Hunting and Poaching of Wildlife — Wildlife Management — Learner Quest

Hunting and Poaching of wildlife are the two most important terms used by both hunters and conservationists. It seems quite confusing to understand the difference between them.

The difference between hunting and poaching revolves around the legal parameters related to wild animals.

Let’s discuss them:

Hunting

It is a practice of capturing, killing, stalking and trapping of wild animals through special permits or licenses issued by the concerned wildlife authorities of a state.

It is legally allowed and is strictly in compliance with the proper hunting guidelines and regulation.

Let’s take the example of Trophy hunting which is considered to be legal hunting of big game animals such as rhinos, elephants, lions, pumas, wild goats, and bears, etc

Many countries allow hunting as one of the revenue generators and have many positive management impacts.

Hunting can provide an opportunity for the world ‘s attraction to a particular destination to promote tourism and generate billion-dollar tourism industry if it is managed on a sustainable basis.

But it may be fatal for those countries which have had a minimum threshold of wildlife population.

Why to Hunt

The concept of hunting is not new to our society it traced back from hundred of years. It now becomes a pertinent part of our cultures and ethnicities.

Hunters do hunt with different intentions, it may be for the sake of recreation or leisure, for trophies of various wild aminals and birds.

Similarly, states and various Government allows them for revenue generations and pave away to enhance the economy of the country.

Scientists have a different perspective regarding hunting, sone believes that hunting may prove to be detrimental consequences but the other denies from this concept.

If you look at the various benefits tied with the practice of hunting it will astonish you.

It plays a significant role in the control of wildlife populations.

Hunting is one of the sources of revenue.

Increases a person’s knowledge about Mother Nature.

It can reduce automotive accidents. It promotes an ecological balance by providing lesser competition for various natural resources.

Hunting is great exercise and adrenalin boosting.

Types of Hunting:

Hunting may be of different types depending upon the hunter’s interest and techniques involved. The major types are:

Camouflage Hunting
It refers to the hiding of a hunter until and unless the animals spot out.

Big Game Hunting
Big game animals such as rhinos, elephants, lions, pumas, wild goats, and bears, etc when killed, captured.

Active Hunting
For an active hunter, it is essential to stay on the feet and cover long distances following the prey. You must carry your gear with you, and you might have to travel through the forest.

Bait Hunting
Type of hunting in which you have to wait and sit for hours without making much movement.

Bird Hunting
One of the charms of bird hunting is that you don’t have to wait for the entire season to pass. There are different types of birds available for hunting throughout the year based on the hunting species.

Poaching of Wild Animals:

Poaching is the reverse of hunting.

The Encyclopedia of Earth defines Poaching like this:

Poaching is the illegal hunting, killing or capturing of animals. This can occur in a variety of ways. Poaching can refer to the failure to comply with regulations for legal harvest, resulting in the illegal taking of wildlife that would otherwise be allowable. Examples include: Taking without a license or permit, use of a prohibited weapon or trap, taking outside of the designated time of day or year, and taking of a prohibited sex or life stage. Poaching can also refer to the taking of animals from a wildlife sanctuary, such as a national park, game reserve, or zoo.

When wild animals are killed and captured illegally without any legal bindings hence done when animal possess something of value like fur, ivory, etc.

Poaching is considered to be a heinous crime and banned in most of the countries. It has detrimental effects on the conservation and preservation of wild animals.

Hunting and Poaching of wildlife is a crucial topic for discussion.

Originally published at https://learnerquests.com on September 1, 2019.