Poaching is one of the most elusive and hard-to-trace criminal industries worldwide, and according to Britannica Encyclopaedia’s Johanna Flahive, ranks with drugs, weapons, and human trafficking as one of the most lucrative criminal businesses. In fact, these are all intertwined in a web of violence and corruption so that law enforcement cannot take down one without taking down the others. Because the industry is so opaque, too many poachers fly under the radar as they capture, kill, and smuggle animals across borders. Because of its debilitating effects on ecosystems and the danger lurking throughout the industry, why isn’t more being done to stop poachers?

One of the reasons that poaching still prospers today is because some illegally hunted animals can fetch a pretty penny. Poor hunters in areas such as the Amazon Rainforest would do anything to put food on the table, and are enticed by the above average salaries that shady smugglers offer. Britannica writer Johanna Flahive’s research indicated that hunters are lured back by these high salaries, creating a steady cash flow that can motivate them to find more valuable species. But the problem with this is that poaching is a supply and demand industry. It doesn’t matter what a poacher catches or kills, if nobody wants to buy it, the hunter walks away empty-handed. Poaching supplies furs for fashion, so the market fluctuates with what’s ‘in style’. This unreliable market makes poaching such a terrible industry to be in.

This goes without saying that we need to do more to stop poachers. This devastating form of trafficking is taking too big a toll on our environment for it to go unnoticed or unstopped. Luckily, steps are being taken in the right direction. Lenore T. Adkins is a writer at ShareAmerica, a government website documenting global affairs. In an article about America’s anti-poaching efforts, she said, “Since 2015, the Presidential Task Force on Wildlife Trafficking in 2015 has activated a three-pronged strategy to promote law enforcement, build international cooperation, and reduce demand for illegal wild animals and their parts.”(Adkins) While it’s great the U.S. wants to help, there is still lots to be done. One government cannot take down a worldwide crime web, it needs the help from dozens of other governments. If we could get densely populated countries such as China on board, demand could fall. 
      Another reason poaching still prospers is because few people are aware of how widespread it is. When interviewed, Michael Speller, an American adult,  said that contributing to stopping poaching wasn’t a priority for them because they had so much else on their plate. But when surveyed by , 100% of the dozen Coleytown eighth graders surveyed rated poaching above a 5 on a scale from 1 to 10, 1 being minor and 10 being a huge issue. While the adult’s lack of concern demonstrates a troubling lack of knowledge about poaching, the statistics about students’  belief in poaching’s severity show hope for the future. 

       If our generation is more aware and informed of poaching, perhaps we can save species that are threatened by it. My only hope is that they can hold on that long, because help for these animals is long overdue.