Essay
ggh2604 semester 2 assignment 2
- Institution
- University Of South Africa (Unisa)
Essay about human activities such as poaching, cultural practices and land use change causing extinction.
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ASSIGNMENT NUMBER: 02MODULE CODE: GGH2604
UNIQUE NUMBER:
STUDENT NUMBER:
Essay: The Envisaged impacts of human activities on poaching, land use change and
cultural practice.
Extinction of a particular animal or plant species occurs when there are no more
individuals of that species alive anywhere in the world the species has died out. Many
animals have become extinct due to various human activities which includes land use
change, poaching and cultural practices. These human activities are causing a loss of
our biodiversity that will negatively impact our environment.
Wildlife poaching is the illegal hunting or capture of wild animals and it occurs in many
countries in Africa, a bio diverse region. Poaching is a component of wildlife trafficking
which is the illegal trade in wildlife. International demand, particularly from Asia, drives
poaching and trafficking of certain African wildlife products, and threatens some species
long-term viability. The role of poaching and wildlife trafficking in reducing biodiversity
and disrupting ecosystems, supporting transnational criminal and militant groups,
spreading diseases. Poachers hunt for making huge amounts of profits for examples the
rhino horns can cost R150 000. Animals such as African elephants and rhinoceroses
are affected by poaching and wildlife trafficking. These two species are considered
threatened or endangered under international conventions as well as the U.S.
Endangered Species Act. According to the International Union for Conservation of
(2020) reported that then black and white rhinoceros population stood at 3,142and
10,080, respectively. Rhinoceros populations in Africa are found mainly in Botswana,
Kenya, Namibia, South Africa, and Zimbabwe. According to surveys, Rhinoceroses are
poached for their horns, which are used in practices including traditional Chinese
medicine and as ornaments. South Africa, home to roughly 75% of the African
rhinoceros population, has seen the most poaching. China and Vietnam are reportedly
the top destination countries for rhinoceros horn. Several other rare and endangered
species are poached in Africa, including lions, mountain gorillas, and pangolins, certain
tortoises, and cheetahs. These species are poached largely for their body parts and
meat, which are consumed. By taking away endangered species from their natural
environment, it threatens and entire ecosystem. When species are overhunted, they
become at risk of extinction because there are not enough reproducing mates to
replenish the rapidly decreasing populations of animals. These predicament put the
entire ecosystem at risk. Natural ecosystems often develop a rather delicate balance
between different types of fauna and their local habitat. Because of this cause the
depletion of one species is analytically bound to the effects this has on other species.
For example, the removal of predatory animals can result in an over-abundance of prey
animals resulting in the destabilization and decline of vegetation; the decline of prey
animals can lead to drops in predator numbers because of a reduction in food supply.
Further, certain species are considered ‘keystone’ species in their local environment.
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