Wild beasts are often the stuff of legends, but narratives surrounding wildlife trade contain some tall tales, too.
One of the most frequently uttered statements in support of the wildlife trade is that many people depend on it for their livelihoods. But just because this claim is common, “does not necessarily make it true,” wildlife researchers Vincent Nijman and Chris Shepherd wrote in the journal Discover Animals earlier this year.
Taking these broad assertions — often made by researchers, government agencies, or others — at face value without further study has the potential to “pervert conservation efforts,” the paper warns.
Reptiles offer an example. Some conservationists have defended the trade in reptile skins, arguing that it supports livelihoods.
Nijman and Shepherd wanted to understand if this held true for an area in which they have significant expertise: the export of wild turtle meat from Indonesia. Their study reveals how many turtle collectors can make a basic living from the trade.
The answer? Surprisingly few.
To continue reading this story, please follow this link to The Revelator, which originally published the article.
Image of Southeast Asian box turtle via Wilfried Berns / Wikimedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0 DE
