{"id":1162,"date":"2021-01-15T07:30:48","date_gmt":"2021-01-15T07:30:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/petpedia.co\/blog\/?p=1162"},"modified":"2024-02-18T15:57:27","modified_gmt":"2024-02-18T15:57:27","slug":"poaching-statistics","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/petpedia.co\/blog\/poaching-statistics\/","title":{"rendered":"52 Sad Poaching Statistics You Must Know (2024 UPDATE)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">We present you with the essential poaching statistics, facts, and frequently asked questions to better understand this global issue.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">We hope they\u2019ll encourage you to do whatever is in your power to stop poachers and help save the many endangered species out there.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Before we begin, let\u2019s take a look at some of the essential stats on animal poaching.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 id='what-are-the-10-most-important-poaching-facts'><b>What Are the 10 Most Important Poaching Facts<\/b><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Nearly <a href=\"#two rangers a week are killed\">two rangers a week are killed<\/a> protecting the wildlife.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Illegal wildlife trafficking is a <a href=\"#business worth $5\u2013$23 billion\">business worth $5\u2013$23 billion<\/a> a year.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><a href=\"#100 million sharks\">100 million sharks<\/a> are killed every year throughout the world.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In Africa, <a href=\"#poachers kill thousands\">poachers kill thousands<\/a> of endangered animals every day.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Rhinos are poached at a <a href=\"#rate of one per 12 hours\">rate of one per 12 hours<\/a>.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Rhino poaching is likely to <a href=\"#increase by 356% by 2030\">increase by 356% by 2030<\/a>.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Every year, <a href=\"#35,000 elephants\">35,000 elephants<\/a> in Botswana are slaughtered.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">On average, <a href=\"#poachers kill 96 African elephants\">poachers kill 96 African elephants<\/a> every day.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Only <a href=\"#13 countries in the world\">13 countries in the world<\/a> have populations of wild tigers.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Over <a href=\"#30,000 green sea turtles\">30,000 green sea turtles<\/a> are poached every year in Baja, California.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Unfortunately, animal poaching stats reveal that rare animals are lucrative on the black market. This has brought upon the world the illegal practice of poaching.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In the last few decades, poachers have managed to bring untold perils to animals around the globe.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">We hope our article will shine some much-needed light on the importance of fighting poaching.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 id='general-animal-poaching-statistics'><b>General Animal Poaching Statistics<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Did you know that poaching is pushing many species to extinction? And even though poachers are killing animals, very often innocent people get harmed, as well.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id='1-nearly-two-rangers-a-week-are-killed-protecting-the-wildlife'><b>1. Nearly two rangers a week are killed protecting the wildlife.<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(Global Conservation)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It&#8217;s impossible to give the exact numbers as the data isn&#8217;t collected or kept in all countries worldwide. But we do have estimates. Over ten years, more than 1,000 rangers are killed.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">About half of them are murdered by poachers, while the other half die in workplace accidents. Bear in mind that the facts about poaching casualties are just estimates, and the real number is most likely much higher.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id='2-only-six-countries-collect-and-keep-detailed-data-on-poaching'><b>2. Only six countries collect and keep detailed data on poaching.<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(Poaching Facts)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Not all countries in the world have a poaching problem. However, most of Africa and a large part of Asia do. And yet, only five African countries and one Asian country keep records. They include:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">South Africa<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Kenya<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Mozambique<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Namibia<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Botswana, and<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">India<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3 id='3-around-30000-species-are-driven-to-extinction-every-year-poaching-animals-facts-show'><b>3. Around 30,000 species are driven to extinction every year, poaching animals facts show.<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(Center for Biological Diversity)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">That\u2019s approximately three species per hour!<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Naturally, species go extinct all the time \u2014 it\u2019s how life works, but the rate has never been so dramatic. And even though these numbers aren\u2019t poaching stats per se, poachers play a vital role in the mass extinction.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/petpedia.co\/blog\/global-warming-statistics\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Global climate changes<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and the<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/petpedia.co\/blog\/deforestation-statistics\/\"> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">destruction of animals\u2019 natural habitats<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> are the most significant issues here. But poachers don\u2019t help, either. They\u2019re especially devastating to the endangered species in Africa and Southeast Asia.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id='4-illegal-wildlife-trafficking-is-a-business-worth-5%e2%80%9323-billion-a-year'><b>4. Illegal wildlife trafficking is a business worth $5\u2013$23 billion a year.<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(World Bank)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">According to poaching facts and statistics, illegal wildlife trafficking, fishing, and logging are the second most lucrative crime globally, with $73\u2013$216 estimated yearly value.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The first one is drugs, with $426\u2013$652 billion estimated yearly value. Human trafficking is third, with an estimated $150 billion.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id='5-160-animal-species-were-illegally-taken-away-from-brazil-between-2012-and-2019'><b>5. 160 animal species were illegally taken away from Brazil between 2012 and 2019.<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(TRAFFIC)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This is millions of animals, and experts believe that a lot more animals get snatched. Also, consider these animal poaching facts in the table below.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">[visualizer id=&#8221;5556&#8243;]<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Also, less than 1%\u00a0 were unidentified amphibians and unidentified butterflies.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">However, the data doesn\u2019t account for the<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/petpedia.co\/blog\/endangered-species-statistics\/\"> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">animals that die out due to habitat destruction<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. This is the case in many Amazon habitats cut down and ruined by private companies every year.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id='6-100-million-sharks-are-killed-every-year-throughout-the-world'><b>6. 