The dark side of the dark continent

This is a black backed jackel, scavenging a rhino carcass. I have some amazing, but potentially graphic and upsetting photos that I'll post later as age restricted. But this is a story that needs to be told. The rhino was the victim of poachers. White rhinos are doing really well in this part of South Africa, and while poaching is reduced, it remains a problem. The solution is complex, but includes eco tourism, education, and sufficient wealth generation to reduce the financial allure of poaching. The latter is a classic Pirates dilemma, a concept described in my friend Matt Mason's brilliant book of the same name. You cannot solve this kind of issue by enforcement alone, you must eliminate the economic driving force.

 

Even in death, this unfortunate victim served the ecosystem, creating a hotbed of activity including lions, a leopard, and jackals. But that is small consolation, and we need to find ways to stop poaching altogether. The cycle of life doesn't need help from human poachers.

Done