Poachers are taking advantage of the pandemic to kill more animals
Poachers are taking advantage of the pandemic to kill more animals
7 hours ago
By Hanna Kozlowska
Investigative reporter
Poachers have been taking advantage of the coronavirus pandemic to kill more animals, whether its rhinos in Africa, giant ibises in Asia, or wild cats in South America. Lockdown measures and falling tourism gives them free rein to roam and hunt for endangered species.
Conservationists in multiple places cite anecdotal evidence that there has been an increase in poaching. In Botswana, at least six rhinos have been killed in recent weeks, and in South Africa, at least nine, according to CNBC. In Colombia, poachers have been killing more jaguars, pumas, and ocelots, Newsweek reports. In Cambodia, three giant ibisesso 1% to 2% of the global populationdrank poison reportedly set up by poachers, who according to Mongabay have become more active in Southeast Asia. In India, people are illegally hunting for various kinds of deer.
Conservationists say theres a variety of reasons for the increase in killings. With no tourism, far fewer people who could spot poachers are in national parks or other protected areas. Animal rights advocates also cant continue their work as they would in normal circumstances. In Colombia, wild cats are on the prowl outside of protected areas, worrying local activists that farmers will be killing them to protect their livestock.
With revenue from tourism and other industries falling, people are losing jobs and may be turning to poaching to make money or feed themselves.
More:
https://qz.com/1846069/poachers-take-advantage-of-coronavirus-to-kill-more-animals/
Seems like a safe bet monsters are doing that in the U.S., too. There has never been a scarcity of sadistic, greedy dirtballs here, either.