Multi-lingual multi-platform investigations of online trade in jaguar parts

Polisar, John; Davies, Charlotte; Morcatty, Thaís Q.; Silva, Mariana Da; Zhang, Song; Duchez, Kurt; Madrid, Julio; Lambert, Ana Elisa; Gallegos, Ana; Delgado, Marcela; Nguyen, Ha; Wallace, Robert B.; Arias, Melissa; Nijman, Vincent; Ramnarace, Jon; Pennell, Roberta; Novelo, Yamira; Rumiz, Damián I.; Rivero, Kathia; Murillo, Yovana; Salas, Monica Nunez; Kretser, Heidi E.; Reuter, Adrian

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0280039

Cited by 2 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 40 publications

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“…An area worth studying to determine these changes is Latin America, due its biodiversity (UNDP, 2010), weak law application (e.g. Martínez & Alonso, 2021; Sanjurjo‐Rivera et al., 2021); differentiated uses for wildlife (Juárez‐Mondragón et al., 2015) and wide use of the internet to promote and sell wildlife products (Carpio‐Domínguez et al., 2018; Polisar et al., 2023). In this research, we wanted to generate more information on the wildlife trade in Latin America by describing the situation in Mexico.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Motivations behind wild animal consumption in social media in Mexico: A case study

Gutiérrez‐Ibarra,

Jiménez Lara,

Amador‐Cruz

et al. 2024

People and Nature

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Wildlife trade is a worldwide threat to biodiversity. It is a complex problem, and to deal with it, one must analyse its constituting factors, some of which are specific to certain geographic areas. Although Mexican laws have prohibited selling wild products, Mexico is still both a source and consumer of exotic wildlife; however, there is limited data on why people participate in this type of trade. This paper aims to understand people's motivations for participating in the wildlife trade. 192 surveys on a population segment unrelated to it and 30 in‐depth interviews were performed to determine the patterns of wildlife trade in Mexico. Finally, we performed two in‐person interviews with collectors of large‐scale animals. The outcomes demonstrated that Facebook was the social media showing more wildlife content. Most participants were aware of the diverse impacts of the animal trade, as well as, that offering, buying and having certain animals was a crime but were assuaged due to common knowledge that authorities do not investigate social media. Finally, based on the findings from the in‐person interviews, it was observed that the individuals engaged in heavy trafficking believed that their actions were altruistic in nature. We concluded that the primary motivations for wildlife trade in Mexico were economic status and prestige within their social groups. In that order, our study is a pioneering attempt to determine motivations in Mexico, which could be a basis for future regional studies. Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Motivations behind wild animal consumption in social media in Mexico: A case study

Gutiérrez‐Ibarra,

Jiménez Lara,

Amador‐Cruz

et al. 2024

People and Nature

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“…Jaguar paste, a glue-like material made by boiling down jaguar carcasses, is being used in China 25 as a substitute for tiger bone glue/paste 26 . Online markets provide a platform that enables the illegal trade of jaguar parts from Latin America to China 27 . The lack of sufficient resources for adequate monitoring and forensic analysis of products confiscated along the wildlife trafficking supply chain or at international destinations prevents us from understanding the true scope and scale of the illegal trade in big cats, which has the potential to be much greater than current estimates.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A new multiplex qPCR assay to detect and differentiate big cat species in the illegal wildlife trade

Henger

Straughan

et al. 2023

Sci Rep

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All species of big cats, including tigers, cheetahs, leopards, lions, snow leopards, and jaguars, are protected under the Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES). This is due in large part to population declines resulting from anthropogenic factors, especially poaching and the unregulated and illegal trade in pelts, bones, teeth and other products that are derived from these iconic species. To enhance and scale up monitoring for big cat products in this trade, we created a rapid multiplex qPCR test that can identify and differentiate DNA from tiger (Panthera tigris), cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus), leopard (Panthera pardus), lion (Panthera leo), snow leopard (Panthera uncia), and jaguar (Panthera onca) in wildlife products using melt curve analysis to identify each species by its unique melt peak temperature. Our results showed high PCR efficiency (> 90%), sensitivity (detection limit of 5 copies of DNA per PCR reaction) and specificity (no cross amplification between each of the 6 big cat species). When paired with a rapid (< 1 h) DNA extraction protocol that amplifies DNA from bone, teeth, and preserved skin, total test time is less than three hours. This test can be used as a screening method to improve our understanding of the scale and scope of the illegal trade in big cats and aid in the enforcement of international regulations that govern the trade in wildlife and wildlife products, both ultimately benefiting the conservation of these species worldwide.

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Multi-lingual multi-platform investigations of online trade in jaguar parts

Cited by 2 publications

References 40 publications

Motivations behind wild animal consumption in social media in Mexico: A case study

Motivations behind wild animal consumption in social media in Mexico: A case study

A new multiplex qPCR assay to detect and differentiate big cat species in the illegal wildlife trade

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