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To Protect Rhinos, This National Park Just Shoots People (50 Poachers Killed So Far)
Kaziranga National Park is a story of success when it comes to conservation of rhinos – but what they’ve done to achieve it is allowing its workers to shoot and even kill potential poachers. So far, the park has killed 50 people.
Rhinos are safe there – a century ago, there was only a handful of Indian one-horned rhinoceros. Now, the park hosts more than 2,400, which is two-thirds of the world’s population. However, little is talked about the fact that in 2015, more people were shot dead by park guards then the number of rhinos killed by poachers.
These people all went after rhino horn, as they could be sold for as much as $6,000 for 100g and are considerably more expensive than gold. They are mostly marketed as a miracle cure for everything from cancer to erectile dysfunction.
So yes, rhinos do need protection, but this has gone too far. National park’s workers can kill a person and get away with impunity. The question is, could this kind of punishment ever be justified? And how many innocent people were killed?
More info: Kaziranga National Park (h/t: bbc)
RELATED:
Kaziranga National Park is a story of success when it comes to conservation of rhinos – but they kill poachers
Image credits: PA
So far, the park has killed 50 people
Image credits: EPA
Rhinos are safe there – a century ago, there was only a handful of Indian one-horned rhinoceros
Image credits: Anupam Nath
Now, the park hosts more than 2,400, which is two-thirds of the world’s population
Image credits: Jonas Stenqvist
However, more people were shot dead by park guards then the number of rhinos killed by poachers
Image credits: PA
These people all went after rhino horn, as they could be sold for as much as $6,000 for 100g
Image credits: Emma Gatland
They are mostly marketed as a miracle cure for everything from cancer to erectile dysfunction
Image credits: Rudi Hulshof
So yes, rhinos do need protection, but this has gone too far
Image credits: Martin Harvey
National park’s workers can kill a person and get away with impunity
Image credits: Sebastien Degardin
The question is, could this kind of punishment ever be justified?And how many innocent people were killed?
Image credits: Michael Spain
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What do you think ?
Tiffany Kraha 8 years ago
Poachers know the risks when they try to kill endangered species. Something has got to be done. This isn't too far.
Brian Kemboi 8 years ago
Juan, I live in Kenya, Africa. People do not poach these animals for meat. No one does it not for close to 30 years now. The motivation is always the horns. Elephants are killed, de-horned and the carcass decompose. No one takes the meat. Currently, Kenya has the last three northern white rhinoes and they are past the point of reproduction. If such measures were taken, maybe these rhinoes would not be in this situation.
Load More Replies...
Don Zirbel 8 years ago
YES I want them to be killed...they respect nothing but personal profit and care nothing about the rest of life that shares this planet. They themselves have proven there is no other way to stop them, so they can rot on the ground for all I care.
Load More Replies...
Delta Force 8 years ago
.The question is how many innocent Rhinos and other species may have been killed? Ask that too.....
Adriana Bosman 8 years ago
1,175 rhinos poached and killed in 2015 alone. So extremely sad
Load More Replies...
Darth Vader 8 years ago
My opinion, not enough poachers are being killed. You will know before you enter the area that if you trespass you will be shot, and if you still enter knowingly and you are not a poacher, then sorry, you are dumb. Rhino's are being killed at an alarming rate every single day. Soon there will be no more of them, but guess what there will still be moronic humans everywhere. When the rhino are gone, they will look at another animal as a target and they will be gone too if drastic measures like this are not put in place. Down vote this comment all you want, but that's the sad truth. I have no remorse for poachers who get shot regardless of their circumstances.
kytetiger 8 years ago
Poachers still got enough incentive to kill endangered species. As long as there is demands people will hunt these beautiful creature (and essential for the balance of our ecosystem). What if these people have a good enough job to provide for their families, and got the education to build a durable system? What if the people who usually buy these horns got an education and no longer believe in fairytales about the "vertue" of keratine?
Load More Replies...
Márk Beregszászi 8 years ago
"However, little is talked about the fact that in 2015, more people were shot dead by park guards then the number of rhinos killed by poachers." Is that supposed to be gruesome? There are 8 billion people on this planet and 3,600 of those rhinos. Guess I will not shed tears for the poacher scum. At least one park knows what to do to protect these endangered animals.
PJ 8 years ago
It's actually quite simple. If you don't want to get killed, don't go into an area where you can be mistaken as a poacher. If you think the penalty is too far, then go arrest those at the root of the problem. Chances are you can't, and won't. China has already announced new measures against importing ivory and other keratin animal products. We're getting there, slowly.
Benson Wainaina 8 years ago
@Michelle every national park that has big game has an electric fence around it. It's actually illegal to sneak in there. No one wanders in there, there's parks where the Maasai live and even those have a fence outside. Also the park rangers are always locals...they aren't a foreign force brought from far away, they know anyone who might be there on legitimate business, those people also don't carry weapons or hide in the bush or try run when they see rangers...which am assuming makes it easy to know someone who's upto no good
Load More Replies...
