Welfare and Management of Civets in Civet Coffee Tourism Plantations
Civet coffee is produced with coffee beans that have passed through the digestive tract of civets which are then processed for drinking. Outlets, known as civet coffee tourism plantations are popular tourist attractions in Bali, Indonesia. These outlets keep caged civets for public viewing and sell civet coffee. We assessed civet welfare in 29 civet […]
An Assessment of Welfare Conditions in Wildlife Markets across Morocco
The welfare of wild-caught animals in markets has generally been overlooked by both wildlife trade and welfare studies, despite the potential negative impacts on the animals. Morocco is a member of the World Organisation for Animal Health and has proposed draft legislation prohibiting mistreatment or abuse of animals in captivity. There is still, however, a […]
Forensic identification of elephant and giraffe hair artifacts using HATR FTIR spectroscopy and discriminant analysis
We investigated the utility of horizontal-attenuated total-reflection Fourier transform infrared (HATR FTIR) spectroscopy for the analysis and identification of tail hair of reputed elephant and/or giraffe origin, commonly used to manufacture indigenous artifacts (e.g. bracelets, earrings, finger rings, etc.) in the wildlife trade. We describe a prominent peak at 1032 cm–1, seen extensively in proboscidean […]
Further role of zoos in conservation: Monitoring wildlife use and the dilemma of receiving donated and confiscated animals
Abstract 10.1002/zoo.20040.abs The role of zoos in conservation has evolved. Additional roles that zoos can play in conservation include monitoring live wildlife use (one of the main threats for many species). Zoos in many parts of the world are offered animals by the public and are required to receive animals confiscated by the authorities. By […]
The effects of simulated transport on the behaviour of eastern blue tongued lizards (Tiliqua scincoides)
There is widespread transport of reptiles for the pet trade throughout the world and the ‘dead on arrival’ rates are high. The eastern blue tongued (EBT) lizard (Tiliqua scincoides; Order: Squamata; suborder: Lacertilia) is particularly popular due to its unusual blue tongue. Noise, vibration and thermal discomfort are known contributors to transport stress. We analysed […]
Investigating the impact of media on demand for wildlife: A case study of Harry Potter and the UK trade in owls
In recent decades, a substantial number of popular press articles have described an increase in demand for certain species in the pet trade due to films such as “Finding Nemo”, “Ninja Turtles”, and “Harry Potter”. Nevertheless, such assertions are largely supported only by anecdotal evidence. Given the role of the wildlife trade in the spread […]