100 million sharks are killed every year throughout the world.<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(Al Jazeera)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Several species of sharks now face extinction because of this. According to the poaching statistics, a large part of this number is due to illegal fishing.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/petpedia.co\/blog\/shark-attack-statistics\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The main reason for the extinction of sharks is shark fin soup<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. This dish is very popular in China and Vietnam, so many fishermen resort to illegal fishing.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id='7-in-africa-poachers-kill-thousands-of-endangered-animals-every-day'><b>7. In Africa, poachers kill thousands of endangered animals every day.<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(African Wildlife Foundation)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Poaching in Africa statistics reveal that many countries have increased their efforts to stop it. However, the poachers are still at large.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Poaching is such a massive business that some criminals even go as far as to assassinate people to cover their tracks.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id='8-facts-about-poaching-in-africa-reveal-that-poaching-threatens-to-destroy-the-worlds-most-iconic-animals'><b>8. Facts about poaching in Africa reveal that poaching threatens to destroy the world&#8217;s most iconic animals.<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(African Wildlife Foundation)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This includes the black rhino, the African elephant, the mountain gorilla, the lion, and the imperial zebra.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Do you know what connects all of these animals? All of them call Africa their home, and all are either endangered or very close to extinction.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Data shows there are only 1,000 mountain gorillas and 2,000 zebras left.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What&#8217;s more, lion poaching facts reveal that 43% of the lion population has disappeared in the last 21 years.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">While a staggering 97.6% of the black rhino population has vanished since 1960.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Poaching statistics in Africa also show that elephants might have it the worst, as around 35,000 are killed annually. Most of these species will likely go extinct within most of our lifetimes.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id='9-poachers-often-use-poisoned-arrows-to-kill-animals-instead-of-rifles-and-other-guns'><b>9. Poachers often use poisoned arrows to kill animals instead of rifles and other guns.<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(Untold Africa)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Poachers use them for their lack of sound in the hopes of avoiding authorities. On top of that, a well-placed arrow can kill an animal in several minutes. But a bad shot can leave them dying from an infection for a whole month.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Other terrifying hunting and poaching facts show the situation is even worse. Besides weapons, poachers often use high-powered technology and other forms of weaponry to remain undetected and efficient at their &#8220;task.&#8221;<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 id='rhino-poaching-statistics'><b>Rhino Poaching Statistics<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As you may know, rhinos are being poached mostly for the illegal trade in their horns. Certain cultures use these horns in medicine, while others buy them as a symbol of their wealth.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id='10-rhinos-are-poached-at-a-rate-of-one-per-12-hours'><b>10. Rhinos are poached at a rate of one per 12 hours.<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(Save the Rhino)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As you read on about rhino poaching, facts reveal that their population has significantly dropped worldwide.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This is a great success compared to 2015, when the average was 3 rhinos per 24 hours, as poaching in Africa facts reveal. We&#8217;re still a long way from an ideal situation.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id='11-only-around-29000-rhinos-are-left-in-the-entire-world-today'><b>11. Only around 29,000 rhinos are left in the entire world today.<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(Save the Rhino)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The rhino is one of the most famous animals globally. Still, you&#8217;ll probably be surprised to learn that these are their population numbers for the entire globe.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The most numerous is the white rhino species, with around 18,000 of them alive. The most critically endangered rhino species are the Javan rhino (only 74 left) and the Sumatran rhino (less than 80 of them are alive today).<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id='12-according-to-poaching-statistics-from-2020-rhino-poaching-decreased-by-over-50-in-the-first-half-of-2020-due-to-covid-19'><b>12. According to poaching statistics from 2020, rhino poaching decreased by over 50% in the first half of 2020 due to Covid-19.<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(Rhino Review)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In the first half of 2019, 316 rhinos were killed. However, due to the pandemic, the number fell to 166 in the first half of 2020. Statistics show that three-quarters of the killings occurred before lockdown.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As a matter of fact, there were no killings during April in the Intensive Protection Zone in Kruger. This was the first time in almost ten years.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id='13-around-5600-black-rhinos-are-left-in-the-world'><b>13. Around 5,600 black rhinos are left in the world.<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(WWF)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Black rhinos are native to Africa and are the smaller and less numerous cousins of the white rhinos. According to these black rhino poaching statistics, their numbers dwindled to 2,500 in 1995.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">However, that number increased substantially in the next 20 years or so and now stands at around 5,600.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Despite that, the black rhino species is still classified as critically endangered. And poaching remains a massive obstacle to their continued recovery.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id='14-the-number-of-poached-rhinos-in-africa-reached-an-all-time-high-in-2015-when-poachers-killed-1349-rhinos'><b>14. The number of poached rhinos in Africa reached an all-time high in 2015 when poachers killed 1,349 rhinos.<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(Save the Rhino)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">However, according to some recent poaching statistics, the rates have dropped.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In South Africa, 594 rhinos were killed by poachers in 2019. Luckily, the numbers are decreasing. There were 769 poached rhinos in 2018.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id='15-the-poaching-crisis-was-the-worst-in-2013-when-it-spread-from-south-africa-to-kenya-and-then-later-to-zimbabwe-and-namibia'><b>15. The poaching crisis was the worst in 2013 when it spread from South Africa to Kenya and then later to Zimbabwe and Namibia.<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(Save the Rhino)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">We can safely say that the crisis was terrible for South Africa\u2019s rhino population from 2007 to 2014. During those years, rhino poaching grew by 9,000%.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">But when it comes to poaching in Kenya, statistics aren\u2019t so bleak. In 2015, the number of poached rhinos had steadily begun to drop in South Africa. It went below 1,000 in 2018 for the first time since 2012.