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That was really well told.

Telling the human side of the poachers whose way of life was looked up to a century ago, but unsustainable at scale for the planet.

And that these were not millionaire poaching gangs getting rich, but individuals in poverty living off food stamps and social security, trying to supplement their income in the way that their grandparents did.

I broadly agree. This is one area, among many, where effective social and vocational programs could go a long way in preventing the criminal activity that stands to inflict lasting damage on already threatened species. It sounds like the prime suspect in this story had a sincere affinity for these animals, and her family could have been useful and effective allies for the conservation effort if given the opportunity to apply their turtle husbandry and hunting skills towards more productive purposes—but they also need to eat and survive, and states like Louisiana offer very limited resources for impoverished citizens (for the record, this isn’t a red vs blue swipe—most states, if not all of them, are failing to fully meet the needs of their citizens).

I don’t know what the answers are, only that this is a cultural and societal challenge that is being repeated all over the US, and the desperation and despair that led to their poaching also contributed to their drug addiction and suicide. Our inability to effectively cope with modernity’s inherent difficulties is clearly killing us, along with the world around us. It’s probably a thousand little things that need doing. We need to feel empowered with self-determination, meaning, and mobility. We need greater economic and political equality. We all need access to healthcare, education, affordable housing, fresh food and water, and basic necessities. Otherwise, we will continue to be driven towards lifestyles and impossible choices that put us at risk, that put undue pressures on our environment, that further erode our capacity for collective action and positive change.