scholarly journals A novel application of mark-recapture to examine behaviour associated with the online trade in elephant ivory

PeerJ ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 5 ◽  
pp. e3048 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lydia M. Yeo ◽  
Rachel S. McCrea ◽  
David L. Roberts
Keyword(s):  
Wildlife Trade ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Illegal Trade ◽  
Mark Recapture ◽  
Illegal Wildlife Trade ◽  
Online Marketplace ◽  
Online Platforms ◽  
Elephant Ivory ◽  
Ivory Trade

The illegal trade in elephant ivory is driving the unlawful killing of elephants such that populations are now suffering unsustainable reductions. The internet is increasingly being used as a platform to conduct illegal wildlife trade, including elephant ivory. As a globally accessible medium the internet is as highly attractive to those involved in the illegal trade as it is challenging to regulate. Characterising the online illegal wildlife (ivory) trade is complex, yet key to informing enforcement activities. We applied mark-recapture to investigate behaviour associated with the online trade in elephant ivory on eBay UK as a generalist online marketplace. Our results indicate that trade takes place via eBay UK, despite its policy prohibiting this, and that two distinct trading populations exist, characterised by the pattern of their ivory sales. We suggest these may represent a large number of occasional (or non-commercial) sellers and a smaller number of dedicated (or commercial) sellers. Directing resource towards reducing the volume of occasional sales, such as through education, would enable greater focus to be placed upon characterising the extent and value of the illegal, “commercial” online ivory trade. MRC has the potential to characterise the illegal trade in ivory and diverse wildlife commodities traded using various online platforms.

scholarly journals Dataset of seized wildlife and their intended uses

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Oliver C. Stringham ◽  
Stephanie Moncayo ◽  
Eilish Thomas ◽  
Sarah Heinrich ◽  
Adam Toomes ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Wildlife Trade ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Illegal Trade ◽  
Illegal Wildlife Trade ◽  
Systematic Compilation ◽  
Dark Web

The illegal wildlife trade (IWT) threatens conservation and biosecurity efforts. The Internet has greatly facilitated the trade of wildlife, and researchers have increasingly examined the Internet to uncover illegal trade. However, most efforts to locate illegal trade on the Internet are targeted to one or few taxa or products. Large-scale efforts to find illegal wildlife on the Internet (e-commerce, social media, dark web) may be facilitated by a systematic compilation of illegally traded wildlife taxa and their uses. Here, we provide such a dataset. We used seizure records from three global wildlife trade databases to compile the identity of seized taxa along with their intended usage (i.e., use-type). Our dataset includes c. 4.9k distinct taxa representing c. 3.3k species and contains c. 11k taxa-use combinations from 110 unique use-types. Further, we acquired over 45k common names for seized taxa from over 100 languages. Our dataset can be used to conduct large-scale broad searches of the Internet to find illegally traded wildlife. Further, our dataset can be filtered for more targeted searches of specific taxa or derived products.

Clouded Leopard Neofelis nebulosa (Griffith, 1821) (Mammalia: Carnivora: Felidae) in illegal wildlife trade in Nepal

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (16) ◽  
pp. 17229-17234
Author(s):  
Yadav Ghimirey ◽  
Raju Acharya
Keyword(s):  
Wildlife Trade ◽  
Illegal Trade ◽  
Body Parts ◽  
Clouded Leopard ◽  
Illegal Wildlife Trade ◽  
Neofelis Nebulosa

We document trade of the Clouded Leopard Neofelis nebulosa in Nepal based on pelt seizure reports published in wildlife trade reports and in newspapers.  Just 27 cases in three decades seem little to suggest targeted illegal trade of the species, the seizure information in recent years indicate that illegal trade of Clouded Leopard body parts is still taking place.  Hence an in-depth assessment is necessary to understand properly the intensity and magnitude of illegal trade on Clouded Leopard in the country.

scholarly journals Forensic Analysis in Wildlife Crime Cases: Microscopy, DNA Profiling and Isotope Analysis

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vivek Sahajpal ◽  
Sudhanshu Mishra ◽  
Deepika Bhandari
Keyword(s):  
Geographical Origin ◽  
Isotope Analysis ◽  
Forensic Analysis ◽  
Dna Profiling ◽  
Individual Identification ◽  
Wildlife Trade ◽  
Illegal Trade ◽  
Wildlife Crime ◽  
Illegal Wildlife Trade ◽  
Wildlife Forensics

Illegal wildlife trade is one of the biggest threats to the environment and biodiversity. The growing volume of illegal trade in wildlife jeopardizes all the conservation efforts across the globe. Many species have become extinct due to the illegal wildlife trade and many have reached the verge of extinction. According to some estimates, the monetary values of the illegal wildlife trade are estimated to be several billion US dollars. To deal with wildlife crime cases, it becomes imperative to have a sound knowledge of the techniques required in the analysis of wildlife crime exhibits. In this chapter, we have outlined the three frequently used techniques in wildlife forensics viz. microscopy, DNA and isotope analysis for addressing the problems of species and individual identification, and additionally identification of the geographical origin of a wildlife sample. The basic essentials of these techniques have been discussed in this chapter.

