The extinction of a species can have a negative economic effect on a local community’s tourism industry. A community that relies on its wildlife to attract tourists is at great risk for economic hardship if the prevalence of poaching is high. Furthermore, a tourist boycott due to local poaching is a real threat.

The current elephant poaching crisis costs African countries around USD $25 million annually in lost tourism revenue, according to a new study published in the journal Nature Communications. “We know that within parks, tourism suffers when elephant poaching ramps up.

Poaching is a persistent global problem with a profound effect on the East African region. The international demand for ivory and rhino horn is fuelling catastrophic declines in the elephant and rhino populations in Kenya, Tanzania and throughout Africa.

Highly organized illegal poaching threatens to send black and white rhinos, elephants and other African wildlife into extinction over the next several decades. The black rhino population has plummeted 97.6% since 1960 and the lion population is down 43% in the last 21 years, according to the World Wildlife Fund.

Impacted Species & Places

• African Elephant.
• Amur Leopard.
• Black Rhino.
• Green Turtle.
• Hawksbill Turtle.
• Indian Elephant.
• Javan Rhino.
• Leatherback Turtle.

South Africa

These mercenaries come from all over the world but are usually white. The law allows them to shoot only after they are shot at, but as one mercenary told me, “What happens in the bush stays in the bush.” Conservationists counted 6,102 poached rhinos between 2008 and 2016, with the vast majority killed in South Africa.

Most poaching happens in Zimbabwe, which is a country in Africa. The second country with the most poaching is Kenya, which is also in Africa. More than half of the worlds poaching happens in Africa because there are a lot of rare animals there.

The total number of rhino deaths have since fallen. In 2018, 769 rhinos were poached in South Africa, and in 2019, 594. Sentences of 24 to 25 years in prison have been handed out to convicted poachers in 2019 and 2020….In South Africa.

At the latest count (2019), there were approximately 3,817 rhinos left in KNP (a 60% drop). While the total number of rhinos killed continues to fall, relentless poaching across South Africa since 2008 has not allowed rhino populations to recover….394 rhinos poached in South Africa during 2020.

175 white rhinos

Twelve rangers and five other people were killed in Virunga National Park in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo on Friday.

Nearly 700 armed rangers work in Virunga – Africa’s oldest nature reserve – where at least 200 have been killed in attacks going back more than a decade, AFP reports.

The Thin Green Line Foundation found that reported deaths of rangers killed by poachers etween 2009 and 2016 was 595 rangers, plus hundreds more of unknown rangers were killed in developing countries which go unreported. In 2017, over 100 rangers were reported killed and 2018 is on track for the same, nearly 2 a week.

Assaults on park rangers reached an all-time high last year, sometimes from criminals, sometimes from campers. Park rangers are five times more likely to be assaulted than US border patrol officers, and 12 times more likely to be attacked than FBI agents.

Enforcing Park Regulations and Laws – Park rangers have a duty to uphold and enforce all laws—even those that do not pertain to parks. However, they usually only enforce park regulations unless they come across an illegal activity in a park. They do carry firearms and are trained to defend themselves.

Pretty much the same way a police officer gives a fine to a person without ID. Some park rangers are allowed to arrest hikers the same way a police officer can. But you probably won’t get out of a park citation any easier than you’ll get out of a speeding ticket.

It’s simple. Supply and Demand. A lot of people dream of being Park Rangers, so since there is such a large pool of employees, the employers know that they can offer a lower amount and still get qualified employees.

It is a penalty of $5,000 and one year in prison,” said Olson. “National parks exist to preserve and protect our nation’s natural, cultural and historic heritage for both current and future generations.

Probable cause and search/seizure laws apply. A backpack can be searched with a reasonable suspicion of a crime. However, a camping tent, once set up, is a dwelling and a warrant is required. The same for vehicles.

A game warden can search your vehicle and your house without a warrant.

relates to a locked container, the law enforcement officer must establish that the suspect consented to a search of the locked container. Fourth Amendment is satisfied when it is objectively reasonable for the officer to believe that the scope of the suspect’s consent permitted a particular container to be opened.

Searches for drugs, stolen items, other things obtained illegally, or things police believe may be used for crime. Police can pat you down, look in your pockets and bags and search your car. They can also ask you to open your mouth and move or shake out your hair. Police are not allowed to strip search you in public.

Yes, you do. Your employees are allowed to look into the bag but they are not permitted to touch any of the contents. You could be charged with assault if your staff conduct the bag check without permission. This includes forcing a customer to open their bag, or physically touching a customer.

The law generally states that employers must have a reasonable basis for a search, and the search must be confined to non-personal items. Searches of personal items, like handbags, generally cannot be searched unless the employer has a valid reason to do so.