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id='16-the-white-rhino-population-is-the-largest-in-the-kruger-national-park-in-south-africa-with-their-numbers-being-around-9000%e2%80%9312000'><b>16. The white rhino population is the largest in the Kruger National Park in South Africa, with their numbers being around 9,000\u201312,000.<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(KNP)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Unfortunately, according to these white rhino poaching facts, the KNP has lost more than 100 white rhinos since January 2020. So far, the authorities have arrested 25 suspected poachers, with 17 in the KNP.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id='17-there-were-several-hundreds-of-thousands-of-rhinos-across-africa-and-asia-at-the-beginning-of-the-20th-century'><b>17. There were several hundreds of thousands of rhinos across Africa and Asia at the beginning of the 20th century.<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(Rhino Fund)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">That was barely 120 years ago!<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When we consider the small numbers rhino poaching statistics from 2020 have shown us, this stat becomes all the more depressing.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">We can&#8217;t know the exact numbers as records weren&#8217;t kept on rhinos in that period of history. But it&#8217;s clear there were 10 to 40 times more rhinos than there are today.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Just let the numbers sink in, from hundreds of thousands some 120 years ago to less than 40,000 today.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Once, there were dozens of different species of rhino. And now, there are only five, two of which are on the verge of extinction.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id='18-the-biggest-rhino-horns-poaching-hub-is-in-vietnam-where-a-single-pound-of-it-is-sold-for-15000-to-30000'><b>18. The biggest rhino horns poaching hub is in Vietnam, where a single pound of it is sold for $15,000 to $30,000.<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(African Wildlife Foundation)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">These rhino poaching facts effectively show how lucrative this gruesome business is. The price also explains why rhino poaching has been on the rise for a long time.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">But we&#8217;re still glad that the poaching rates have begun going down in several countries across the African continent. There\u2019s still hope for the rhino population in Africa! But, the next stat paints a different picture.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id='19-rhino-poaching-is-likely-to-increase-by-356-by-2030'><b>19. Rhino poaching is likely to increase by 356% by 2030.<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(African Wildlife Foundation)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Even though the rates have decreased in the last few years, experts\u2019 estimates for the future are still bleak.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Not all agree with these statistics on poaching. But most believe the rates are unlikely to keep falling and that they will, instead, start rising soon. We can only hope that they are wrong!<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">By the way, one of the reasons why rhino horns are in high demand is due to the belief that they cure diseases. However, science has proven that consuming rhino horn is as beneficial as chewing on your fingernails!<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 id='elephant-poaching-statistics'><b>Elephant Poaching Statistics<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Similarly to rhinos, elephants are being poached for their ivory tusks. The tusks are used as ornaments, piano keys, jewelry, and other items beneficial only for humans\u2019 entertainment and enjoyment.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id='20-every-year-35000-elephants-in-botswana-are-slaughtered'><b>20. Every year, 35,000 elephants in Botswana are slaughtered.<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(African Wildlife Foundation)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Botswana is home to more than 130,000 elephants. It&#8217;s the last stronghold for Africa&#8217;s elephants. Sadly, poaching statistics for 2021 showed that ivory demand is accelerating the poaching rates.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id='21-on-average-poachers-kill-96-african-elephants-every-day'><b>21. On average, poachers kill 96 African elephants every day.<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(Wildlife Conservation Society)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As you are probably already aware, poachers usually kill elephants for their tusks. That\u2019s because ivory is incredibly lucrative, especially today.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id='22-the-average-price-of-ivory-on-the-black-market-has-risen-by-1019'><b>22. The average price of ivory on the black market has risen by 1,019%.<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(ZME Science)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The 1,000% rise has occurred in only 30 years.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">According to elephant poaching facts, the increase has occurred mostly because of the worldwide ban on ivory trading. The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) issued the ban in 1989.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Unfortunately, that ban hasn&#8217;t stopped elephant poachers, who are now responsible for an 8% drop in the global population of elephants annually.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id='23-the-african-elephant-poaching-rates-reached-a-peak-in-2011-but-have-since-slowly-started-to-decline'><b>23. The African elephant poaching rates reached a peak in 2011 but have since slowly started to decline.<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(ScienceDaily)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">According to the poaching statistics for Africa, African elephants&#8217; annual poaching rate peaked at 10% in 2011. Luckily, it has dropped since.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">But the drop in the poaching rates isn\u2019t good enough. With the current poaching rates, they still face extinction.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">However, experts are optimistic. They believe that the rates will continue to drop, which will undoubtedly improve the elephants\u2019 chances.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id='24-as-many-as-40-of-the-50000-elephants-living-in-asia-today-are-held-in-captivity'><b>24. As many as 40% of the 50,000 elephants living in Asia today are held in captivity.<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(Poaching Facts)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sometimes poaching is not the biggest problem for wild animals \u2014 being held in captivity in such large numbers is, according to the animal poaching facts.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id='25-in-1989-there-were-only-16000-elephants-in-kenya-but-the-number-has-doubled-since'><b>25. In 1989, there were only 16,000 elephants in Kenya, but the number has doubled since.<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(Earth.org)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Africa used to be a home for more than a million elephants. Sadly, poaching has led to a dramatic decrease in their numbers, and only 16,000 elephants lived in Kenya in 1989.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Thankfully, not all facts about elephant poaching are bleak. Despite poaching still being a threat in Africa, the population of elephants in Kenya is still increasing. By the end of 2019, there were 34,800 elephants \u2014 more than double.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id='26-there-were-a-few-million-elephants-in-africa-and-around-100000-elephants-in-asia-at-the-start-of-the-20th-century'><b>26. There were a few million elephants in Africa and around 100,000 elephants in Asia at the start of the 20th century.