In today’s digital age, mobile games have become a dominant form of entertainment, engaging billions worldwide. But can they also be used as a tool for conservation? This is the question we sought to answer with our study on a mobile game developed to support the critically endangered Kākāpō parrot in New Zealand. Our randomized … [Read more…]
Understanding whether wildlife trade is harming a species is no simple task. Much of the focus in conservation has been on larger, more charismatic species, while invertebrates like tarantulas often slip through the cracks. These species are traded in large numbers, and without proper monitoring and regulation, overharvesting can drive populations to dangerous levels. Yet, … [Read more…]
As conservation scientists, the decisions we make about where to publish our work have far-reaching implications, not only for our careers but also for the accessibility of the research we produce. Our new study, Understanding Author Choices in the Current Conservation Publishing Landscape, explores the complex factors that influence these decisions. Working with my colleagues … [Read more…]
What Did We Do? We aimed to explore how a media-driven conservation campaign could evolve into a sustainable, community-based governance model. Our study focused on the case of the Amur Falcon hunting ban in Pangti, Nagaland, India. We wanted to understand the key factors that contributed to the successful transition from a top-down imposed hunting … [Read more…]
What Did We Do? We wanted to see which types of messages were most effective in changing consumer behavior. We worked with 2,496 people in China, including potential consumers of wildlife products and those not targeted as consumers. We tested three types of messages: What Did We Find? Our study revealed some interesting results: Why … [Read more…]
As conservationists, we often grapple with how to effectively motivate people to adopt more environmentally friendly behaviors. Whether it’s reducing consumption of wildlife products, embracing sustainable lifestyles, or supporting conservation policies, changing human behavior is critical for achieving our goals. In our recent paper, “Designing celebrity-endorsed behavioral interventions in conservation,” published in Conservation Biology, my … [Read more…]
Nice to be quoted in this article in the Revelator about the use of flagship species.
LINK: https://doi.org/10.1126/science.ado1142 The wildlife trade spans across various species and motivators, including pet ownership, collections, and derived products like food and medicine. While some trade is legal and sustainable, illegal and unsustainable wildlife trade is growing globally, posing threats to species, ecosystems, and human health. The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild … [Read more…]
The study explored the impact of a natural history film, “The Elephant Queen” (TEQ), on the attitudes of communities living near elephants in Southern Kenya. Human-elephant conflict poses a significant challenge to wildlife conservation, and while efforts have been made to mitigate conflict, few focus on fostering understanding and tolerance between humans and elephants. Researchers … [Read more…]
In the realm of conservation, the fate of many endangered species hinges not only on scientific assessments but also on public perception and support. However, a troubling phenomenon has emerged in recent years – the ‘beauty bias’ – where aesthetically pleasing species receive disproportionate attention compared to their less visually appealing counterparts. This bias has … [Read more…]