Three animals at risk of extinction due to illegal hunting

Entrepreneur and medical professional Margaret L. Salmon, M.D., has been working to help low-income communities in countries like DR Congo and Ethiopia. She has witnessed how Africa's protected areas are suffering from a declining mammal population. Several factors such as climate change, destruction of habitat, and armed conflict, contribute to the decreasing numbers of animals. But illegal hunting is one of the main reasons why many species are at risk of extinction. Here are three animal species that could be extinct because of poaching.

Pangolin

This small and scaly mammal is the most poached animal in the world. Found in Asia and Africa, this animal is poached for its scales that are made of keratin. According to studies, millions of pangolins have been poached to be used for beauty, fashion, and medical products. Unlike other species that are hunted illegally, it's difficult to track the number of pangolins. However, conservationists have discovered that they are poached by the thousands.

Rhinos

Margaret L. Salmon, M.D., is involved in community projects in Ethiopia and DR Congo. These two territories are known for being the home to rhino species that are being hunted by poachers with connections to illegal syndicates. But aside from these African nations, some countries in Asia are also experiencing a significant decline in the rhino population. Because of this, local governments and organizations have strengthened security measures to preserve the different rhino species.

Gorillas

Mountain gorillas can be considered one of the world's most endangered species. Poached for bushmeat or abducted as pets, these gorillas are in danger from harsh human treatment. Thankfully, many conservation organizations are spreading awareness of the need to protect these animals. For instance, welcoming tourists to see gorillas in their natural habitat has proved to be effective in encouraging people to champion efforts to create a safe environment for these animals.

Margaret L. Salmon, M.D., is the founder of InnovationsCZ, a lab specializing in innovating and prototyping low-cost solutions to fulfill the healthcare needs of populations caught in conflict. Learn more about Dr. Salmon and InnovationsCZ on this website.