Publish and don’t perish – how to keep rare species’ data away from poachers
With the right approach to data security, scientists' discoveries of the locations of rare and sought-after species needn't leave a trail for poachers to follow.
Academic rigor, journalistic flair
Articles on Poaching
Displaying 1 - 20 of 36 articles
Foreign ‘conservation armies’ in Africa may be doing more harm than good
Protecting rhinos and fighting terrorism are both noble causes, but there isn't much evidence of a link between the two.
Scientists are accidentally helping poachers drive rare species to extinction
Biologists have a centuries-old tradition of publishing on rare and endangered species. But poachers are using open-access information to target valuable and fragile new species.
Wave of rhino killings points to shifting poaching patterns in South Africa
South Africa's KwaZulu-Natal province is bearing the brunt of renewed rhino poaching efforts. This is a result of increased security and anti-poaching in the Kruger National Park.
Why is the illicit rhino horn trade escalating?
Rhino horn trade continues to be a highly lucrative business across the world.
Even zoos can no longer protect rhinos from poachers
Organised crime always looks for new ways to make money. And zoo animals are an easy target.
A gorilla shot and killed before my eyes: a primatologist’s plea to save great apes
Primate populations are declining around the world. The great apes are in danger of disappearing, and that bears a great risk for humanity itself.
China’s ban on domestic ivory trade is huge, but the battle isn’t won
China has decided to end all domestic trade in ivory, an act that could help elephant numbers all over Africa.
How to tackle the rising tide of poaching in Australia’s tropical seas
Prized species such as sea cucumbers are increasingly being poached from Australian waters. But if foreign aid can give fishing crews alternative livelihoods, the problem could ease.
Conservation decisions must protect the livelihoods of people living in Africa
In the absence of trading ivory, other solutions have to be found to fund conservation and support communities living on the front line of the battle against poaching.
Why military and market responses are no way to save species from extinction
Military responses to combat poaching are a problem. They marginalise communities where poachers come from and can have longer term implications.
Explainer: what is CITES and why should we care?
The focus of CITES is not solely on the protection of species. It also promotes controlled trade that is not detrimental to the sustainability of wild species.
Rhino poaching in South Africa: are numbers falling or focus shifting?
Initiatives to curb rhino poaching in the Kruger National Park has shown improvement compared to last year. But poaching in other parks has increased.
Save the elephant: what we can learn from failures of the war on drugs
There are many similarities between wildlife poaching and the cultivation of drug plants like the coca bush or the opium poppy.
The threat to the world’s largest wild animals is much greater than we thought
60% of the world’s largest carnivores and herbivores are classified as being threatened with extinction
South Sudan’s humanitarian crisis: wildlife is also in the firing line
South Sudan is a country where conflict is rife. This has had a knock-on effect on the country's rich and varied fauna, and put conservation programmes in severe crisis.
Why southern Africa’s peace parks are sliding into war parks
There are very violent confrontations in southern Africa's peace parks. This is partly due to a violent history dating back to the apartheid era that has never been adequately addressed.
Can elephants retain their social bonds in the face of poaching?
Older matriarchs lead elephant society. But they're also the primary targets of ivory poachers. When these socially critical individuals are killed, what happens to the rest of the group?
How translocating rhinos promotes genetic health and keeps them safe
Conservationists are increasingly looking to translocating rhinos. This not only ensures their safety but also enables improvements to their genetic health.
Spy-cam rhinos to take on poachers with devices hidden in their horns
Conservationists claim the combination of GPS tracker, heart-beat monitor and spy camera will be a game changer.
Top contributors
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Professor of Conservation and Applied Resource Economics, University of Kent
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Senior Researcher in Natural Resource Governance (Africa), South African Institute of International Affairs
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Visiting Professor, University of Kent
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Ecologist, Edinburgh Napier University
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Senior Lecturer in Ecology, Centre for Integrative Ecology, School of Life & Environmental Sciences, Deakin University
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Professor, The Fenner School of Environment and Society, Australian National University
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Director of Food Innovation, University of Adelaide
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Researcher, Centre for International Forestry Research
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Senior Rearch Fellow in Fisheries Ecology, Southern Cross University
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Professor in Ecology and Evolution, University of Sydney
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Professor of International Politics, University of Sheffield
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Consultant to the Species Survival Commission, International Union for the Conservation of Nature
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Professor, University of Stirling
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Faculty Fellow, Center for Animals and Public Policy, Tufts University
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Associate Professor in Sociology, University of Warwick
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