The government in the Indian state of Maharashtra has declared war on animal poaching by allowing forest guards to shoot hunters on sight. We don’t leave our valuables unprotected, and by taking this approach the government is indicating that we should not leave our natural heritage unguarded either.
About half of the world’s 3,200 tigers are in dozens of wildlife reserves in India. But illegal poaching remains a serious threat with tiger parts fetching high prices on the international black market. Dozens of other animals are also targeted by hunters around the world. Rhinos are prized for their horns and male elephants for their tusks, while other big cats such as leopards are hunted or poisoned by villagers.
The urgency for the training and deployment of committed forest guards to protect wildlife across the globe could not be greater. They toil in terrain that is remote and physically dangerous. We need to provide the resources, security and support to safeguard the world’s natural treasures, otherwise our natural heritage will continue its downward slide.