<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(Global Giving, WWF, International Elephant Foundation)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">And do you know what the estimates are for today? Only some 415,000 African elephants 30,000\u201350,000 Asian elephants are left, according to the latest estimates.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 id='tiger-poaching-statistics'><b>Tiger Poaching Statistics<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sophisticated international crime syndicates run the massive wildlife poaching business. Tiger bones are smuggled to China, where they&#8217;re used for tiger bone wine. But, they&#8217;re also poached for fur and other traditional medicine.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id='27-only-a-century-ago-around-100000-tigers-roamed-the-wild-today-there-are-only-3900-left-as-poaching-facts-show'><b>27. Only a century ago, around 100,000 tigers roamed the wild. Today, there are only 3,900 left, as poaching facts show.<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(Irish Examiner, Change.org)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Naturally, it\u2019s not all due to poaching. In large part, the destruction of their natural habitat is to blame. But poaching is still a massive issue for the continued existence of tigers.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">That\u2019s because a single tiger (or better said, its parts) can yield the poachers around $50,000 on the black market. And it\u2019s not only the skin that\u2019s sold.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Tiger bones are also highly popular in the Eastern markets as many people use them in medicine and healing tonics.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id='28-close-to-3000-of-the-total-3900-tigers-live-in-india'><b>28. Close to 3,000 of the total 3,900 tigers live in India.<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(WWF, NPR)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Despite such low numbers, tiger poaching facts show India has improved its tiger population&#8217;s security. And their numbers have seen a slight increase. There&#8217;s still hope for the<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/petpedia.co\/blog\/history-of-cats\/\"> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">world\u2019s biggest cats<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">!<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id='29-only-13-countries-in-the-world-have-populations-of-wild-tigers'><b>29. Only 13 countries in the world have populations of wild tigers.<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(WWF)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In 2010, WWF and 13 countries signed an initiative (TX2) to double the number of tigers globally by 2022. The countries included:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Bangladesh<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Bhutan<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Cambodia<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">China<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">India<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Indonesia<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Laos<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Malaysia<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Myanmar<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Nepal<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Russia<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Thailand<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Vietnam<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The progress is slow, but the tigers have made an incredible comeback in Bhutan, China, India, Nepal, and Russia. Unfortunately, tiger poachers are active in most of these countries.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id='30-poachers-killed-38-tigers-in-india-in-2019'><b>30. Poachers killed 38 tigers in India in 2019.<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(Wildlife Protection Society of India)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The latest illegal poaching facts from India paint an interesting picture. The number for 2019 is very similar to the ones the Wildlife Protection Society of India (WPSI) has been seeing for the last two decades.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The 1990s were much worse for tigers in India. Back then, around one hundred tigers were killed by poachers every year. For example, poachers killed about 121 tigers in 1995. Today, society doesn&#8217;t include tigers with an uncertain cause of death.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">So, the real numbers are most likely much higher, which is why tigers are still an endangered species.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id='31-according-to-wwf-poaching-is-the-most-immediate-threat-to-tigers-in-the-wild'><b>31. According to WWF, poaching is the most immediate threat to tigers in the wild.<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(WWF)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Animal poaching facts and statistics reveal that poaching is the biggest threat to the wild tiger populations. This is because every part of the tiger is tradable and can be found in many illegal wildlife markets.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">More than 7,000 tigers in East and Southeast Asia are not under this threat as they live in so-called tiger farms. Additionally, 5,000 tigers can be found in captivity in the US as well.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 id='gorilla-poaching-facts'><b>Gorilla Poaching Facts<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Gorillas are poached for three main reasons: food, traditional medicine, and the Bushmeat trade. Current poaching rates have caused all gorilla species to become endangered.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id='32-all-gorilla-species-are-considered-to-be-endangered-or-critically-endangered-depending-on-the-subspecies'><b>32. All gorilla species are considered to be endangered or critically endangered, depending on the subspecies.<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(WWF)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">All gorilla species can be found in the tropical and subtropical forests of Central Africa. Moreover, all African countries with gorilla populations have laws to protect them. Unfortunately, a lot of them are not sufficiently enforced.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id='33-the-most-widespread-gorilla-species-is-the-western-lowland-gorilla-with-around-100000-members'><b>33. The most widespread gorilla species is the western lowland gorilla, with around 100,000 members.<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(WWF)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">According to WWF\u2019s recent gorilla poaching statistics, the other three gorilla subspecies include:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Cross River gorilla \u2014 the world\u2019s rarest great ape with a population of 250\u2013300<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The mountain gorilla \u2014 with a population of 880<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The eastern lowland gorilla \u2014 the subspecies lost a lot of its population in the last few decades and has around 4,000 individuals left<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3 id='34-people-expected-the-mountain-gorilla-to-go-extinct-by-the-end-of-the-20th-century'><b>34. People expected the mountain gorilla to go extinct by the end of the 20th century.<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(WWF)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Thankfully, the most recent mountain gorilla poaching facts show that the species is still going strong despite the habitat loss and constant poaching threat.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Their numbers have also increased in the last few years. It&#8217;s estimated they number some 1,000 or more individuals. One of the things that might help them survive is that they live high up in the mountains, on elevations between 8,000 and 13,000 feet.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 id='poaching-statistics-on-other-endangered-animal-species'><b>Poaching Statistics on Other Endangered Animal Species<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sadly, poaching isn\u2019t only a problem in Africa and Asia. Almost all other parts of the world are poisoned with this illegal activity. What\u2019s more, marine animals aren\u2019t safe either.