Oops! The poachers basically opened the season on themselves.
After this, no radical conservationist on the planet is going to have any lingering shred of remorse in going after their lives.
After this, no radical conservationist on the planet is going to have any lingering shred of remorse in going after their lives.
The sweet spot for deterrence comes in the form of punishment that is swift and certain, not necessarily dire.
That's your value judgement. Others may have a different judgement. How do you decide who's right?
(Just for clarification: I think poachers are the scum of the earth, but there's a long way from that to what you're proposing, AFAIUI.)