Watch: Two convicted poachers explain why they killed an endangered rhino in Nepal

Writer Todd Reubold
@treubold Media and communications professional

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February 13, 2017 — The world is facing a global poaching crisis. But who are the people on the front lines pulling the trigger? And why are they killing so many endangered species at such an alarming rate?

This video takes viewers to Nepal where we meet Dhan and Suklal Bahadur — two poachers convicted of killing a greater one-horned rhinoceros, also know as the Indian rhinoceros — the second largest land mammal by weight after the elephant.

At present the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List has this species listed as “vulnerable,” with a little over 2,000 animals left in the wild.

This video, featuring people responsible for illegally killing wildlife, adds an important piece to the discussion of this global issue. Understanding the motivations of poachers like Suklal and Dhan Bahadur, along with stepped up enforcement of anti-poaching efforts and campaigns to reduce the purchase of wildlife parts, is critical to preventing further poaching in Nepal and elsewhere.

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Add Your Comments

Al Marrs Feb. 16th, 2017

Why THE HELL HASN'T the UN BOUGHT these killers off via food supplies etc ?
Yabing H. Nollet Mar. 21st, 2017

Are rhinoceros' horns used for sort of medicine? Otherwise, I don't understand why Chepangs kill them. They could have other meat as alternatives.
Arthur Kemper Apr. 5th, 2017

This will continue unabated until the social and legal costs to those who purchase the plunder are increased to their pain point. As a global society the costs of threatening a another species with extinction must be raised to a greater point than the perceived benefit. There is a select minority of the population that sees itself above moral, natural, and legal repercussions. Some of this can be accomplished through education awareness campaigns. But as human environmental history shows, behavior change does not occur until there are extraordinary social, legal, political and financial costs sufficient to counter the perceived value of a threatened species as a commodity.
Amir Apr. 7th, 2017

Yabing, the rhino horns are sold and traded for huge amounts of money. The rhinos are killed for their horns, the horns are then sequestered into the global (illegal) sale of ivory from the horns.

Watch: Two convicted poachers explain why they killed an endangered rhino in Nepal

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