POACHERS SWITCH SIDES TO BECOME PROTECTORS OF KENYAS' ELEPHANTS

courtesy: globalpost

 

 

Last year alone nearly 25,000 elephants were slaughtered for their ivory by poachers in Africa.

 

Most of the deaths occurs in the savannahs of the rift valley, and Kenya is at the center of the poachers' activities.

 

However, a new trend is emerging: a few of the poachers are switching sides, having become consciously guilty that their activity is destroying their homeland's heritage and environment. 

 

And some have offered their knowledge and themselves in guarding the elephants and have joined the Kenyan forces in trying to stop the deadly practice.

 

They are working side by side with the parks' guards, and in so doing find themselves in mortal danger from poachers like them who will stop at nothing to get their ivory.  

 

 photo: National Geographic

 

 

Some see the change as a consequence of a new policy adopted by the guards, who no longer seek to imprison the poachers, but have clear orders to 'shoot to kill' any poachers. Another is the fact that the poachers, although procuring what becomes a very expensive good that makes its way to Asian markets for people eager to own ivory sculptures, do not themselves get rich from the activity.  Poachers in fact get all the risk and not so much reward. 

 

Although the poachers now with the guards go through a period in which they have to prove the sincerity of their efforts, they also in the long run can hope to gain a paid job with the wildlife conservancy or the state police.         

 

The trend breathes some hope into the conservationists efforts to stop what is seen as an holocaust for the pachiderms.  The large animals have nowhere to hide in the low African brush, and their ivory can be sold ultimately for more than 1,000 a pound, even though its sale has been outlawed worldwide.  

 

The estimates are that if the current slaughter rate is not stopped, all elephants will be gone by 2023.  

 

One of the problems that fuels the poaching trade is the lack of jobs in Kenya and the region.  Some men, as young as 15 start poaching to survive.  

 

Source: France 24/ 2.26.13