Summarizing the Evidence on the International Trade in Illegal Wildlife

Rosen, Gail Emilia; Smith, Katherine F.

doi:10.1007/s10393-010-0317-y

Cited by 355 publications

(299 citation statements)

References 29 publications

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“…Heavy in situ conservation efforts have been shown to stem illegal harvesting (29) and, therefore, need to be enhanced in the face of the current offtake rates (30). Enforcement of end-user markets is also critical, and curbing demand-particularly in the Far East (21)-appears necessary to reduce black market ivory prices and alleviate the unsustainable pressure from illegal killing on wild populations (31). Ultimately, interventions are needed to tackle all levels of the supply chain (32) and the underlying factors contributing to increasing levels of illegal offtake (33).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Illegal killing for ivory drives global decline in African elephants

Wittemyer

Northrup²,

Blanc

et al. 2014

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

309

319

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Illegal wildlife trade has reached alarming levels globally, extirpating populations of commercially valuable species. As a driver of biodiversity loss, quantifying illegal harvest is essential for conservation and sociopolitical affairs but notoriously difficult. Here we combine field-based carcass monitoring with fine-scale demographic data from an intensively studied wild African elephant population in Samburu, Kenya, to partition mortality into natural and illegal causes. We then expand our analytical framework to model illegal killing rates and population trends of elephants at regional and continental scales using carcass data collected by a Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species program. At the intensively monitored site, illegal killing increased markedly after 2008 and was correlated strongly with the local black market ivory price and increased seizures of ivory destined for China. More broadly, results from application to continental data indicated illegal killing levels were unsustainable for the species between 2010 and 2012, peaking to ∼8% in 2011 which extrapolates to ∼40,000 elephants illegally killed and a probable species reduction of ∼3% that year. Preliminary data from 2013 indicate overharvesting continued. In contrast to the rest of Africa, our analysis corroborates that Central African forest elephants experienced decline throughout the last decade. These results provide the most comprehensive assessment of illegal ivory harvest to date and confirm that current ivory consumption is not sustainable. Further, our approach provides a powerful basis to determine cryptic mortality and gain understanding of the demography of at-risk species.poaching | overharvest | population estimation | extinction | endangered species consumption

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Illegal killing for ivory drives global decline in African elephants

Wittemyer

Northrup²,

Blanc

et al. 2014

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

309

319

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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“…Other studies examining particular species, areas, and the worldwide demand for illegally harvested animals conclude that poaching is pervasive, and it threatens global biodiversity and ecosystems around the world (Musgrave & Stein 1993;Muth 1998;Rosen & Smith 2010;Warchol 2004;Warchol et al 2003). The commodification of and global demand for certain species, or animal parts is a primary driver for poaching, and threatens species from Africa (Lemieux 2011) to the United States (Musgrave & Stein 1993).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Deterring Defiance: 'Don’t Give a Poacher a Reason to Poach'

Filteau

2013

International Journal of Rural Criminology

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Poaching threatens species biodiversity and ecological integrity, but criminologists largely overlook this form of crime. The purpose of this study is to expand criminological theory on poaching by documenting the strategies poachers and game wardens suggest as successful deterrents. Defiance theory is used to understand how the interaction between game wardens and poachers is an important consideration for garnering voluntary compliance. Qualitative interviews with game wardens (N=16) and poachers (N=13) demonstrate that these parties ideologically agree about fish and wildlife conservation, and both parties offer similar methods for deterring poaching. However, because poachers are negatively disposed toward indiscriminant game wardens, the perception of unfair treatment/punishment may lead to future poaching. This study examines trajectories for future research on poaching and contributes to contemporary criminological theory by linking defiance theory with deterrence theory. Finally, the paper concludes with strategies for deterring poaching and garnering voluntary compliance.

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“…The legal trade in wildlife was estimated to be US$21 billion a year in 2005 (Rosen and Smith, 2010). Estimates of the parallel illegal trade vary from US$5-20 billion (Wyler & Sheikh, 2008), with the high value products including tiger parts, caviar, elephant ivory, rhinoceros horn and some exotic birds and reptiles.…”

Section: Editorial: Wildlife Crime Poses Unique Challenges To Protectmentioning

confidence: 99%

Editorial: Wildlife crime poses unique challenges to protected areas

Dudley¹,

Stolton²,

Elliott³

2013

PARKS

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Wildlife crime is the fifth largest international criminal activity worldwide. Wildlife and timber poaching is becoming increasingly organised, increasingly global and more ruthless. Protected areas are suffering most acutely from this crime wave. They frequently contain the richest biodiversity and many species valued by poachers are now virtually or completely confined to protected areas. Managers, rangers and their families are intimidated, attacked and killed. Local communities suffer threats, disturbance and loss of natural resources from community reserves. Protected areas are further exposed in many countries by weak judicial processes that fail to prosecute wildlife traders even if they are caught. These developments signal the need for long-term changes in management in protected areas containing species sought by wildlife traders; more emphasis on patrolling and enforcement along with efforts to address corruption, strengthen the judiciary and improve enforcement along the rest of the trade chain. Many of these changes are unwelcome in institutions that have spent decades developing softer approaches to management. Addressing wildlife crime without losing the benefits of more transparent, consultative and participatory approaches is a challenge that requires concerted efforts by all those affected.

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Summarizing the Evidence on the International Trade in Illegal Wildlife

Cited by 355 publications

References 29 publications

Illegal killing for ivory drives global decline in African elephants

Illegal killing for ivory drives global decline in African elephants

Deterring Defiance: 'Don’t Give a Poacher a Reason to Poach'

Editorial: Wildlife crime poses unique challenges to protected areas

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