Let’s Save Planet Earth’s Species Before It Is Too Late, Starting With South Africa's Wildlife.

South Africa is a country known for its exotic animals and beautiful safaris. However, from the beginning of the 20^th century, their wild-lands have been notorious for seeing a rise in illegal hunting activity, or poaching for ivory. This form of violence has created a ripple effect that has plummeted much of the wild animal count in the region. Popular animals like the tiger, African elephant, and African rhino are some key species experiencing a critical drop in population from the beginning of the century due to the rise in poaching activity. According to the International Union for the Conservation of Nature’s red list of threatened species, the tiger is listed under the endangered category while the African elephant and African rhino are considered critically endangered.

Credits: Earth Times

            In 2012, according to DoSomething.org, 668 African rhinos were documented to have been poached in South Africa, with tusks completed removed. By January 2013, that number had risen to 946, bringing the average count to two rhino slaughters per day. Sadly, by the end of 2014, that same number had reached 1,215 deaths.

But because of thoughtful organizations like The African Rhino Specialist Group (an international committee for the protection of African rhinos) now, combating poaching activity and the rapid decline in wildlife has become easier. Conservationists have luckily been able to sustain and initiate growing numbers in rhinos as of 2017, according to savetherhinos.org. 

Credits: True Activist

The African elephant in South Africa may prove to be in a more dire situation long term, however, with a total documented number of 100,000 kills per year in the 1980s, according to WWF Global. This violence has caused, in some regions of the world, a whopping 80% loss in elephant herds in the wild, and represents the total international loss of this particular breed of elephant on the African continent.

Credits: www.tusk.org

According to the National Geographic, much of the income made through illegal ivory poaching and selling is being reinforced in the market by youngsters from low to middle income level families who use ivory purchases as a means to project an image of wealth. Many a time, the ramifications of illegal trade often become down-played or at least thought of to be less concerning or as impactful as they truly are by people who mindlessly take part in this viciously cruel industry. 

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Similar to the animals being poached for ivory, tigers in Africa have also been in a rapid decline since 2010. According to PoachingFacts.com, 50 tigers were killed for their fur in 2016. Although tiger poaching statistics seem not as drastic in number as elephant or rhino instances, there are merely 3,890 tigers left in the wild which makes 50 kills a truly significant loss. 

Much of what is considered to be quality fashion nowadays are high prices, novelty items, and limited editions that seek to display vanity. Ivory has been thought of for decades as prestigious and rare. The concern with humans classifying ivory to be highly desired materialistically is the heinous butchering of wild animals that must occur for that specific commercial gain.

 The most important misconception that must soon begin to turn itself around is that there is next to no prestige in the violent slaughtering of innocent animals. This conscious awareness must be brought to the attention and understanding of all humans. Activists who care about these animals should do more to teach the public of the harmful effects that the buying of ivory and fur can do to the already dying population of these majestic animals in the wild. According to One Green Planet, the planet's ecosystem is extremely sensitive and the food chain is being drastically altered because of past poaching activities in certain regions. 
No innocent animal that belongs to the life of this planet should be slaughtered for materialistic human satisfaction anymore.