Poaching

For other uses of "Poaching", see Poaching (disambiguation).

Image:Seashell vendor.jpeg Poaching is illegal huntingor fishing. It may be illegal because:

• The game or fish is out of season.
• The animal is on restricted land.
• The right to hunt this animal is claimed by somebody.
• The means used are illegal (for example, baitinga field while hunting quail)
• The animal or fish is protected by law (see for example the Endangered Species Actfor the USA)

Note that only wild animals can be poached. Stealing or killing domestic animals is theft ("cattle rustling"), not poaching.

Historical aspects

In the middle ages, poaching was a form of hunting unique to the poor, especially during the eras when hunting was a privilege reserved (in Europe) to landowners and the nobility. In the 16th century, killing a deer(a royal animal) was punishable by death. In Francethese privileges were abolished in the French Revolution.

The poor typically hunted small animals such as rabbits(using snares and ferrets). Genuine hunting required weapons, considerable skill and spare time, which the average peasant simply did not have. A peasant was far more likely to kill the lord's deer to protect his fields. Still, killing the deer was considered poaching, no matter for what cause. Outlaws could support themselves by hunting (the legendary Robin Hooddid this all the time).

Threat to wildlife

Organized poaching threatens extinctionfor a number of species, especially those which have valuable body parts. Some animal parts are valued as ornaments, such as ivoryfrom elephantsor skinfrom tigers. Other parts are valued for use in traditional medicine, particularly in Asia (see traditional Chinese medicine), such as the hornof the rhinoceros, tiger bonesand animal genitals. In parts of Africa, the poaching of animals for bushmeatthreatens the survival of a number of species, including several of the great apes.

Animals perceived as dangerous to humans or their livestock, such as tigers and wolves, are also threatened by illegal hunting.

A further kind of poaching is live capture of animals, typically for the pettrade or for use as performing animals. Adult animals may be deliberately killed in order to capture their young, and often, only a small number of the animals captured will survive to be sold. Parrotsand other birds, reptiles, primatesand invertebratesare common targets for the pet trade. Animals commonly taken as performing animals include monkeysand bears. ¹

Modern terminology

As of 2005, the verb is also often used to refer to the act of hiring employees who are already employed by another company (especially a competitor) or trying to do so by offering contracts to already employed persons.

See also

• Black Act
• Endangered species
• WildAid
• Night Poaching Act 1828

References

1. The Trade in Wild Animals: A Serious Problem