How Online Fraud Victims are Targeted in China: A Crime Script Analysis of Baidu Tieba C2C Fraud

2021 ◽  
pp. 001112872110298
Author(s):  
Claire Seungeun Lee
Keyword(s):  
The Internet ◽  
Online Identity ◽  
Identity Fraud ◽  
Online Fraud ◽  
Payment Methods ◽  
Online Marketplace ◽  
Script Analysis ◽  
Online Platforms ◽  
Crime Script ◽  
Crime Script Analysis

E-commerce is the practice of purchasing, selling, transferring, and exchanging goods, services, or information through the Internet, a computer, and/or other devices. With the development of e-commerce markets, fraud is increasingly reported. This study uses a crime script analysis to examine how customer-to-customer (C2C) fraud occurs on China’s online platforms with a particular focus on the online marketplace Baidu Tieba and Tencent QQ, a tool that allows customers to make contact and negotiate deals and payment methods. The findings demonstrate that C2C fraud develops through pre-operation, operation, finalization, and exit stages, sharing commonalities with other online identity fraud processes. Implications for policy and interventions are also discussed in regard to e-commerce fraud in China and elsewhere.

Using online media-sourced seizure data to assess the illegal wildlife trade in Siamese rosewood

2018 ◽  
Vol 45 (4) ◽  
pp. 352-360 ◽  
Author(s):  
PENTHAI SIRIWAT ◽  
VINCENT NIJMAN
Keyword(s):  
Wildlife Trade ◽  
Online Media ◽  
Timber Species ◽  
Illegal Trade ◽  
Illegal Wildlife Trade ◽  
Wild Fauna ◽  
The North ◽  
International Pressure ◽  
Domestic Legislation ◽  
Key Factor

SUMMARYThe illegal wildlife trade is covert by nature, and thus is often challenging to study. Seizure data is traditionally the most common means to gain insight into the trade for many species. Online media-sourced seizure records were applied to study the illegal trade of Siamese rosewood (Dalbergia cochinchinensis), one of 33 timber species of hongmu (rosewood), which is logged to produce luxury products predominantly for Chinese markets. Despite recent international pressure to strengthen the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) regulations, illegal trade of Siamese rosewood is prevalent in its range states. This paper will explore seizure reports in Thai online media and analyse spatial, temporal and other factors that potentially explain the trade. Between January 2014 and April 2016, 835 independent seizures were reported in 37 of 76 provinces in Thailand. Seizures occurred mostly in the north-eastern and eastern provinces with higher numbers of seizures closer to the border. The number of seizure reports decreased over time, and the average number of logs seized per seizure was consistent over the 28-month study period. Inadequate domestic legislation is a key factor facilitating the trade. Improvements are needed to the legislation and enforcement ahead of implementing other regional timber-specific initiatives and regulations. In this specific context, CITES also appears to be unacknowledged and ineffective in hampering the Siamese rosewood trade. Importantly, we find that using media-sourced seizure data is highly apt in Thailand's context, considering Thailand's sensitive political state and the prevalence of trade in other non CITES-listed rosewood species. The approach demonstrated here is applicable to many other wildlife species.

scholarly journals Code word usage in the online ivory trade across four European Union member states

Oryx ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 54 (4) ◽  
pp. 494-498 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sara Alfino ◽  
David L. Roberts
Keyword(s):  
European Union ◽  
Code Word ◽  
Wildlife Trade ◽  
Member States ◽  
Word Usage ◽  
Eu Member States ◽  
International Borders ◽  
Elephant Ivory ◽  
Additional Level ◽  
Ivory Trade

AbstractIllegal wildlife trade is a rapidly evolving environmental crime that is expanding through e-commerce. Because of the nature of the internet, detection of online illegal wildlife and enforcement has proven to be difficult and time-consuming, often based on manual searches through the use of keywords. As a result of scrutiny, traders in elephant ivory now use code words to disguise the trade, thus adding an additional level of complexity. Here we look at the use of 19 code words and phrases associated with the online trade in elephant ivory items on eBay across four European Union (EU) member states. Results show that, in spite of eBay's ban on ivory, elephant ivory is still being offered for sale across all four sites we searched (183 ivory items offered by 113 sellers during 18 January–5 February 2017). Beyond the violation of eBay's Terms and Conditions, other potential illegalities included offers for sale across international borders without mention of CITES permit requirements, and the offer of ivory that may be considered unworked, which violates EU regulations. Code word usage was found to be consistent across all four EU countries. Although the rise of online wildlife trade is of concern, the growth of global markets may homogenize conventions within trading communities, such as in this case the code words used. Homogenization of conventions may therefore offer opportunities for tackling the illegal online trade in wildlife.

