Illegal trade of wildlife has been recognised as an important driver of biodiversity loss. In many quarters the use of legal markets has been presented as the best policy option for conservation, giving way to the economic analysis of wildlife trade and markets. This paper focuses on the analytical framework used in these analyses and on its deficiencies, both at the conceptual or theoretical level, as well as from an empirical point of view.Continue reading “The Economics of Wildlife Trade”
Between 1979 and 1989 Africa lost 600 000 elephants, killed by criminals when a relentless demand for ivory from Asia had the numbers of elephants plummet across central Africa. Today less than 400 000 elephants are left in Africa. The continent is losing 4 elephants every hour. There are less than 20 000 lions left in Africa, of which only approximately half live in the wild, whilst breeding of captive lions make up the rest and are used for the canned lion hunting industry. Pangolins are endangered species that face extinction due to demand from China and Vietnam. There are roughly 25 000 rhinos left in Africa and South Africa is the largest range state, with numbers already below 20 000. We are losing 3 rhinos per day due to the criminal activities of unscrupulous men causing havoc in especially Kruger National Park.
Some really sad news heard today. 33 Elephants have been killed by poachers in Garamba National Park over the last 5 weeks. On Friday alone 10 were gunned down. Below is the official update from African Parks:Continue reading “Urgent Garamba Update – 13 May 2014”
Hard-hitting & disconcerting, the Bloody Rhino Puzzle is a film on how grinding poverty drives the recruitment of an endless stream of Mozambican rhino poachers.Continue reading “The Rhino Puzzle”
“Africa’s human and natural resources have been pillaged and plundered for generations by people from far off lands. Our elephant ivory and rhino horn are going to countries where they are used for God knows what! Only to satisfy ridiculous outdated beliefs whilst we remain with carcasses, as proof we once owned these magnificent animals.” – President Ian Khama; African Elephant Summit December 2013Continue reading “Barbarians at Ivory’s Gate”
A Digital Conservation Movement : The Holy Grail for wildlife?
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The African continent is recognised by the world for its wildlife habitat. A much faster pace of industrialisation and earlier population explosions on other continents over the last few hundred years have resulted in extreme eradication of wildlife in Europe, Asia and the Americas. Africa is the last remaining bastion of wildlife preservation and the continent has the potential for impactful sustainable economic growth through safari and photo ecotourism. Sadly though, the demand for Africa’s animal heritage stems mainly from inhabitants of other continents. Non-African populations have used elephant ivory and rhinoceros horn for centuries.Continue reading “A Digital Conservation Movement : The Holy Grail for wildlife?”
Rhinos: Why did South Africa skip a vital conference on illegal wildlife trade?
In London last week international media scrambled to cover the high-level and much anticipated international conference on illegal wildlife trade.
However, there was one notable absentee. South Africa’s absence at the conference and non-participation in the signing of the London Declaration are raising serious concerns regarding its commitment to ending the onslaught on its rhinos.Conservationists and South African taxpayers want answers!Continue reading “Rhinos: Why did South Africa skip a vital conference on illegal wildlife trade?”
The “Inconvenient” luxury of endangered wildlife in Asia
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Lobbyists advocating to legitimise rhino horn trade generally do not examine the use of rhino horn in Asia in terms of it being a luxury goods product. With a record 1004 rhinos killed in South Africa in 2013, rhino horn sells for as much as $80 000/kg on the black market, double the price of gold.Continue reading “The “Inconvenient” luxury of endangered wildlife in Asia”
This is supposed to be a reflection back from the end of the internship, but the way I see it, this internship is a new beginning for me in rhino conservation. I can’t believe how quickly two months went by, and how much I’ve learned in that time. I always cared deeply for the environment and for conservation, but I’ve gained a much deeper appreciation and love for wildlife from this experience. I know I’m not done with rhino conservation, and hope I can return to Africa soon. Looking back over my journal, it is easy to see how much I learned during this time, and it is also fun to see what stood out to me as I wrote.Continue reading “Reflections”
