5 countries with the highest number of poachers

In Asia and Africa, poaching is a huge issue, almost equivalent to drug trafficking in central America.  Yet, very few countries publish sta...

In Asia and Africa, poaching is a huge issue, almost equivalent to drug trafficking in central America. Yet, very few countries publish statistics on the impact of poaching in their midst. As Kenya prepares to vote on a law to penalize poaching by the death penalty, a state of play summary of the situation in the different countries for which data are available.

1. India

The close proximity of India with the emerging countries of South-East Asia has led to a drastic increase in its poaching problems. In 2014, the country has identified 23 deaths of tigers related to poaching, in addition to the 58 other deaths of unknown cause. 40 leopards have died in that same year, including 17 in a manner proven to be due to poaching. 38 elephants and 41 rhinos have also been cases of poachers. The jungle book, it was better before.

2. Kenya

In 2013, 59 rhinos and 302 elephants were poached. In the same year, 1549 suspects were tried for poaching in Kenya. In addition to the environmental disaster, poaching has also claimed the lives of 3 forest guards, while two others were severely injured. The situation in Kenya is such that the authorities are planning to punish the poaching by the death penalty.

3. Mozambique

Mozambique does not publish statistics on poaching faced by elephants and rhinos in its territory, but the country is deemed to be a kind of paradise for the poachers who then export the ivory and the horns of rhino to other countries in Africa and Asia. China is one of the biggest markets for this parallel economy.

4. South Africa

In 2014 1215 rhinos were killed in South Africa, but only 24 elephants. On the years 2013 and 2014, the authorities have arrested or killed 750 poachers.

5. Namibia

Namibia is relatively untouched by the poaching. Only 116 elephants and 24 rhinos have made the costs of poachers between 2012 and 2014. The investments made by the country to develop tourism and to preserve its natural environment are beginning to bear fruit.