Kat just brought my attention to the following sickening article with pictures:
http://dzangaforestelephants.wildlifedirect.org/2010/06/01/news-from-the-forest/

Makes one irrationally wish that elephants and rhinos could be armed to shoot to
kill the barbaric humans.

Thanks Kat for calling this to my attention.

Sick people - I do not think such acts can only be carried out for money!

As we know, often wildlife organizations use reformed poachers to be guides to help catch poachers.

Wonder why organizations don't offer hunters the chance for big bucks to be "rangers" for a month and let them go in the bush and shoot other poachers, people who poison lions, spear elephants, etc. Of course there would be real rangers with them to prevent their killing wildlife. Rather than killing an innocent animal, they could fulfill their blood lust to kill a guilty person. It would raise big money for the wildlife conservation people, save the life of an innocent animal, and get rid of a guilty poacher all at the same time.

Then again, perhaps these hunters wouldn't have the cajones to be in the wild bush unprotected by a professional hunter by their sides. They are used to canned hunting where a cage door is opened and they shoot an obviously visible animal at close range. Or, if they are in the bush, they have a PH to back them up
with a proper kill shot when they miss their target. Of course they would have to sign an indemnity clause as all us tourists do so that if something bad happens, the wildlife organization wouldn't be held responsible.

Wonder if something like this could work?

This system is already in place in TZ as well as Zimbabwe. Prof. hunters who have private land are allowed to protect their area and "shoot" poachers on the land.
The best person to commet on such a situation is good old BwanaMich however looks like he is AWOL.

Interesting comments Jan.

Cody: I'm not talking about professional hunters protecting their property. I'm talking about Mr. Rich Texan who wants to kill something paying an organizaiton such as KWS $50,000 to go out on antipoaching patrols for a month and killing a poacher instead of wildlife. The conservation group makes $50,000l, the wildlife is saved and he goes home a hero for killing a poacher. Only difference would be that he couldn't have the poacher stuffed, shipped home and placed on his wall as a souvenir to brag about!

I am with you now - sounds like a good plan but.... the poacher shoots back and that may be a little tough for Mr. Rich!!!