What animals are poached the most?

Answer 1

Many endangered animals have been hunted to near extinction for their horns (rhinocerous), ivory (elephants), pelts (cheetah) and as trophies (lions). Many are still being poached--hunting against the law--since there is a black market for these items. Whales are still in contention by international law--some countries have not adopted changes.

Answer

You need to define a criteria for poaching. Is this any illegal act to kill or capture an animal? Are you excluding food source animals? Does this include illegal killing of animals which could normally be killed, but are limited by treaty? Or is poaching only limited to absolutely protected animals?

If you included legal food sources caught illegally, just list the major commercial fish -- cod, salmon, halibit, tuna, herring, marlin, etc. Poaching into international waters, against national or international agreements, use of illegal nets or fishing techniques, out of season fishing, fishing in excess of catch limits, etc. dwarfs any other forms of poaching in terms of numbers, money, resources, etc. Since many countries over fish by several hundred percent, it wouldn't surprise me than half the tuna you eat was poached.

You then need to consider if poaching includes killing of protected species as food sources, for body parts, or for other purposes. Sharks are protected in most parts of the world, yet are harvested in industrials quantities for shark fin soup or just to keep them from eating fish. Whales are killed against treaties for oils. Seals, sea lions, and otters are routinely killed to keep them out of fishing areas despite protected status. You see similiar things with land animals such as wolves (illegally) shot to protect cattle.

Next, one would need to look at the pet industry. Even with legal pet species, in many places it is illegal to harvest wild budgies, canaries, mice, hamsters, certain exotic fish, lizards, etc. And yet, in many of these countries you can make small fortunes taking them from the wild -- rather than going through the trouble of captive breeding them. Particularly with birds, these are done on an almost industrial scale in many countries -- despite all laws.

Next, you have illegal hunting and fishing. These are arguably forms of poaching and the number of fish, deer, antelope, ducks, geese, and other animals taken out of season must be huge. You also have the phenomon of illegal vandalism -- such as folks shooting bald eagles in the US. That starts getting into the grey area of pet killings -- also illegal.

Answer 2

Elaphants are for their ivory.