>

Rhinos can run around happily without worrying about being murdered for their parts. 🦏
Looks like shoot-at-sight orders are working against poachers. >

[ Removed by Reddit ] >

I hate them just as much as you but remember these people are often poor desperate and have little other options.
However, whatever incentives and laws that have been put in place are working wonderfully. >

Pirates also are "often poor desperate and have little other options." But I don't think that a lot of people would argue that we should treat them with kid gloves because of it.
Poachers are often kill park rangers and witnesses. So "shooting to kill" is also necessary for the ranger's safety and for the people under their watch.
Mind you. "shooting to kill" is not the same as summary executing poachers. If they surrender they should be imprisoned. Not executed.
But. Unless so. They should be treated as enemy soldiers and, as such, rangers should be able to engage them with armed fire.
Especially because. In many places where poaching are common. Poachers are also part of guerrillas and terrorist organizations. As they use poaching as a way to fund themselves.
Edit: Mind you. This should be accompanied with socio-economic programs that eliminate the necessity of poaching to make a living.
"shooting to kill" is a short-term solution to direct danger. socio-economic programs are a long-term and permanent solution to the social problem that causes poaching. >

Really these conversations are looking at two different angles of the problem, and the two angles are complementary, not opposed.
Poachers in the sanctuary are clearly heavily armed dangerous people. They do need to be dealt with as such.  However, the problem of poaching is not going to resolve by killing them. It will reduce rhino deaths, but also escalates violence and puts even more people at risk, because ultimately the poachers aren't doing it because they want to kill rhinos or because they don't fear the consequences, they're doing it because it is extremely lucrative in a place where making that kind of money can be otherwise impossible. The problem of poaching will only be resolved by not making people so desperate that they feel like the risks of poaching (or the risk of joining gangs that will fund themselves with poaching, which is ultimately a similar problem) are worth the rewards. >

No rhinos poached in Assam (India) in 2022 for 1st time in 45 years >

Not sure your point here. Do you understand what "the two angles are complementary, not opposed" means? >

Maybe because the problem of poaching seems to have been solved.
And, no poaching and poverty are not the same thing. >

You can just say "No, I didn't understand" and save yourself some time. There's no shame in not understanding things. >

tHe PrObLeM oF pOaChInG iSnT tHe PoAcHiNg!1!1
is just the lamest fucking line.
Grow the fuck up. >

Poach The Poachers >

Great job by rangers, locals and government! >

This is good news and a great start to 2023.  Well done India! >

Do they still allow rich people to pay to shoot one?
Did I hit a nerve? Because no country out there with these kinds of animals is infallible. >

Since the rest of the answers got derailed... Here's the actual answer to your question.
There are no game reserves in India any more. All former reserves were changed to sanctuaries over 2 decades ago.
No, you can't pay anyone to organize a private hunt. Not legally anyway. Note that gun control is also strict here. Hunting safaris used to be a thing. Not any more. It is deeply frowned upon, as is displaying hunting trophies. We have some deer antlers passed down from my great grandfather tucked away in storage somewhere.
Hunting is allowed in some areas. But only for people who have traditionally been hunting in their region for centuries. These areas are incredibly small and game type is heavily restricted. So, if you belong to a certain tribe in a certain part of the country, your village may be allowed to shoot and kill a deer once a year. >

I'm a fan of "if you can kill a rhino/lion/bear with your bare hands, you get to keep it. Poach away" >

What about a pig? >

A full grown pig will fuck your shit up. 2-3 can make sure you don't ever leave their pen. There is a reason old farmers used to avoid pigs eating meat at all costs, some pigs change with "the taste of blood in their mouths". People used to dispose of fresh murder by feeding the body to the pigs. They crunch bones into smaller pieces and eat the whole thing. >

Hence the expression "as greedy as a pig". >

They go through bone like butta >

That's why you should always be wary of a pig farmer. >

But you need at least 16 pigs to finish the job in one sitting >


But has the war against poaching gone too far?

Nope. >

I wouldn't be mad if they stick the heads of the poachers on a pike and go on a parade >

Now that's going too far. The penalty of death obviously works for reduction. The savagery of mutilating the dead in order to drive the point home is not just redundant. It's... Savage. 
You can raise the stakes so much (no pun intended) before you dissensatize people. >

Thank you, India. Excellent job. >

/r/thankyouindia >

Thank you providence >

Thank you disillusionment >

Hello heeeeellooooo science (what is she singing there?) >

Thank you silence?  I think. >

I just visited Kaziranga National Park over the holidays, amazing experience and incredible place. For a westerner it's pretty deep in India, but it's definitely worth it, I saw so many wild elephants and rhinos and so many other wildlife. It beats the zoo experience because these animals are in a natural habitat >

Were you on an elephant tour. I just saw a vlog recently and it’s a surreal experience. I once saw a Tiger leaping towards a elephant guide as well on YouTube >

