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Poaching HotSpots are locations whose ecosystem has been seriously damaged by poachers. Uncontrolled destruction of rare species of fish and rare species of animals led to an ecological disaster and destruction, not only by representatives of the animal world but the entire ecological system, in many areas of the earth.
Poaching issues are quite relevant, especially in many countries in Africa and Asia, since there are still many species of wild animals whose certain body parts are in high demand on the black market. This situation is further exacerbated by the poverty of the populations of many countries in these parts of the world. Therefore, some people risk severe penalties and kill wild animals without permission, with significant consequences for the biodiversity of the respective part of the planet.
Because of the poaching of animals, many species of wild animals are already extinct or in danger of extinction, because poachers pay no attention to the conservation status of species, the prohibition season, or the quotas allowed for the shooting of animals. This not only reduces the diversity of species but also affects the economic well-being of a large number of regions of the Earth that depend heavily on the existence of species that are important to them.Poaching of wildlife has been observed at all times, but it is currently developing at a rapid rate and the concomitant factors for this are many: ● incomplete and insufficient control by the state and government agencies; ● an increase in the number of fishermen and hunters who poach to sell meat and fish to institutions to cook them for food; ● one of the important factors in changing the pattern of poaching has been the fact that gamekeepers, foresters, and government officials are involved in poaching itself. The number of illegal hunts and fisheries, where administrative employees, prosecutors, police officers, and employees of various structures and departments take part, has increased. This type of poaching is considered the most dangerous and widespread, as it is not possible to attract many perpetrators due to the high positions and jobs of the poachers themselves; ● The trade-in illegally killed wild animals and "food for the select few" continues, because the black market promises fabulous sums of money for these goods. In addition, some wealthy people buy exotic pets that are in the Red Book. Usually, such animals do not breed in captivity and are lost to the population.
Nowadays, the poaching problem has taken on a huge scale, which is present in every corner of the world. There are many devastating effects of poaching on the environment, climate, and ecosystem. Extinction is one of the major consequences of poaching when certain species disappear from their habitat. Poaching animals threatens the entire ecosystem because persecuting animals for monetary reasons will hasten their extinction. An example is the numerous Hotspots of elephant poaching in Africa and Asia. Ivory is a rare commodity that is highly prized on the black market. Elephant poaching for ivory is now more rampant than ever, and if it is not stopped, the animals could be on the brink of extinction.
Disturbance of ecosystem balance is another problem of poaching. Destruction of protected areas by uncontrolled logging leads to irreversible results: climate change, soil erosion, and reduction of animal populations. An unnatural decrease in one population leads to a rapid increase in another. The most common consequences of such an imbalance are the invasion of pests that destroy crops, the disappearance of certain plant species, and the death of animals from lack of food. As practice has shown, it is impossible to completely eradicate poaching, but it is possible to minimize poaching and irreparable damage from it. To minimize the number of hotspots of poaching, it is necessary to:
● Support local anti-poaching projects, conduct charity events in support of endangered species;
● Refuse to buy souvenirs made of parts of animals threatened with extinction, which should reduce the financial attractiveness of poaching;
● Notify the appropriate authorities if there is any suspicion of poaching;
● Informing the public about direct or indirect (as in the case of ivory souvenirs) poaching, since only if the general public is aware of the problem can long-term positive results be achieved and illegal activities stopped.
Conservation organizations fight daily to save endangered species, but animal populations are still declining every year. To prevent an ecological catastrophe, government agencies must act in concert with eco-activists. Hunting that is against the law cannot be perceived as inevitable. A range of measures must be taken to effectively combat poachers.