Kruger National Park - 7 Arrested Since Beginning Of Year

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It's been 14 days since 2020 began and Kruger National Park in South Africa has seen 7 arrests for suspected rhino poaching. Although this is unwelcome news considering rhinos are in serious danger of going extinct, it's also an example of how tirelessly those protecting these animals work to have made these arrests and save rhino lives. 

The arrests were made in clusters within the first 9 days of 2020 signalling a continued necessity for protecting the park and its animals. To think that in just over a week, 7 people thought it wise to enter a protected park and attempt to slaughter rhinos for their horns without fear of repercussions is an angering thought to say the least. This continued effort is necessary if the rhinos will continue to exist on our planet. 

What scares me the most about these stories is that despite all of these people going out and risking their lives to protect animals, there are still just as many people looking to undo all of this hard work for their own greed. That there were 7 people who could care less about the survival of an entire species in under two weeks is astonishing and frightening. To think that there are likely more of them hiding out at this very moment waiting for their opportunity to slaughter a rhino for its horn is devastating. It sickens me to think that there are still this many people among us who have such ill intentions. 

I think it's incredibly important to continue efforts in protecting these animals but also incredibly important to work towards other things that need to change. For example, although this park doesn't support trophy hunting, it's time for a complete ban. The animals killed in these hunts are often animals that are facing serious perils naturally in the wild. Secondly, we need to come together globally and condemn ivory products altogether. We need to ban them on every level from obtaining, selling, and producing, ivory MUST be banned. If we were to take this step and ban ivory through global cooperation, there would be less illegal poaching. If we devalue the product, there's no need for it any longer.

I've said this many times before through various posts but we need the entire planet's help in protecting endangered species. We must eliminate every situation that could allow these endangered animals to inch closer to extinction. We can't allow trophy hunting of endangered species while also allowing conservationists to work tirelessly to protect these animals. Our hypocrisy and slow actions are costing these species' their existence. There's always more that can be done but it starts with our government's taking initiative and banning these activities that work against true conservation otherwise all of the hard work these anti-poaching units do is in vain. All of the work activists do everyday to bring awareness to the plight of endangered species is in vain. We need action and we need it now.

Big congratulations to all of the people responsible for working everyday to protect these beautiful animals. I simply hope that more continues to be done to ensure a future for these species.

HAPPY VEG