Poaching Threats

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

Staff Writer

26 Jan 2023 — 1 min read

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 used for high-stakes betting. The cruelty is severe: whole groups of animals can be wiped out, non-target species are often killed, and the ecosystem suffers heavy disruption.

Bordering a protected area like Ithala means wildlife often moves into less-protected land, where these hunts occur. To combat this, WOW Africa works with park staff on patrols, intelligence sharing, and community engagement to reduce both the hunts and the gambling culture driving them.

Conservation vs. Livelihoods: The Complex Challenge of Wildlife Protection in Africa

In the forests of Cameroon, a single conservation program has seized 1,392 kg of bushmeat, arrested 25 poachers, and destroyed 260 hunting camps, yet hunting pressure resumes whenever enforcement resources are withdrawn. This pattern, repeated across Africa, reveals the fundamental challenge facing wildlife conservation: economic incentives consistently outweigh protection

Rebuilding a Game Reserve (6-minute Video)

Safari hunting was banned in Uganda in 1979, marking the end of what had been a thriving industry. This occurred during a period of severe political upheaval and wildlife devastation. The almost 30,000 elephants that Uganda had at independence were reduced to only 2,000 in 1985. After the

Property and Equity

By Prof Brian Child Economic efficiency results from clearly defined property rights and exchange in free markets and is independent of who owns the resources. Nonetheless, Coase (1960) and others acknowledge that the question of who owns the resources is also important. Ignoring these distributional issues gives free market economics

How to Maintain a Game Reserve in Tanzania (16-minute Video)

Can safari hunting truly serve conservation goals? What happens to Africa's wildlife when idealism meets the harsh realities of funding and local politics? Who bears responsibility for protecting these irreplaceable ecosystems? This documentary delves into the intricate world of a safari hunting concessionaire and its role in wildlife

Read more

Conservation vs. Livelihoods: The Complex Challenge of Wildlife Protection in Africa

Rebuilding a Game Reserve (6-minute Video)

Property and Equity

How to Maintain a Game Reserve in Tanzania (16-minute Video)