Poachers become game keepers

[Catherine]

This is the best of all possible solutions. The men who killed the Mountain Gorillas when they were poachers, now work as Game Keepers and protect them. They earn a steady living and their families have security. The Mountain Gorillas are protected and their families have security. Everybody wins.
http://news.yahoo.com/poachers-turn-game...41769.html


The Mountain Gorillas are worth more alive than dead.
It seems that eco-tourism is life saving for some species.

[Cibach]

Some common sense, at last.

[Catherine]

If only we could apply this to other poaching situations. The animals are worth more alive than dead. People will pay to see them year after year. Killing the animals is a little like burning your house down to keep warm in the winter. It does not provide lasting heat.

Hiring the poachers may be the only way to stop them.

[Tobi]

This seems like a great solution, and very inspired. I think evolution comes in like that....a sudden thought by sometimes one person -which spreads among others as a good idea, and provides benefits to all, eventually changing the old ways into a new direction.

[Catherine]

If only that change can spread around the world. There are many situations where a change like this would change things for the better.
The thing is, the new way can be sustained. The Game Keepers have work for a lifetime. Poaching was quick cash and benefited no one. If they drove the Gorillas to extinction there would be no more poaching anyhow. This is a life giving solution.