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id='35-wildlife-tourism-is-worth-five-times-more-than-the-poaching-industry'><b>35. Wildlife tourism is worth five times more than the poaching industry.<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(Natural Habitat Adventures)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This interesting fact is critical to note as we feel everyone should be aware of how pointless poaching is compared to an industry that&#8217;s much better for everyone involved.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Since many don\u2019t understand why poaching is bad and are driven by money, maybe this economic comparison will persuade them to stop poaching animals.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Poaching is worth around $23 billion. But that&#8217;s negligible compared to wildlife tourism, which brings around $120 yearly.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Unlike poaching, wildlife tourism creates jobs for local communities. And it also doesn&#8217;t harm the ecosystem or the animal and human populations in the area.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It would be far more beneficial for everyone if the entire poaching industry were to turn to tourism. But alas, we don\u2019t live in a reasonable world. We live in a world where the great majority of the poaching statistics are devastating.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">However, there is still hope that people can change their minds, and that\u2019s all we need.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id='36-thousands-of-people-are-arrested-each-year-for-poaching-in-the-united-states'><b>36. Thousands of people are arrested each year for poaching in the United States.<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(Animal Matters)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The UK is not the only country with poaching problems. As you can see, poaching statistics in the United States are serious, too.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What\u2019s more, poaching in Africa and Asia is, in some part, connected to the US as a lot of animal trophies are imported to the states every year, despite the harsh punishment for poaching the smugglers are facing.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id='37-as-of-2016-the-giant-panda-is-no-longer-considered-an-endangered-species'><b>37. As of 2016, the giant panda is no longer considered an endangered species.<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(National Geographic)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">At least panda poaching facts are very positive! News like this is rare today.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Thanks to the tireless efforts of activists and organizations worldwide, the beautiful giant panda is now officially only a vulnerable species after being endangered for a very long time.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Their population is recovering, and now there are more than 1,800 giant pandas in China.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id='38-even-though-commercial-whaling-is-banned-globally-more-than-1000-whales-are-hunted-every-year'><b>38. Even though commercial whaling is banned globally, more than 1,000 whales are hunted every year.<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(Whale and Dolphin Conservation)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">According to whale poaching statistics, the world banned commercial whaling in 1986.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">However,<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/petpedia.co\/blog\/overfishing-statistics\/\"> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Japan has restarted the practice after a while<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Norway objects to it, and Iceland does it anyway under some reservations.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Hunting whales is very profitable for people in these countries. This is likely the reason why the governments there don\u2019t want to ban or punish the practice.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Whale meat is used in many traditional dishes, and the oil is used in pharmaceuticals and some health supplements.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id='39-over-30000-green-sea-turtles-are-poached-every-year-in-baja-california'><b>39. Over 30,000 green sea turtles are poached every year in Baja, California.<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(WWF)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Moreover, every year, 100,000 are killed in the Indo-Australian archipelago.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sea turtles have roamed the Earth\u2019s oceans for more than 100 million years. But, according to the poaching statistics from 2020, they are now an endangered species.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">However, their biggest threat is not poaching \u2014 it\u2019s bycatch. Hundreds of thousands of sea turtles are accidentally caught in nets intended for other fish every year.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Some are set free, but most die as they need to reach the surface to breathe, and most of these nets remain underwater for a long time.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id='40-poachers-have-been-killing-cheetahs-for-decades-that%e2%80%99s-one-of-the-main-reasons-there-are-only-10000-cheetahs-left-in-the-world-today'><b>40. Poachers have been killing cheetahs for decades. That\u2019s one of the main reasons there are only 10,000 cheetahs left in the world today.<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(Big Cat Rescue)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">According to cheetah poaching facts, there were more than 100,000 cheetahs in the world in 1900. But their numbers have plummeted to less than 25,000 in 1970.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Poaching is one of the biggest reasons for this. Especially when you consider that only in 1980, almost 7,000 cheetahs have reportedly been killed by poachers.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Most of the cheetahs left today are found in the wild, where their lifespan is less than six years, and they can live up to 15 years in captivity.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id='41-in-2014-a-poisoned-arrow-shot-by-a-poacher-killed-kenya%e2%80%99s-most-adored-elephant-known-as-satao'><b>41. In 2014, a poisoned arrow shot by a poacher killed Kenya\u2019s most adored elephant, known as Satao.<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(National Geographic)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When it comes to poaching in Kenya, statistics show that the beloved animal was shot only for its tusks. The poachers waited for the animal to die in pain, and then they cut off most of its face to get the ivory.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The terrifying truth is that it&#8217;s necessary to cut a massive part of the elephant&#8217;s face to reach the tusk as they grow from the skull through the face. It&#8217;s almost impossible to gather the ivory from an elephant without killing it.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id='42-in-africa-ivory-poaching-and-violent-conflicts-are-deeply-connected'><b>42. In Africa, ivory poaching and violent conflicts are deeply connected.<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(Brookings, University of Birmingham)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Many aren\u2019t aware, but poaching has a more significant effect on humanity than most of us know.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Poaching in Africa facts show that the worlds of poaching and armed conflicts are intertwined in Africa. Armed militias and crime networks often use poaching funds to finance terrorism and even wars.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id='43-chinese-traditional-medicine-ctm-is-an-industry-worth-60-billion-a-year'><b>43. Chinese traditional medicine (CTM) is an industry worth $60 billion a year.