Exploiting the Wilderness: An Analysis of Wildlife Crime

by Greg L. Warchol

Overview

Illegally harvested ivory and endangered plants, mammals, reptiles, birds, and even insects are easily found for sale throughout East and Southern Africa. And this is just one part of the multi-billion-dollar illegal global trade in wildlife. 

Wildlife is an important and even vital asset for both intrinsic and economic reasons. Yet it is illegally exploited on a massive scale to the point where some species now risk extinction. Exploiting the Wilderness provides a concise overview of this shameful business, describing some of the main species being exploited and examining select wildlife whose survival is imperiled due to heavy pressure from poachers to meet consumer demand. 

Greg Warchol draws on his firsthand experience and research in Africa to examine the structure and operation of the illegal trade in wildlife. He identifies the participants as well as their motivations and operations, and explains the behavior of poachers, traffickers, and consumers of illegally obtained goods. He concludes with a description of legislative and law enforcement efforts to control and prevent wildlife exploitation along with a number of contemporary conservation initiatives designed to improve the ability of rangers to protect wildlife.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781439913673
Publisher:	Temple University Press
Publication date:	11/01/2017
Edition description:	1
Pages:	208
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.50(d)

About the Author

Greg L. Warchol is Professor of Criminal Justice at Northern Michigan University.

Table of Contents

Preface ix

Terms and Abbreviations xv

1 The Illegal Trade in Wildlife: An Overview 1

2 Wildlife Conservation Laws and Agreements 27

3 The Offenders 43

4 Explaining Wildlife Crime 77

5 Consumers of Protected Wildlife 99

6 Protecting Wildlife 118

7 Future Issues and Developments 145

References 165

Index 183