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This can also be seen as tranfering blame to the poorest of the poaching chain - the poachers themselves. The smugglers and especially buyers won't be affected

• DLA 8y ago
  Agree, and feel sad we need to go here. This transfer to the bottom of the chain is a real and difficult problem for sure. But at some point is the supply of people who will do this crime gets cut off then the entire supply chain falls apart. In an ideal world it would be best to target the kingpins, but we all know how difficult this can be with their use of lawyers, cut-outs, front companies, and other evasive moves. It sucks that humans will hunt a species to extinction for pure vanity (skins, jeweler and horn potions). Agree further with you and maxxxxx that smugglers and buyers of said animal contraband should be severely punished. But again, that's so far after the fact and there are so many possible outlets for these goods that a demand side solution will just not work. The Chinese government, if they really wanted to cut down on ivory and rhino supplement trade, could enact and enforce severe buy-side punishments. The sad fact is, there is one and only one choke point in this entire global supply chain and that's the guy with the gun that chooses of his own free will to kill one of these animals for money. Stop him and the entire enterprise folds. Yes, I know it's harsh, but other efforts are just not working.