scholarly journals Use of DNA Barcoding to Control the Illegal Wildlife Trade: A CITES Case Report from Pakistan

2015 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Attika Rehman ◽  
Sana Jafar ◽  
Naeem Ashraf Raja ◽  
Javed Mahar
Keyword(s):  
Endangered Species ◽  
Dna Barcoding ◽  
Wildlife Trade ◽  
Illegal Trade ◽  
Specific Primers ◽  
Turtle Species ◽  
Illegal Wildlife Trade ◽  
Fish Meat ◽  
Cross Border ◽  
Wildlife Species

Illegal wildlife trade is a great threat to the conservation efforts made worldwide to save wildlife species and their parts. Use of molecular methods, including DNA barcoding, is gaining acceptance to detect cross-border movement of endangered species. Here we report the utility of DNA barcoding in the detection of smuggling of an endangered turtle species from Pakistan. The consignment labeled as “fish meat” was intercepted at a Pakistani port and was tested for its source using DNA Barcoding with fish-specific primers. Sequences from the samples from this consignment matched (99%) with those from Lissemys punctata (Indian flap-shelled turtle), a species listed by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES). This report highlights the problem of smuggling protected species under false pretenses and the importance of DNA barcoding in stopping such illegal trade.

scholarly journals The Dissemination of Relevant Information on Wildlife Utilization and Its Connection With Illegal Trade

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhifan Song ◽  
Qiang Wang ◽  
Zhen Miao ◽  
Wei Zhang ◽  
Xuehong Zhou
Keyword(s):  
Information Dissemination ◽  
Relevant Information ◽  
Wildlife Trade ◽  
Illegal Trade ◽  
Market Demand ◽  
Wildlife Protection ◽  
Misleading Information ◽  
Illegal Wildlife Trade ◽  
Related Information ◽  
Wildlife Utilization

Abstract Taking African elephant (Loxodonta africana), tiger (Panthera tigris) and totoaba (Totoaba macdonaldi), whose populations are more threatened by illegal trade, as examples, this study aims to analyze the generation and dissemination mechanism of relevant information on wildlife utilization, and explore their association with illegal wildlife trade. We compared illegal wildlife trade with related information in order to find potential associations, searched for relevant information on major international websites to summarize similarities of related information production and dissemination, and used “Zhiwei” dissemination analysis platform to analyze the dissemination of information circulated at Microblog. The results show that the most influential information related to the use of wildlife is mainly generated from news media websites and new self-media platforms, mainly from non-governmental organizations concerned with wildlife protection. The main factors that affect the depth and breadth of disseminating relevant information on wildlife utilization include participation of relatively influential opinion leaders, the verification ratio of forwarding users, the number of fans, and affective commitment. Misleading information can stimulate and promote poaching and smuggling of wildlife, regardless of the real market demand for them or their products. Therefore, we should carefully examine all links in the course of information dissemination to purify the information environment and reduce the adverse effects of misleading information on wildlife protection.

scholarly journals Taking a stand against illegal wildlife trade: the Zimbabwean approach to pangolin conservation

Oryx ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 51 (2) ◽  
pp. 280-285 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chris R. Shepherd ◽  
Ellen Connelly ◽  
Lisa Hywood ◽  
Phillip Cassey
Keyword(s):  
Large Scale ◽  
Wildlife Trade ◽  
Annual Number ◽  
Illegal Trade ◽  
Traditional Medicines ◽  
Illegal Wildlife Trade

AbstractPangolins are increasingly threatened by demand for their scales, which are used in traditional medicines, and for their meat, which is consumed as a luxury. As populations of Asian pangolins decline, the demand is shifting to the four species in Africa, where local cultural use may already pose some level of threat. During 2010−2015 a total of 65 pangolin-related seizures (surrendered and confiscated) were reported in Zimbabwe, with the annual number of confiscations increasing significantly over this period. Zimbabwean authorities have toughened their stance against this trade, and during January−June 2015 three-quarters of confiscations of pangolins (n = 12) resulted in the maximum jail sentence for at least one of the offenders in each case. At present there is no evidence that pangolins are being traded from Zimbabwe to China, and the increased enforcement may be key to ensuring Zimbabwe's pangolins are not threatened by the large-scale illegal trade witnessed in Asia.

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