Poachers are now being hunted and killed by mercenaries hired by charities.
The justice-hungry vigilante in me jumps with glee at this. But is it a bad precedent to set?
It looks like the anti-poaching posses are working with the approval of and in cooperation with the CAR government. They have been effectively deputized.
So, it’s legal. As for whether it’s moral, I think so. Would we have an objection if an environmental group donated money to an African government to set up a program to enforce anti-poaching laws? It’s the same thing, except we get to use words like “program” instead of “mercs”.
Sua
If the CAR approves, I’d say it’s open season.
See? Sooner or later they’re going to come around to my solution.
I suggest that poachers who are captured and convicted should be taken to a tatoo shop, covered from head to toe in zebra stripes, given a few hundred bucks, and turned loose.
Then, you offer twice the going rate of the most expensive illegal animal part for… a poacher skin.
My idea would do several things. It would dissuade some poachers; it might redirect others to hunting for poachers, instead of poaching themselves. And, it would be funny as hell, in a sick and twisted way.
Sofa King, you are an evil person with a sick and twisted mind.
I like it.
What do you suggest we do to child-abusers? 
From the article cited in the OP it appears as though these “mercenaries” attempt to arrest poachers not just blow them away willy nilly. I have no problem with that kind of law enforcement.
Marc
There is, or I was told by a game ranger friend that there is, an unspoken “shoot to kill” rule for poachers in some South African parks. This would be because the poachers are often armed with AK47s and don’t hesitate to shoot first. Anecdotal, I agree, but I did see the AK bullet scar on his assistant…
Oh, for the good old days, when the rangers just poisoned all the rain gauges that serves as the only source of potable water in the parks. Guns are just so messy
Something in me is conflicted, but that sounds like a kick ass job.
The only thing I can’t quite understand is why they’re using mercenaries in the first place. Patrolling the game preserves and actively hunting down the poachers sounds like a ready made solution to the scarcity of live-fire exercises for most militaries. Althoguh, it could be an expense issue, I suppose. But then again, I’d think the CAR would be happy to pocket the money and have someone pay for their training while protecting one of their national and natural resources.
Oh… btw, I’m fully in favor of it, does it show?