Illegal logging severely damages forests, removing critical habitats that countless species rely on for survival.

Illegal Harvesting of Succulents and Medicinal Plants

Poachers increasingly target succulents, rare orchids, and medicinal plants. Collectors and herbal medicine markets prize these small, valuable plants, making them vulnerable to exploitation.

Their illegal harvesting threatens their survival and disrupts the ecosystems where these plants play a critical ecological role.

Endangered Species

Illegal poaching puts endangered species all across the world at even greater risk. Poaching is the primary reason why the populations of animals such as elephants, rhinos, pangolins, and many bird species are declining.

Not only do these species need to be protected for their own sake, but also to keep biodiversity and the health of the environment.

At Patrol, we emphasize the importance of protecting these vulnerable species by raising awareness, providing assistance, and taking immediate action.

Patrol’s Approach to Combating Poaching

At Patrol, we give you detailed, accurate, and helpful information about the poaching threats:

Interviews with Conservation Experts: We regularly speak with local environmentalists, wildlife rangers, and professionals from the area. These interviews give us direct information about the cultural, economic, and social reasons why people poach. Readers can gain a deeper understanding of why poaching persists and how to prevent it by learning about these key aspects.

Mapping Illegal Trade Routes: We identify and explain the pathways that poached goods take from their natural habitats to international illegal markets. This mapping exposes the scale and complexity of trafficking networks, raising awareness about the challenges authorities face in tackling illegal wildlife trade.

Promoting Local Conservation Solutions: Grassroots efforts are crucial for combating poaching. We highlight functional, community-driven solutions, including community patrol organisations, hotlines for reporting wildlife, and educational programs. By supporting these local efforts, we demonstrate the significant impact communities can have in the fight against poaching.

How You Can Help Protect Wildlife

Your actions make a real difference in the fight against poaching:

Share Accurate Information: Help combat misinformation by sharing verified stories and reliable information on social media.
Report Illegal Activities: Promptly report any suspicious wildlife products or activities to customs authorities or local law enforcement agencies.
Support Conservation Efforts: Contribute to reputable organizations dedicated to training local guides, informants, and ranger teams who directly combat poaching.

Join us at Patrol in protecting endangered wildlife by signing up for our newsletter. By raising awareness and working together, we can help stop poaching and protect vital habitats worldwide.

Post of Poaching Threats

VOLUME 64

The $200 Poacher vs. The $50,000 Safari Hunter: Economics of Conservation

Key Takeaways: * Wildlife in the savannas of Northern Cameroon is being decimated. * The region is facing a myriad of threats from pastoralists to poachers. * Hunting concessions comprise about 70% of the massive Bénoué Complex (23,394 km² in extent). * The financial burden of protecting wildlife falls almost entirely on hunting

VOLUME 63

Frame of Reference: Diverging Perceptions of Wildlife Conservation in Africa

By Zig Mackintosh Key Takeaways: * African Conservation is caught in the crossfire of competing worldviews. * Western values center around preservation. * Animal rights groups believe that animals are sentient beings that deserve rights comparable to those of humans. * The “conservation through utilization” principle advocates assigning economic value to wildlife. * Rural African

VOLUME 63

Cattle Out, Wildlife In (6-minute Video)

Along the eastern shores of Lake Albert in western Uganda's Hoima District lies a wilderness area you've probably never heard of. The Kabwoya Wildlife Reserve stands as the only ecologically intact savannah along a 200-kilometer stretch of lakeshore. Established initially as a controlled hunting area in

VOLUME 63

The Life Through Wildlife Strategic Plan (8-minute Video)

The Life Through Wildlife Strategic Plan (2025-2029) outlines a vision for developing an inclusive $30 billion wildlife economy in Southern Africa. The plan focuses on transforming conservation efforts by prioritizing community-led governance, sustainable financing, and knowledge-based capacity-building. These are the key aspects of the strategic plan.

VOLUME 62

The Busanga Plains: A Wetland Paradise Under Pressure

By Zig Mackintosh Saddling the Kafue National Park and the Lunga-Busanga Game Management Area (GMA) in Northern Zambia, the Busanga Plains span 720 square kilometers of seasonal floodplain. Through ancient flood channels, the Lufupa River flows, creating one of Africa's great wetland wildernesses that supports extraordinary biodiversity. From

VOLUME 62

The Right to Decide?

By Prof Brian Child Key Takeaways: * Rural African Communities should be allowed to decide whether to use a natural resource or not, and to benefit from it if they do. * Community conservation can be classified according to the degree of rights devolution. * Wildlife legislation in Zimbabwe was centered around the

Anti Poaching Operations

Mayo Oldiri, Anti-poaching Operations in Cameroon

By Raquel Reguera The safari hunting industry is changing. I recently had dinner with an old friend, a big outfitter today, and we joked about it. When we both started (almost at the same time, more than 25 years ago), we mostly showed photos of the big trophies taken; now,

Tactics & Technology

Isibaya: Stock Replacement System

Program directors Vaughan Whitehead-Wilson and Gibson Ncube explain the Isibaya stock replacement system in this second episode. Instead of paying cash for livestock loss to predators such as a leopard, the program replaces the animal with a similar-aged one. This innovative conservation program has enormous potential to: * Protect predators in

Anti Poaching Operations

The African Wildlife Conservation Coalition

By Jon Peterson In rural Africa, the responsibility for wildlife conservation frequently falls on local hunting safari operators. Through their efforts, essentials like anti-poaching operations and community services are provided. In this spirit, the African Wildlife Conservation Coalition was created as a non-profit organization in the United States to help

Poaching Threats

Editorial

Paradise Dreaming By Zig Mackintosh The 30/30 Biodiversity Plan The 30/30 Biodiversity Plan, first proposed by the Campaign for Nature, is a global response to the alarming decline in biodiversity that threatens both wildlife and human communities. Currently, about 17% of the planet’s land and roughly 8%

Poaching Threats

The Curse of Commercial Gambling Poaching (9-min Video)

The WOW Africa Group operates in Northern KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, bordering the Ithala Game Reserve. Here, the main poaching threat isn’t subsistence meat hunting, it’s commercial gambling poaching using large packs of trained dogs. In these illegal hunts, gangs release dogs to chase and kill wildlife, with outcomes

Poaching Threats

Editorial

Hunting and Poaching: One in the Same? By Zig Mackintosh Anti-hunting activists often blur the lines between hunting and poaching, and the mainstream media has swallowed that narrative whole, for one reason: Manipulation. Playing on emotions is a powerful way to secure donations for “Save the [fill in the blank]

Anti Poaching Operations

Poachers in the Hills - Editorial

In his book “Poachers in the Hills,” Nick Steele weaves the story of game warden Norman Deane’s life in the Hluhluwe Game Reserve, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, with his own experiences there. The story begins in March 1956 when Steele arrives as a 22-year-old junior ranger to serve under Deane’

Africa

How Zimbabwean Guides are Helping to Conserve Wildlife and Wildlife Habitat

Timber & Succulents

Honey for Money, But Bees Need Trees

Anti Poaching Operations

Introducing Patrol: Anti-Poaching in Action

Introducing Patrol: Anti-Poaching in Action Poaching in Africa takes many forms: from bushmeat hunting (both subsistence and commercial), to the illegal trade in timber, fish, pangolins, ivory & rhino horn, and even rare succulents. As human populations continue to grow, so does the pressure on natural ecosystems. The mission to