Rhinoceros Poaching Essay Example for Free

Rhinoceros Poaching Essay Despite of the protective measure, prosecution of this animal continues with the exceptionally high and illegal price on the rhino horn in clandestine market. In Kaziranga National Park, 69 rhinos were poached during the period of 1988 to 1991 (Bhattacharya 1993). In Nepal, data shows that intensity of rhino poaching is depend on the action taken by the management authority. During 1976 to 1983 poaching was completely stopped due to the Army involvement in the conservation of rhinoceros. Since 1984, poachers restarted poaching and reached maximum at 1992, about 18 rhinoceros were killed in this year. The Anti-Poaching Units (APU) was established to control the situation and this measure did work and minimized the poaching and was virtually stopped by 1995. However, from 1996, poaching was started again, out of 98 rhinoceros died during the period of May 1996 to July 2000, 28 were from poaching (DNPWC 2000a). It shows that slack in protection due to the political instability, transfer of APU staff and the merging of Gainda Gasti (Rhino Patrol Unit) to the forest guard enhanced the rhino poaching in Chitwan Valley (Fig 1. ]. Fig 1. Rhino poaching trend in Royal Chit wan National Park Data Source: DNPWC 2000 Heavy poaching in Africa and Asia (Williams 1993, ARSG 1999) is mainly for the high priced rhino horn and it has been proved that better protection is the only successful means so far to protect this animal from extinction. Thus, to decrease incentive to poach rhino, management should either increase the opportunity cost of crime through imposed wage elsewhere or increase the probability and severity of the punishment or decrease the actual profit from the crime (Williams 1993). Rhinoceros in Nepal In Nepal, rhinoceros population was estimated at about 1000 animals until 1950 in Chitwan Valley. Rhinoceros populations were dropped down to less than 100 individuals during late 1960s (DNPWC 2000a). After a successful effort of His majesty’s Government of Nepal by creating Royal Chitwan National Park in 1973, disappearing population of rhinoceros started to increase gradually and reached 270-310 individuals by 1975 (Laurie 1978). By 1988, the park was supporting a viable population of 358 rhinos (Diner stein and Price 1991). In 1994, 466 individuals were recorded, like wise in rhino count 2000 the number increases to 544 in Chitwan and 67 in Royal Bardia National Park (DNPWC 2000a) (Fig 2). Fig 2. Population trend of Greater one horned Rhinoceros in Nepal. Rhino Conversation in Nepal Community mobilization Army Information and awareness. Conclusion In adequate large chunk of habitat due to the human interference along with the rampant poaching are the major causes for the depletion of the rhino population in the past. Once depleting population of greater one horn rhinoceros can be recover by the intensive protection measure. However, increasing habitat fragmentation due to the human population growth and confined population of rhino may lead to the loss of genetic variability. Inadequate habitat and the small population can be managed through developing different sub-populations of the animal in a met population concept. Which not only assure the genetic variability but also save from the various natural calamities? Assuring genetic variability only may not enough to safeguard this animal for long term. Externalities like poaching and the hostile nature of the local inhabitants may conflict with the conservation goal. Thus, building social capital of the local people towards the conservation is very much essential. Fulfillment of daily need forest resource and economic incentive to the local people may bring the awareness for the conservation among the local people. Initiation has been begun in Nepal to conserve rhinoceros in the holistic way. Successful translocation activities, satisfactory increment of the host and sink population and encouraging supports from the local people shown that there is great potentiality and hopes to conserve greater one horn rhinoceros. However, the long-term success of this effort will be determined by the regional and international cooperation. 1. strict law establishment: First consider whether the supply or demand curve shifts. Secondly consider the direction of shift and lastly see how the shift affects the equilibrium price and quantity. Its direct impact is on the sellers rather than the buyers. When government able to stop some Rhino poachers or arrest more poachers, it raises the cost of selling that product (Rhino) and therefore, reduces the quantity of product supplied at any given price. Such law was successful during early 70s and 90s due to establishment of Anti-Poaching Units (APU) but later fail due to political instability and centralized management approach. So in this way we can show the economic figure (demand and supply curves) of Rhino horn on black market. Fig: demand and supply curves on black market economy when implementing strict laws. As demand for Rhino Horns are inelastic, the decrease in supply of raises the price of drugs proportionately more than it reduces poaching act. It raises total amount of money that Buyers pay for Rhino horns. Thus implementing harsh law does not always reduce the poaching crimes because Nepal government cant spend or allocate such huge money on conservation alone.