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South Africa is a world renowned tourism paradise for people from across the globe. It boasts attractions to cater for every taste. From the natural splendour of the great outdoors, to the rich cultural heritage of the diverse groups living here, there is something that leaves a lasting impression to anybody visiting this beautiful country.

The grips of the global economic uncertainty did, however, not bypass the Southern tip of Africa. Jobs in South Africa are scarce, crime is perceived to be at unacceptable levels in the form of corruption, violent crimes and crimes such as wildlife poaching are still out of control.

Nature conservation and the protection of our natural resources is an integral part of preserving our wildlife heritage for future generations. The environment, especially in the form of eco-tourism is the source of thousands of jobs to ordinary South Africans.

Try the 2 minute rhino poaching wildlife quiz

This form of employment is highly sought after and is a fiercely competitive industry. Many South Africans possess great knowledge of the African outdoors, even those not employed in such fields. This is also evident in the traditional wisdom passed on from father to son of the African cultures.

The traditional ways are slowly being replaced by Western habits and bush skills are gradually eroding away with the younger generation South Africans, yet wildlife poaching is still practiced on a regular basis.

Poaching is a hotly debated issue in South Africa. It is by far too broad a category to lump it all into one group. Subsistence poaching is considered to be people illegally feeding themselves or their families with the natural resources gathered from nature. On the other hand syndicate or commercial poaching has a strong economic reward implication, with feeding others in exchange for money, by means of poaching.

Not all poaching can be traced back to traditional hunting methods. Poaching with snares or traps is one of the most cruel and inhumane methods and did not originate in Africa. Hunting or poaching with dogs, which is illegal, is a traditional African hunting form.

Poaching with dogs is by no means as successful as poaching with snares. The difference lies also in the targeted wildlife. The most common animal targeted animal is the warthog, as result of its predictable habits. At night the warthog reverses into its burrow. The poacher then often uses his dogs to locate the animal and keep it at bay inside its den.

The pig is driven into frenzy by the dogs, while the hole is plugged with branches. Often smoke and fire is used to then drive the animal out of its lair where it is killed with pangas or axes. This is at great risk to the poacher and his dogs and thus these poachers are seen with great esteem amongst their peers. Poachers with dogs sometimes do this purely to exercise their traditional right or ways and not purely as a means to obtain food.

The number of animal killed on a night depends on how many can be carried by the group and the food needs. To be able to transport more warthogs their intestines are removed and smaller pigs or offspring tied inside the body cavity with bark. This poaching form is more targeted and species specific. There is also far less collateral mortality as compared to poaching with snares.

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