Spatio-temporal dynamics of consumer demand driving the Asian Songbird Crisis

Marshall, Harry; Collar, Nigel; Lees, Alexander Charles; Moss, Andrew; Yuda, Pramana; Marsden, Stuart J.

doi:10.1016/j.biocon.2019.108237

Cited by 54 publications

(86 citation statements)

References 21 publications

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“…The application of a selectivity index allows a quantitative measure and statistical test of harvesting selection in both intra-and interspecific studies. Therefore, it is a powerful tool for assessing selection and investigating the factors driving it, not only in other poached parrot communities and heavily traded birds, such as Asian songbirds [58,84,100,101], but also in other animal and plant species harvested, for example, through deforestation, fisheries, game hunting, or bush-meat exploitation.…”

Section: Further Prospects For Assessing Selective Harvestingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Opportunistic or Non-Random Wildlife Crime? Attractiveness Rather Than Abundance in the Wild Leads to Selective Parrot Poaching

et al. 2020

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Illegal wildlife trade, which mostly focuses on high-demand species, constitutes a major threat to biodiversity. However, whether poaching is an opportunistic crime within high-demand taxa such as parrots (i.e., harvesting proportional to species availability in the wild), or is selectively focused on particular, more desirable species, is still under debate. Answering this question has important conservation implications because selective poaching can lead to the extinction of some species through overharvesting. However, the challenges of estimating species abundances in the wild have hampered studies on this subject. We conducted a large-scale survey in Colombia to simultaneously estimate the relative abundance of wild parrots through roadside surveys (recording 10811 individuals from 25 species across 2221 km surveyed) and as household, illegally trapped pets in 282 sampled villages (1179 individuals from 21 species). We used for the first time a selectivity index to test selection on poaching. Results demonstrated that poaching is not opportunistic, but positively selects species based on their attractiveness, defined as a function of species size, coloration, and ability to talk, which is also reflected in their local prices. Our methodological approach, which shows how selection increases the conservation impacts of poaching for parrots, can be applied to other taxa also impacted by harvesting for trade or other purposes.

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Section: Further Prospects For Assessing Selective Harvestingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Opportunistic or Non-Random Wildlife Crime? Attractiveness Rather Than Abundance in the Wild Leads to Selective Parrot Poaching

et al. 2020

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“…Unsustainable wildlife trade is a pressing conservation concern across the world and particularly in Southeast Asia, where accessibility to a rich array of wildlife facilitates widespread trade activity [1]. This use takes many forms, ranging from the "Asian songbird crisis," where threatened songbird species are taken into captivity [2], to the well-publicized demand for rhino horn for medicine in Vietnam [3], to the consumption of bear bile for medicine in Cambodia [4], to many more examples of unsustainable demand and rapid decline. Yet, despite increasing global attention on unsustainable wildlife trade, many species and regions continue to be neglected in research and policy [5].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

An Assessment of Wildlife Use by Northern Laos Nationals

Davis

Glikman

2020

Animals

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Simple Summary: Although unsustainable wildlife consumption is a leading threat to biodiversity in Southeast Asia, there is still a notable lack of research around the issue, particularly into which animals may be "on the horizon" of impending conservation concern. Using semistructured interviews, we investigated the consumption of wildlife in northern Laos, with a focus on the use of wildlife for medicinal purposes. Bear bile was the most popular product, but serow bile was second in popularity and used for similar ailments. In light of these results, and considering the vulnerability of both bear and serow populations in the wild, greater concern needs to be taken to reduce demand for these products, before this demand becomes a significant conservation challenge.Abstract: Unsustainable wildlife trade is a well-publicized area of international concern in Laos. Historically rich in both ethnic and biological diversity, Laos has emerged in recent years as a nexus for cross-border trade in floral and faunal wildlife, including endangered and threatened species. However, there has been little sustained research into the scale and scope of consumption of wildlife by Laos nationals themselves. Here, we conducted 100 semistructured interviews to gain a snapshot of consumption of wildlife in northern Laos, where international and in some cases illegal wildlife trade is known to occur. We found that although bear bile for medicine was the most common product consumed, individuals also used a variety of other products, including animals considered endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature IUCN. The majority of animals we found consumed are classified as "Vulnerable" or "Least Threatened" by the IUCN; however, sufficient demand for a species can cause increased, rapid decline in the species' population and significantly increase the challenge of conserving them. These results therefore illuminate where conservation priorities should shift towards, so that stable-yet-consumed species do not mirror the fate of highly trafficked animals.

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“…In combination with previous studies, we are closer to understanding the temporal dynamics of demand for songbirds and the implications these pose for future conservation efforts (Jepson & Ladle, 2009;Marshall et al, 2020a). Bird-keeping has increased in prevalence in urban centres in Java, and the abundance of captive-bred exotic birds, such as lovebirds and canaries, has grown dramatically (Marshall et al, 2020a). Tracking changes in behaviours, and in particular those that have the largest impact on wildlife populations, is vital to determining the success of conservation interventions (Veríssimo & Wan, 2018).…”

Section: Informing Evidence-based Behaviour Changementioning

confidence: 85%

“…Our study sought to profile songbird-keeping user-groups by characterizing and identifying the behaviours that should underpin conservation efforts to increase the sustainability of birdkeeping. In combination with previous studies, we are closer to understanding the temporal dynamics of demand for songbirds and the implications these pose for future conservation efforts (Jepson & Ladle, 2009;Marshall et al, 2020a). Bird-keeping has increased in prevalence in urban centres in Java, and the abundance of captive-bred exotic birds, such as lovebirds and canaries, has grown dramatically (Marshall et al, 2020a).…”

Section: Informing Evidence-based Behaviour Changementioning

confidence: 86%