Current trends in the contemporary world portray a dire situation regarding endangered species, and it is bound to get worse. Numerous studies have attributed this outcome to poaching activities because of the incessant demand for animal products on the black market. Therefore, in my opinion, policymakers should be at the forefront of this fight by implementing stricter penalties for these culprits and increasing the fines for those found culpable.
Primarily, the hunting of wild animals has become an egregious concern for national parks. Despite the governments’ most valiant efforts, a booming market still exists for animal products, providing an incentive for people to hunt for valuable parts, such as elephant tusks, crocodile skin, and rhinoceros horns, among others. Killing for these products, which is supposed to be illegal, has become commonplace, with some of them being aided by local governments and law enforcement. For instance, the numbers of the famous African elephants and white rhinoceros are sadly declining, courtesy of the aforementioned illegal business.
However, one solution is to enact harsher punishments. Long prison sentences for residents found engaging in these activities, coupled with hefty fines, is a crucial first step in ensuring that they consider the consequences of their actions before committing them. As a result, if a person is found guilty of harming or killing wild animals, they should be punished with life in prison. One good example of the power of stringent measures is the shoot-to-kill policy implemented in Kenya for people found hunting the Big Five animals, and the results have been astounding with a noticeable decrease in poaching.
In conclusion, with the current crisis of decreasing animal populations caused by illegal hunting, I believe that it is imperative that stricter punishments, including life imprisonment and extortionate fines, are introduced to go hand in hand with other measures already in place.