<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(National Geographic)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Most animal poaching stats have something to do with Africa. But the Chinese are still the world\u2019s largest consumers of \u201cpoached goods.\u201d It mostly has to do with their tradition and beliefs that many animal parts can heal or improve people\u2019s lives.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Naturally, the government of China banned poaching and has agreed to phase out the related industries. Unfortunately, this hasn\u2019t helped the tigers in China, as their population is almost eradicated.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id='44-when-it-comes-to-the-amur-leopard-poaching-facts-reveal-that-there-are-barely-more-than-84-of-them-left-in-the-world'><b>44. When it comes to the Amur leopard, poaching facts reveal that there are barely more than 84 of them left in the world.<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(WWF)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The stunning Amur leopard lives in vast expanses of Russia and adjacent Chinese areas close to the Russian border. It differs from other leopards because of its gorgeous, pale fur.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Even though their numbers are meager and the species is critically endangered, their total population has increased by a few in the last decade or so.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 id='faq'><b>FAQ<\/b><\/h2>\n<h3 id='45-where-is-poaching-most-common'><b>45. Where is poaching most common?<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Poaching is a global problem. Besides the destruction of natural habitat and climate change, it\u2019s the next most significant threat to animals.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Plenty of countries across the world have significant poaching problems. Most of them are found in central and southern Africa and South and Southeast Asia.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">However, most experts agree that Zimbabwe is the country with the biggest poaching problem out of all the countries in the world. The next country where most of the world&#8217;s poaching happens is Kenya.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As you can probably assume, most poaching in the world, about half of it, happens in Africa. That\u2019s mostly the case because most of the animal poachers seek can be found there.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Furthermore, it&#8217;s also because many countries in Africa don&#8217;t have the resources to protect their wildlife from poachers.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id='46-how-many-animals-die-from-poaching-a-year'><b>46. How many animals die from poaching a year?<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As we\u2019ve already mentioned, too many countries around the world don\u2019t keep poaching records. If not that, then many records are incorrect or unreliable.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">With that in mind, it\u2019s next to impossible to determine the exact number of poached animals per year.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">However, some estimates tell us that, for every animal killed legally, one is killed illegally. It\u2019s naturally a rough estimate, but it\u2019s still the closest one we have to a specific number.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">So, the current estimate is that poachers kill millions of animals every year. This is undoubtedly a devastating number, especially when you consider that as many are killed legally.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id='47-do-poachers-kill-baby-elephants'><b>47. Do poachers kill baby elephants?<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Yes, poachers kill baby elephants. We\u2019ve already covered statistics on elephants, so you already know that the numbers are terrible.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">However, most of these are from African countries. Africa holds most of the world\u2019s elephant population. But there are still as many as 30,000 to 50,000 elephants in Asia, which is about a tenth of the elephants found in Africa.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">We don&#8217;t have exact numbers for Asian elephants. Still, we know that poaching is a problem in Asia as it is in Africa. We already know the estimated number of African elephants so that we can get a rough estimate.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Between 30,000 and 40,000 elephants are likely poached every year in Africa and Asia combined.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id='48-why-is-poaching-bad'><b>48. Why is poaching bad?<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">From all that you\u2019ve seen from these statistics, you can probably guess what the consequences of poaching are. It\u2019s endangering the existence of several animal species, while specific species are close to extinction due to the illegal practice.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Additionally, local communities and the environment feel the adverse effects of poaching, too. It increases the spread of foodborne illnesses, and it causes a lack of natural resources as well.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When you consider all of that, it becomes even more crucial that countries stop poachers.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id='49-how-has-poaching-changed-in-recent-years'><b>49. How has poaching changed in recent years?<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In the distant past, people only killed animals for food, fur, and other things that ensured their survival. After a time, the nobility started hunting animals for sport.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">However, it remained exclusive to them, as regular people rarely had the means or the time to kill animals for sport. What\u2019s more, poaching was illegal even though people didn\u2019t do it.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">However, as rural poverty became prevalent globally in the 18th century, many people began to poach animals to get food and make a living.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">That wasn\u2019t a big problem until more and more poachers became greedy. As time passed and the human population increased, so did the problems of poaching. That\u2019s why we have the problem we have today.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id='50-what-is-poaching'><b>50. What is poaching?<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The act of poaching is similar to hunting. The result of both is that a human being kills an animal.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">On the one hand, hunting is entirely legal and sanctioned by the country in which it takes place. Many countries allow hunting, but most permit it under specific rules to enable animal species to continue to exist and thrive.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">On the other hand, poaching is entirely illegal and not sanctioned by the country in which it occurs. It brings hefty fines in most countries, but unfortunately, that&#8217;s not enough to stop poachers.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id='51-where-does-poaching-occur'><b>51. Where does poaching occur?<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Poaching happens mostly in Africa. Zimbabwe and Kenya are the two countries affected the most by this illegal activity. However, smugglers have developed a worldwide network, so poaching isn\u2019t limited only to Africa.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id='52-how-to-stop-poaching'><b>52. How to stop poaching?<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Putting an end to the wildlife trade isn\u2019t simple, but it can be done. There are a couple of things you can do:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ask before you buy \u2014 get information on the fabric, jewelry, where they come from, how they were made, was it fair trade, etc. If the vendor seems reluctant to answer, move along<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Stick to certified products \u2014 products go through severe inspection before they get a seal of certification, so this is the safest way to avoid wildlife trade<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Eat sustainable seafood \u2014 check the<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.msc.org\/what-you-can-do\/eat-sustainable-seafood\/fish-to-eat\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Marine Stewardship Council<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to be sure<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 id='the-bottom-line'><b>The Bottom Line<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">We hope these poaching statistics show the dire situation some species are in.