Poached: normative drivers of the endangered species trade

Abstract

This dissertation aims to understand why wildlife trafficking has emerged as one of the deadliest environmental crimes of our century despite consistent efforts to combat it. Experts estimate that the illicit wildlife market is valued at hundreds of millions of dollars, making it one of the most lucrative illicit markets to date. Some examples of illegal wildlife trade are well known, like the poaching of elephants for ivory or of tigers for their skins and bones, but countless other species are overexploited, ranging from marine turtles to timber trees. ☐ While a variety of social, political, and economic factors shape environmental policy decisions and their subsequent impact, to date, research on the illegal wildlife trafficking market focuses on terms of supply and demand without taking into consideration aspects of gender, culture, and identity. This paper looks to the creation of identity as part of the underlying desire to obtain illicit wildlife products in hopes of understanding how traditional beliefs about wildlife perpetuate the illicit market. When coupled with changes in class, primarily the rise of the middle class across Southeast Asia, these ideas of identity seemingly fuel the illicit market, driving many species to the brink of extinction.