That’s actually a big part of the problem. Saguaro’s are very sensitive, if you don’t transplant them correctly (part of which is re-orienting them, whatever side was north to start needs to be north in the end) they die. So a lot of this poaching is really just killing very old very slow growing plants. Legit saguaro purchases are very expensive, though getting rid of them can be quite lucrative, my boss was having a tree removed and the company offered to take the tree for free and give him $400 if he let them have his 10’ saguaro. Lots of paperwork, but a good deal.
That's interesting to know. Maybe that's what my Christmas cacti houseplants need. I try to rotate them regularly near the windows, but some of them conk out.