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Poaching isn\u2019t a problem of the future, and it\u2019s not something that can be ignored \u2014 it\u2019s a problem that we need to fix today. If not for the animals themselves, then for our children.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If we don&#8217;t, they\u2019ll only get to learn about them from books and videos. And the universe will never witness a tiger roar ever again or the gorilla pound on his chest.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id='sources'><b>Sources<\/b><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.awf.org\/country\/botswana\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">African Wildlife Foundation<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.aljazeera.com\/economy\/2018\/9\/30\/why-are-humans-killing-100-million-sharks-every-year\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Al Jazeera<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.animalmatters.org\/facts\/wildlife\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Animal Matters<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/bigcatrescue.org\/cheetah-facts\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Big Cat Rescue<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.brookings.edu\/articles\/wildlife-and-drug-trafficking-terrorism-and-human-security\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Brookings<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.biologicaldiversity.org\/programs\/biodiversity\/elements_of_biodiversity\/extinction_crisis\/help_stop_the_extinction_crisis\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Center for Biological Diversity<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.change.org\/p\/u-s-fish-and-wildlife-service-increase-enforcement-for-siberian-tiger-poaching-before-they-become-extinct\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Change.org<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/earth.org\/kenya-is-seeing-a-boom-in-elephants\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Earth.org<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/globalconservation.org\/news\/over-one-thousand-park-rangers-die-10-years-protecting-our-parks\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Global Conservation<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.globalgiving.org\/learn\/listicle\/world-elephant-day-elephant-facts\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Global Giving<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/elephantconservation.org\/elephants\/asian-elephants\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">International Elephant Foundation<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.irishexaminer.com\/lifestyle\/arid-30940056.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Irish Examiner<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.krugerpark.co.za\/krugerpark-times-6-1-shoking-rise-in-rhino-poaching-25183.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">KNP<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nationalgeographic.com\/news\/2014\/6\/140616-elephants-tusker-satao-poachers-killed-animals-africa-science\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">National Geographic<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nationalgeographic.com\/animals\/reference\/traditional-chinese-medicine\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">National Geographic<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nationalgeographic.com\/animals\/article\/pandas-are-off-chinas-endangered-list-but-threats-persist\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">National Geographic<\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nathab.com\/blog\/wildlife-tourism-worth-more-than-poaching\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Natural Habitat Adventures<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2019\/07\/29\/746237332\/census-finds-nearly-3-000-tigers-in-india\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">NPR<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.poachingfacts.com\/poaching-statistics\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Poaching Facts<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.poachingfacts.com\/poaching-statistics\/elephant-poaching-statistics\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Poaching Facts<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.rhinofund.org\/about-rhinos\/poaching-statistics\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Rhino Fund<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/rhinoreview.org\/rhino-poaching-stats-2020-more-shades-of-grey\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Rhino Review<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.savetherhino.org\/rhino-info\/population-figures\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Save the Rhino<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.savetherhino.org\/rhino-info\/poaching-stats\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Save the Rhino<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sciencedaily.com\/releases\/2019\/05\/190528120331.htm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">ScienceDaily<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.traffic.org\/site\/assets\/files\/13031\/brazil_wildlife_trafficking_assessment.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">TRAFFIC<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.birmingham.ac.uk\/schools\/government\/departments\/international-development\/news\/2018\/03\/p-insurgency-ivory-felix-hass.aspx\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">University of Birmingham<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/untoldafrica.com\/silent-killers-elephant-poaching-is-not-always-about-hi-tech-and-automatic-weapons\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Untold Africa<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/uk.whales.org\/our-4-goals\/stop-whaling\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Whale and Dolphin Conservation<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.wcs.org\/96-elephants\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Wildlife Conservation Society<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.wpsi-india.org\/statistics\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Wildlife Protection Society of India<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"http:\/\/pubdocs.worldbank.org\/en\/482771571323560234\/WBGReport1017Digital.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">World Bank<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.worldwildlife.org\/species\/black-rhino\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">WWF<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.worldwildlife.org\/species\/tiger\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">WWF<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/wwf.panda.org\/knowledge_hub\/endangered_species\/great_apes\/gorillas\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">WWF<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.worldwildlife.org\/species\/amur-leopard\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">WWF<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.worldwildlife.org\/species\/tiger\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">WWF<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.worldwildlife.org\/initiatives\/double-tigers\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">WWF<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.worldwildlife.org\/stories\/5-things-tiger-king-doesn-t-explain-about-captive-tigers\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">WWF<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/wwf.panda.org\/discover\/knowledge_hub\/endangered_species\/great_apes\/gorillas\/?