ANTI-POACHING

TRAFFIC

- Drug Trafficking = $650 Million

- Environmental Trafficking (Wildlife & Flora) = $260 Million

- Human trafficking (organs, prostitution, modern slavery) = $152 Million

- Firearms trafficking = $10 Million

ATTENTION !

Regarding weapons, we are referring to those sold illegally to civilians, criminal groups, or local militias. This does not include illegal sales facilitated by state corruption or arms trafficking on an international military scale. Therefore, the total "true" value of illegal weapons worldwide could be higher, but is difficult to quantify due to the clandestine nature of these arms trades and the role of states

We will not discuss here Cybercrime, Counterfeiting, or the trafficking of precious metals and works of art.

ABUNDANCE OF POPULATIONS

- GORILLAS : 1.060 individuals

- PANDAS : 1.860 individuals

- BLUE WHALES : 25.000 individuals

- RHINOS : 28.000 individuals

- LIONS : 30.000 individuals

- ELEPHANTS : 450.000 individuals

- HUMANS : 8.240 000 000 individuals

WORLD BIOMASS

BIOMASS : Total living mass measured in gigatones of carbon.

Study carried out by Yinon M. Bar-on, Rob Phillips et Ron Milo.

There are currently far more farm animals than humans:

- 25 billion chickens

- 1.5 billion cattle

- 1 bilion pigs

- 8 bilion humans

CATTLE

HUMANS

WILDLIFE

CAUSES OF POACHING

General context

Poaching is not just about the loss of individuals of a species; it weakens entire ecosystems and human societies. Animals are integrated into networks of interactions (predators/prey, pollination, seed dispersal, habitat engineering), and their disappearance triggers chain reactions that undermine the resilience of natural environments and our shared heritage.

Ecological consequences

Cascading effects: the disappearance of a keystone species (elephant, large predator, pollinator) alters the structure of ecosystems (e.g., overabundance of some species, collapse of others, habitat loss). Ecosystem loss leads to decreased pollination, reduced pest control, lower soil quality, and impaired water filtration—services that support agriculture and human life.

Links to organized crime and security

Animal trafficking is controlled by networks connected to other networks such as drug trafficking, arms trafficking, prostitution, human trafficking, and corruption. These networks exploit vulnerabilities and black markets, Asian markets, illegal hunting markets, etc. The money from poaching is used to buy weapons and equipment for local militias, mafias, cartels, and jihadists, fueling wars around the world.

RANGERS

FRANCE :

- Forest Rangers : surveillance and issuing of fines.
- National Forestry Office (ONF) : patrols, prevention of offences (illegal cutting, illegal occupations, minor poaching) often in collaboration with the OFB.
- Environmental Police (OFB) : investigations, missions and arrests.

- Legionary : military anti-poaching missions or missions against illegal gold mining (Operation Harpie) in support of the FAG (Armed Forces in French Guiana - Army, Navy, Air Force).

AFRICA :

- Safary Ranger : Safari and hiking guide for tourists, commercial/educational role and animal identification.

- Game Ranger : Perimeter patrolman, local surveillance of an area (farm, corridor, reserve), deters infractions.

- APU Ranger : Anti-poaching unit, intelligence operations, tactical patrols, ambushes and arrests.

- Ranger RRU : Rapid intervention unit (paramilitary elite), complex ambushes, operational planning, gang attacks, high-risk missions.

- Commandos Forestiers : These are paramilitary units placed under government authority to combat intensive poaching and criminal networks, and are found particularly in Congo, Gabon, Cameroon, and Central Africa. Their operations are long and cross-border, often in difficult terrain.

NOTE :

- Texas Ranger : This has absolutely nothing to do with "environmental forces"... it's a Texas State Police force in the United States.