Aunt Messy 8 years ago
How many poachers have shot and killed witnesses (including park employees) to their crimes? Did anyone bother to look that up? I don't condone randomly killing people, but poachers are not sweet innocents. When this much money is at stake, things get violent.
Aunt Messy 8 years ago
It's a simple question, Arty. How many poachers have shot witnesses to their crimes? Google is your friend. Why are you so frightened to look it up? You keep spewing your nonsense, but you can't answer one simple question? *dismissed*
Load More Replies...
Dorota 8 years ago
Innocent people? There is nothing innocent about them. Kill them, kill those bastards.
Crow King 8 years ago
Michelle are you f*****g kidding me? Are you actually sympathetic towards poachers? Why do I feel like you got some ivory in your house?
Load More Replies...
Tim Hussey 8 years ago
No it has not gone too far. It has 100% worked. Nobody is forcing them to poach - the consequences are harsh but necessary. Stay out and live. Murder and steal and you get reap what you sew. 'Let Live and Live' in an amendment of the well known phrase.
Tiffany Kraha 8 years ago
Poachers know the risks when they try to kill endangered species. Something has got to be done. This isn't too far.
Brian Kemboi 8 years ago
Juan, I live in Kenya, Africa. People do not poach these animals for meat. No one does it not for close to 30 years now. The motivation is always the horns. Elephants are killed, de-horned and the carcass decompose. No one takes the meat. Currently, Kenya has the last three northern white rhinoes and they are past the point of reproduction. If such measures were taken, maybe these rhinoes would not be in this situation.
Load More Replies... Don Zirbel 8 years ago
YES I want them to be killed...they respect nothing but personal profit and care nothing about the rest of life that shares this planet. They themselves have proven there is no other way to stop them, so they can rot on the ground for all I care.
Load More Replies... Delta Force 8 years ago
.The question is how many innocent Rhinos and other species may have been killed? Ask that too.....
Adriana Bosman 8 years ago
1,175 rhinos poached and killed in 2015 alone. So extremely sad
Load More Replies... Darth Vader 8 years ago
My opinion, not enough poachers are being killed. You will know before you enter the area that if you trespass you will be shot, and if you still enter knowingly and you are not a poacher, then sorry, you are dumb. Rhino's are being killed at an alarming rate every single day. Soon there will be no more of them, but guess what there will still be moronic humans everywhere. When the rhino are gone, they will look at another animal as a target and they will be gone too if drastic measures like this are not put in place. Down vote this comment all you want, but that's the sad truth. I have no remorse for poachers who get shot regardless of their circumstances.
kytetiger 8 years ago
Poachers still got enough incentive to kill endangered species. As long as there is demands people will hunt these beautiful creature (and essential for the balance of our ecosystem). What if these people have a good enough job to provide for their families, and got the education to build a durable system? What if the people who usually buy these horns got an education and no longer believe in fairytales about the "vertue" of keratine?
Load More Replies... Márk Beregszászi 8 years ago
"However, little is talked about the fact that in 2015, more people were shot dead by park guards then the number of rhinos killed by poachers." Is that supposed to be gruesome? There are 8 billion people on this planet and 3,600 of those rhinos. Guess I will not shed tears for the poacher scum. At least one park knows what to do to protect these endangered animals.
PJ 8 years ago
It's actually quite simple. If you don't want to get killed, don't go into an area where you can be mistaken as a poacher. If you think the penalty is too far, then go arrest those at the root of the problem. Chances are you can't, and won't. China has already announced new measures against importing ivory and other keratin animal products. We're getting there, slowly.
Benson Wainaina 8 years ago
@Michelle every national park that has big game has an electric fence around it. It's actually illegal to sneak in there. No one wanders in there, there's parks where the Maasai live and even those have a fence outside. Also the park rangers are always locals...they aren't a foreign force brought from far away, they know anyone who might be there on legitimate business, those people also don't carry weapons or hide in the bush or try run when they see rangers...which am assuming makes it easy to know someone who's upto no good
Load More Replies... Aunt Messy 8 years ago
How many poachers have shot and killed witnesses (including park employees) to their crimes? Did anyone bother to look that up? I don't condone randomly killing people, but poachers are not sweet innocents. When this much money is at stake, things get violent.
Aunt Messy 8 years ago
It's a simple question, Arty. How many poachers have shot witnesses to their crimes? Google is your friend. Why are you so frightened to look it up? You keep spewing your nonsense, but you can't answer one simple question? *dismissed*
Load More Replies... Dorota 8 years ago
Innocent people? There is nothing innocent about them. Kill them, kill those bastards.
Crow King 8 years ago
Michelle are you f*****g kidding me? Are you actually sympathetic towards poachers? Why do I feel like you got some ivory in your house?
Load More Replies... Tim Hussey 8 years ago
No it has not gone too far. It has 100% worked. Nobody is forcing them to poach - the consequences are harsh but necessary. Stay out and live. Murder and steal and you get reap what you sew. 'Let Live and Live' in an amendment of the well known phrase.
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