For years there have been reports in the popular press of the impact of the Harry Potter phenomenon in the UK on the demand for owls as pets. This narrative became so popular that it led even JK Rowling to issue several statements on this issue asking fans to not keep owls as pets. But … [Read more…]
Just out in PLOS One, a paper (get it HERE!) I co-authored with colleagues at the University of Kent on the preferences of wild meat consumers in Vietnam. The country is a significant consumer of wildlife, particularly wild meat, in urban restaurant settings. To meet this demand, poaching of wildlife is widespread, threatening regional and … [Read more…]
In 2014, one rhino was killed every eight hours. That was in South Africa alone, where most of the world’s rhinos live. At this rate, rhino deaths may overtake births by 2016-2018, making the concept of the rhino’s extinction very real. Spurred by this grim prospect, governments, businesses and governmental organizations have discussed a wide … [Read more…]
A new paper lead by Amy Hinsley and co-authored by me and David Roberts talks about how rarity is a key driver of preference for those that are serious about their orchids. Orchids are one of the best-selling plants in the legal horticultural trade but are also traded illegally and make up 70% of all … [Read more…]