I didn't get to do the elephant safari, we did the Jeeps but if I make it again I want to for sure. They have all of these Jeeps and you just follow the path they have made through Kaziranga on the Jeeps. You get a driver and they just take you through, and there is even an intermission area where you get out and walk around, and there is water, fields, mountains, rhinos and elephants everywhere it's awesome >

This is terrific news >

I've had the pleasure of visiting Kaziranga National Park in India and the rangers there deserve every bit of credit. Some of the most hard-working and dedicated people I've ever known. >

Keep up the good work India >

If this is true, this is a good small step in the right direction >

This seems like a big step >

It's all relative. One step for a man is smaller than a step for a rhino. >

Duh. It never was 2022 in the 44 years prior! >

That's exactly how I read this. Lol I get the meaning but the wording is just so slightly off. >

I, for once, am happy to see a positive news from my state here in /r/worldnews. The conservation effort overhaul is indeed showing its impact - the forest guards are more in number today and are much better equipped to deal with the poachers. And yes, they have shoot-at-sight orders.
Another factor that contributes to this positive result is the development work and overall security enhancement in the fringe areas of Kaziranga, especially in the Karbi Anglong district in the southern periphery of the National Park. Poachers would always travel through the rough and very lightly guarded hilly terrain of this district, pay the poor local villagers a handsome amount in return for a safe passage for themselves and the horn, and do the dirty deed without much of a hindrance. But now that these rough and underdeveloped areas are being developed and policing and guarding there is becoming better, it is becoming increasingly difficult for the poachers to reach Kaziranga. Kudos to all the forest guards and police personnel working tirelessly in those difficult regions.
Even though the overall Rhino population number seems pretty low, we are really happy to see the increase in the number of this majestic creature in Kaziranga and the other reserve forests in Assam. It was rare for us to spot a one horned rhino in Kaziranga when we were kids. Nowadays, we see them plenty - not only deep inside the park during a safari, but also while passing through it via the national highway running across. >

If you meet one of those rangers, please give them a thumbs up*, and tell them a random stranger on internet told you to do it. :)
*if thumbs up is culturally appropriate; I’ve seen some Bollywood, but I can’t say I’m culturally literate enough to be certain about this. >

India had a very rich fauna. Big cats like the cheetah were hunted to extinction by the british. 
The Indian government since Independence has done a fantastic job to restore some of the vital species. Tiger is another example of that. India also reintroduced cheetah to its national forest in 2022 and plans to bring its total population to 50 in the next few years. >

They went extinct over loss of habitat not because of colonial hunters. The catalyst for the demise of the local species is primarily related to the local inhabitants. >


this occurrence happened under British rule

You think they gave high velocity rifles to the people they were oppressing? Article literally states it was the British doing the hunting. 
The numbers are all there for you to understand, 50,000 tigers in a 50 years… never mind the other species. You’ve just been provided with solid evidence that your claim is false, I wonder if you’ll pull up any research to back up your claim that “it was the locals!”
And if you’re Canadian, they are your ancestors. >

Oh really? Because all Canadian people are British descendants? Neither of those articles support the claim that British colonial hunters were the primary cause for extinction. It’s hilarious that you think only the British were capable of killing these animals, are Indian people not fully capable? The reality is it was human encroachment via habitat destruction that resulted in extinction which is done by those who live there. Sorry if this is harmful to your curated narrative. >


Because all Canadian people are British descendants?

Yes that’s obviously what I meant… 

are Indian people not fully capable?

Nice straw man, again 
Show me evidence that states colonial hunting practices were not the main cause of species plummeting. >

Then what did you mean by that statement? Show me evidence that colonial hunters are the primary cause for animal extinction. Take the time to google the causes of animal extinction in India, or anywhere on average for that matter. The primary driver will always be loss of habitat. It’s primarily agricultural fyi. It’s not something you can pin on foreigners more than the locals. >

Are any left?
^(very far into the article: some 2600 remain) >

Holy shit that's crazy how close the Indian rhino was to being extinct. Glad they've recovered so much >

Tbh, an evolutionary bottleneck of 100 individuals still probably means game over. >

Unmanaged? Probably toast. Managed? Depends on the taxa, but 50/500 rule hasn't been proven to be totally off base so far as a guideline. >

And presumably there are still populations in foreign zoos etc >

I'm all for the "shoot on sight" orders for poachers. They won't learn if you fine them. Not like humans are an endangered species. >

Fuck yeah!!!! >

Now this is some straight forward uncomplicated news I can get behind.  
Just great to see progress made. >

If I was a rich asshole like Bezos I'd hire mercenaries to guard endangered species. Go full spec-ops on them bitches. Drones, thermals, suppressors, all the bells and whistles you need. Play war and satisfy your bloodlust while protecting majestic creatures. >

ironically, many of the guys poaching are Rich Indian families which do this for the thrill >

Or they're a piece of shit dentist from Muricuh >

Ah, great, now my limp dick powder is going to skyrocket in price just like everything else!/s >

Has there been a 2022 in the past 45 years?