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Victoria Falls Anti-Poaching Unit
Commercial Poaching |
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"Working together to conserve our natural heritage." |
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When the trade of plant and animal products such as ivory, horns, feet, and skins are sold for monetary profit it is a different type of poaching termed commercial poaching. In the Victoria Falls area the most common animals poached for commercial purposes are elephants and rhinos. Recently the escalation of both black and white rhino poaching is of great concern.
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Commercial Poacher caught trying to sell leopard skins |
Ivory is the most common animal product poached for commercial purposes. The demand for ivory in the middle east and far east is the largest reason for the poaching. Unfortunately, it is usually the poverty stricken people that seek poaching for commercial purposes, and yet they see the smallest return in the supply chain of animal and plant products. | |
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Elephants are often poached for their tusks, skins, feet and hair. Their tusks are sold for the ivory which is often used to be carved into artifacts in the far east. The skins are sold for leather. The feet are sold and used as footstools and umbrella holders, while their hair is used to make bangle bracelets. In the Victoria Falls area, large pressure comes from Elephants crossing and drinking in the Zambezi river. Unfortunately, elephants shot in this terrain are often difficult to recover and the poachers often end up having shot an elephant that they can not get to.
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Please send inquiries to
cat@yoafrica.com |
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