Title
Wildlife trade products available to U.S. military personnel serving abroad
Author(s)
Heidi E. Kretser, McKenzie F. Johnson, Lisa M. Hickey, Peter Zahler & Elizabeth L. Bennett
Published
2012
Publisher
Biodiversity and Conservation
Abstract
Military personnel and affiliates have significant buying power that can influence demand for wildlife products. We surveyed military bazaars in Afghanistan to observe which species were available to soldiers. We also surveyed Army personnel at Fort Drum, New York, who had been deployed or stationed overseas including in Afghanistan and Iraq. Soldiers reported skins of wild felids and gray wolf as most commonly observed wildlife products available for sale in Afghanistan. Forty percent of respondents said they had either purchased or seen other members of the military purchase or use wildlife products. The U.S. military was willing to assist in curtailing supply and demand for wildlife products in order to protect soldiers from unknowingly breaking the law and to conserve wildlife in the countries where they serve. Regular, focused training of military personnel should be considered an important step to reducing trade in wildlife products by addressing both demand and market supply.
Keywords
Wildlife trade; U.S. military; Endangered species; CITES; Afghanistan; Iraq; War
Full Citation
H.E. Kretser; Johnson, M.F.; Hickey, L.M.; Zahler, P.; Bennett, E.L.. 2012. Wildlife trade products available to U.S. military personnel serving abroad.Biodiversity and Conservation, Vol. 20, No. 1, 2012, pp. 1-14
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