Laws banning illegal trafficking of wildlife should be more heavily enforced.

1. Laws banning illegal trafficking of wildlife should be more heavily enforced. By Maria Bateman

2. Endangered Animals • Endangered animals that are being poached are quickly becoming extinct. • Some animals that are being poached are tigers, rhinoceroses, and elephants. Source of picture: http://www.chinadialogue.net/article/show/single/en/552-China-s-trade-in-tiger-bones&h

3. DirectEffects • In a book entitled Bengal Tiger, it states, “Poaching is one of the main reasons why Bengal tigers are endangered.” • There are less than sixty Javan rhinoceroses left in the world partly due to poaching.

4. The Elephant Problem • Some poachers kill elephants to use their skin, meat, and tusks. They use them to make bags, carvings, and medicine. • Many elephants that are hunted are grown-up bulls. Since they are being killed, not as many new elephants are born, and it affects the whole population. Source of pictures: http://www.kenyatravelideas.com/african-elephants.html http://www.trocadero.com/sindler/items/664897/item664897store.html

5. Other Animals Being Affected • Not just the animal being poached has a problem. • If the number of predators goes down, the number of its prey increases, because the predator is not there to hunt them. • This may seem like a beneficial thing at first, but it is not at all. Source of picture: http://www.fws.gov/sheldonhartmtn/sheldon/wildlife.html

6. Importance of a Predator • In the book Food Chains in a Forest Habitat, it explains, “Carnivores help keep the populations of herbivores at a healthy level.” • If the population of herbivores got out of hand, the food would run out in their environment. • Then the population would decrease by a large amount. Source of picture: http://thewildsource.com/african-safari-predators.aspx

7. Problems With Catching Poachers • Poachers use powerful weapons and devices. • There are sometimes not enough people helping to stop the poachers. • Some countries do not have the means to effectively stop illegal trafficking of wildlife. Source of picture: http://www.pbase.com/broneal/image/61131451

8. Need for More Enforcement • In his article, Michael Lemonick said, “Plenty of laws and international agreements forbid such trade, but enforcement ranges from spotty to nonexistent.” • In Bengal Tiger, it says, “The poachers need the money, so they are prepared to risk the punishment of being fined and jailed.” • If enforcement were stronger, people would be less inclined to make that sort of risk.

9. Argument • Some people may say that we should pay attention to things that are more important and pressing. • However, enforcing laws against illegal wildlife trafficking is very important. If someone is killing animals illegally, they may start participating in other serious crimes. • It is better to catch them before they do something else.

10. Conclusion In conclusion, more enforcement should be carried out in order to support the laws banning illegal trafficking of wildlife. Whole species need our help, and the people who are doing wrong need to be punished. Source of picture: http://www.capitanhipower.com/Design/RIFLES.htm