The Wildlife Trade

What do elephant ivory, pangolin scales, and baby orangutans have in common? They are all major players in the global wildlife trade. From discussions of the origins of COVID-19 to concerns about the extinction of the last white rhinos, the wildlife trade has garnered significant attention worldwide. In this this course we will explore how species have been appropriated as inputs into markets, including as wild meat, pets, medicine, and luxury goods. We will draw on diverse fields such as ecology and anthropology and will apply the tools of systems thinking to analyze the wildlife trade through the lens of conservation science.