\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">WWF<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/wwf.panda.org\/discover\/knowledge_hub\/endangered_species\/elephants\/?\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">WWF<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/wwf.panda.org\/discover\/knowledge_hub\/endangered_species\/marine_turtles\/green_turtle\/?\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">WWF<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.zmescience.com\/science\/ivory-prices-ban-155222\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">ZME Science<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><script type=\"application\/ld+json\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@type\":\"FAQPage\",\"mainEntity\":[{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"Where is poaching most common?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"Poaching is a global problem. Besides the destruction of natural habitat and climate change, it\u2019s the next most significant threat to animals.\\n\\nPlenty of countries across the world have significant poaching problems. Most of them are found in central and southern Africa and South and Southeast Asia.\\n\\nHowever, most experts agree that Zimbabwe is the country with the biggest poaching problem out of all the countries in the world. The next country where most of the world's poaching happens is Kenya.\\n\\nAs you can probably assume, most poaching in the world, about half of it, happens in Africa. That\u2019s mostly the case because most of the animal poachers seek can be found there.\\n\\nFurthermore, it's also because many countries in Africa don't have the resources to protect their wildlife from poachers.\"}},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"How many animals die from poaching a year?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"As we\u2019ve already mentioned, too many countries around the world don\u2019t keep poaching records. If not that, then many records are incorrect or unreliable.\\n\\nWith that in mind, it\u2019s next to impossible to determine the exact number of poached animals per year.\\n\\nHowever, some estimates tell us that, for every animal killed legally, one is killed illegally. It\u2019s naturally a rough estimate, but it\u2019s still the closest one we have to a specific number.\\n\\nSo, the current estimate is that poachers kill millions of animals every year. This is undoubtedly a devastating number, especially when you consider that as many are killed legally.\"}},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"Do poachers kill baby elephants?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"Yes, poachers kill baby elephants. We\u2019ve already covered statistics on elephants, so you already know that the numbers are terrible.\\n\\nHowever, most of these are from African countries. Africa holds most of the world\u2019s elephant population. But there are still as many as 30,000 to 50,000 elephants in Asia, which is about a tenth of the elephants found in Africa.\\n\\nWe don't have exact numbers for Asian elephants. Still, we know that poaching is a problem in Asia as it is in Africa. We already know the estimated number of African elephants so that we can get a rough estimate.\\n\\nBetween 30,000 and 40,000 elephants are likely poached every year in Africa and Asia combined.\"}},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"Why is poaching bad?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"From all that you\u2019ve seen from these statistics, you can probably guess what the consequences of poaching are. It\u2019s endangering the existence of several animal species, while specific species are close to extinction due to the illegal practice.\\n\\nAdditionally, local communities and the environment feel the adverse effects of poaching, too. It increases the spread of foodborne illnesses, and it causes a lack of natural resources as well.\\n\\nWhen you consider all of that, it becomes even more crucial that countries stop poachers.\"}},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"How has poaching changed in recent years?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"In the distant past, people only killed animals for food, fur, and other things that ensured their survival. After a time, the nobility started hunting animals for sport.\\n\\nHowever, it remained exclusive to them, as regular people rarely had the means or the time to kill animals for sport. What\u2019s more, poaching was illegal even though people didn\u2019t do it.\\n\\nHowever, as rural poverty became prevalent globally in the 18th century, many people began to poach animals to get food and make a living.\\n\\nThat wasn\u2019t a big problem until more and more poachers became greedy. As time passed and the human population increased, so did the problems of poaching. That\u2019s why we have the problem we have today.\"}},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"What is poaching?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"The act of poaching is similar to hunting. The result of both is that a human being kills an animal.\\n\\nOn the one hand, hunting is entirely legal and sanctioned by the country in which it takes place. Many countries allow hunting, but most permit it under specific rules to enable animal species to continue to exist and thrive.\\n\\nOn the other hand, poaching is entirely illegal and not sanctioned by the country in which it occurs. It brings hefty fines in most countries, but unfortunately, that's not enough to stop poachers.\"}},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"Where does poaching occur?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"Poaching happens mostly in Africa. Zimbabwe and Kenya are the two countries affected the most by this illegal activity. However, smugglers have developed a worldwide network, so poaching isn\u2019t limited only to Africa.\"}},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"How to stop poaching?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"Putting an end to the wildlife trade isn\u2019t simple, but it can be done. There are a couple of things you can do:\\n\\nAsk before you buy \u2014 get information on the fabric, jewelry, where they come from, how they were made, was it fair trade, etc. If the vendor seems reluctant to answer, move along\\nStick to certified products \u2014 products go through severe inspection before they get a seal of certification, so this is the safest way to avoid wildlife trade\\nEat sustainable seafood \u2014 check the Marine Stewardship Council to be sure\"}}]}<\/script><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Knowledge is the first step to change! Learn the 2022 poaching statistics and facts on the practice leading to the disappearance of many species. [&#8230;]<\/p>\n<p><a class=\"btn btn-secondary understrap-read-more-link\" href=\"https:\/\/petpedia.co\/blog\/poaching-statistics\/\">Read More&#8230;<span class=\"screen-reader-text\"> from 52 Sad Poaching Statistics You Must Know (2024 UPDATE)<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10,"featured_media":1421,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[11,12],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1162","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-blog","category-stats-and-facts"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/petpedia.co\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1162","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/petpedia.co\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/petpedia.co\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/petpedia.co\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/10"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/petpedia.co\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1162"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/petpedia.co\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1162\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/petpedia.co\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1421"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/petpedia.co\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1162"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/petpedia.co\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1162"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/petpedia.co\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1162"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}