Animal poaching is when an animal is killed illegally. it usually occurs when an animal posses something that is considered valuable e.g the animal’s fur or ivory.
Many countries Asia believe that the rhino horn is an important ingredient for many medicines. this is false – A rhino horn has the same medicinal effect as chewing on your fingernails.
In 2012, 668 white rhinos were poached in South Africa. As of January 2013, it increased to 946, these animals were being poached at a rate of 2 per day.
At the beginning of the 20th century, there were a few million African elephants. Today elephants are considered endangered, they are about 450000 – 700000 African elephants.
Typically the large adults, with the biggest tusks are poached, putting the matriarchs of elephant herds at the greatest risk.
In 2011, there were 13 large-scale seizures of ivory confiscated. this is equivalent to at least 2500 elephants.
Vietnam, China and Thailand are just a few countries with markets for horn and tusks.