This case study includes both an on-the-ground study of the consumers and market for bear bile within China and an exploration of the online trade in bear products. It uses of a range of methods to describe and understand the complex, interacting markets for illegal and legal wildlife products.
It addresses the following questions:
The case study involves a survey targeted at key demographic groups, direct observations and the collation and use of secondary information for context. It will provide evidence for a report to the World Conservation Congress in 2020, following on from a recommendation passed in 2012 requiring this research to be carried out.
Researcher: Dr Amy Hinsley
Collaborators: Dr Brendan Moyle, Dr Dave Garshelis, Prof Vincent Nijman, Dr David Roberts, Dr Julio Hernandez Castro
Collaborating organisations: IUCN Bear Specialist Group, Massey University, Sun Yat-Sen University, University of Kent
While in the past the main markets for rhino horn and ivory were thought to be in China, it is now widely traded in Viet Nam, with rhino horn having luxury status as a health tonic for wealthy businessmen, while both are sold as artefacts such as bangles and carved pieces. Despite substantial investment of time and resources into tackling the demand for wildlife products in Viet Nam, there is still a lack of evidence of the effectiveness of different approaches, and limited understanding of the demographics and motivations of consumers.
The case study fills this gap, answering the following questions, using methods from marketing research to understand particularly the role of wildlife products as luxury brands:
Researcher: Vian Sharif
Collaborator: Dr Andreas Eisengerich
Collaborating organisation: Imperial College London
The aim of this case study is to demonstrate the power of the Medical Research Council’s intervention evaluation framework. The case study will enable us quantitatively to attribute impact to an intervention, by implementing an intervention based on a foundation of evidence, and then evaluating its impact. This gives the case study strong generalisability both within conservation and more broadly in the field of social policy.
We will answer the following questions:
Researcher: Hunter Doughty, Dr Diogo Veríssimo
Collaborators: Dr Janice Lee, Dr Roman Carrasco, Dr Kathryn Oliver
Collaborating organisations: Nanyang Technological University, National University Singapore, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine
Celebrities are often used to influence the public to change their awareness of, attitudes or behaviour towards illegal wildlife products. However, there is limited evidence about how effective this is and there has been no evaluation of how to design such campaigns to maximise their impact. This case study will provide an evidence base on how best to use celebrities to deliver messages on the illegal wildlife trade, drawing on experience in conservation and other fields. Adopting an experimental approach, this case study will develop a baseline on the consumption of pangolin products in Vietnam, examine the potential role that celebrity endorsement could play in reducing demand for illegal pangolin products in the country and test a celebrity-based demand reduction campaign. It will also explore the potential effects of pangolin farming on demand and on wild populations, and quantify online illegal trade in pangolin products. The results will inform Vietnamese and international policy-makers (e.g., CITES) and be transferable beyond conservation. For further details, see the Pangolin Project Briefing Document
Specific research questions include the following:
Researchers: Alegria Olmedo, Dr Dan Challender
Collaborators: Thai Van Nguyen, Elizabeth Duthie, Ting Ming Lee, Carly Waterman
Collaborating organisations: Save Vietnam’s Wildlife, Fauna & Flora International, Sun-Yat Sen University, Zoological Society of London
In recent years, evidence suggesting an upsurge of trade in jaguar (Panthera onca) body parts to supply domestic and international markets has emerged throughout Latin America. Despite gaining significant media attention, there has not yet been a rigorous assessment of the scale, drivers, and potential impacts of this threat to Latin America’s most iconic wild cat.
This case study aims to fill this knowledge gap and support decision-making to address jaguar trade by:
Data collection is based in Mesoamerica and Bolivia, in order to distinguish regional differences in the jaguar trade chain and market dynamics. Bringing together theories and methodologies from the social and natural sciences, including direct and indirect questioning techniques, interviews, online trade surveys, literature reviews, and bioeconomic models, this research will provide a comprehensive understanding of jaguar trade while also providing insights on the role of evidence within illegal wildlife trade.
Researcher: Melissa Arias
Collaborating organisation: Wildlife Conservation Society Mesoamerica
Collecting and evaluating baseline ecological and social data is central to evidence-based management of natural resources. Monitoring data may, however, be biased and imprecise; and monitoring results are often poorly integrated with local decision-making. Using the monitoring of the illegal killing of elephants (MIKE) as a case study, this case study seeks to address the following questions:
A large protected area complex in the Zambezi Valley, Zimbabwe, is the study system. This research combines rigorous quantitative methods with in-depth qualitative methods to provide an integrated understanding of the data dynamics and human dynamics of the ranger-based monitoring-management system. Statistical and mathematical modelling are employed to understand patterns in existing monitoring data at the case study site, and uncertainty and bias in the data collection process. Key-informant interviews with rangers, managers and higher-level policy makers are employed to understand the effect of human and organizational dynamics on MIKE implementation (particularly the degree to which MIKE data are used for local elephant management).
Researcher: Timothy Kuiper
Collaborators: Rose Mandisodza, Nobesuthu Ngwenya, Blessing Kavhu; Professor Edson Gandiwa, Victor Muposhi
Collaborating organisations: Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority; Chinhoyi University of Technology
Illegal fishing is arguably the largest threat to the conservation of marine resources. Historically, compliance with fisheries regulation (i.e. by reducing illegal fishing) has been sought by governments through imposing sanctions to offenders primarily via enforcement programs and actions. However, there is limited evidence of the effectiveness of these programs because measuring and managing compliance is intrinsically complicated.
This case study will provide empirical estimates of the magnitude of illegal trade of hake in Chile. By measuring and understanding the drivers of illegal fishing, this case study will shed light on how to design interventions aimed at reducing illegal fishing. A baseline of current compliance levels will be obtained using mixed methods from the social sciences and upon which interventions will be evaluated. The results from this project will inform local and regional government agencies on how to address the prevalent illegality in this fishery.
Research questions include the following:
Researcher: Rodrigo Oyanedel
Collaborator: Stefan Gelcich
Collaborating organisation: Universidad Catolica de Chile
We welcome opportunities for other collaborative studies to be integrated across different taxa and regions. Contact us to discuss.
Another piece in the big cat trade puzzle: the 2014 surge in jaguar poaching coincides with the 2014 surge in lion poaching in Mozambique. Mostly for heads/teeth and paws/claws. https://twitter.com/ConBiology/status/1268552084946706432
