I totally agree with everything which you both have written above. The best practical way forward is to get these impoverished poachers some other lucrative way of making a living. When there are hungry mouths to feed, such people are not going to listen to reason or lectures about compassion or preserving species.
However, having said all that, the demand for such animal parts will not cease until the false belief in their medical properties is soundly dealt with a local level. These superstitions do need to be challenged for what they are - completely baseless medically. A double-pronged attack is needed. The demand needs to cease, as well as helping the poachers to find alternative sources of income. Otherwise, the importers and processors will just seek new poachers for a higher rate of pay.
However, having said all that, the demand for such animal parts will not cease until the false belief in their medical properties is soundly dealt with a local level. These superstitions do need to be challenged for what they are - completely baseless medically. A double-pronged attack is needed. The demand needs to cease, as well as helping the poachers to find alternative sources of income. Otherwise, the importers and processors will just seek new poachers for a higher rate of pay.
