A great example from earlier this year of research carried out by the Masterclass on Mitigating Illegal Wildlife Trade course co-leader, Dan Challender, and colleagues, exposed a disconnect between the media and public perceptions of wild meat in the wake of COVID-19
https://ow.ly/F1Zt50X3mnX
A pangolin with text discussing effective regulation of international wild species trade, highlighting Dr. Dan Challender's views on reform needed for protection.
Do international wildlife trade bans always protect species?
Oxford researcher Dr @danchallender.bsky.social explores why some trade controls succeed, others fail, and what needs to change after CoP20.
Read more: https://www.oxfordmartin.ox.ac.uk/blog/how-to-regulate-wildlife-trade
Apply now for the first in-person Masterclass on Mitigating Illegal Wildlife Trade! The application deadline is 30th January 2026 at 23.59pm UK time.
@danchallender.bsky.social @orchiddelirium.bsky.social
#IllegalWildlifeTrade #Ghana #WestAfrica
app.onlinesurveys.jisc.ac.uk/s/oxford/mas...
"If policymakers want to reduce demand for wild meat, they will need to employ trustworthy communication strategies and increase the availability of safe meat alternatives."
www.biology.ox.ac.uk/article/medi...
@ejmilnergulland.bsky.social @danchallender.bsky.social @julietwright.bsky.social
🌍 A global study has examined how legal uncertainties threatens biodiversity and the people who rely on it.
This new research shows how clearer laws & traceability systems can reduce illegal wildlife trade.
Read more: https://www.oxfordmartin.ox.ac.uk/news/legal-grey-areas-in-wildlife-trade
“After half a century, CITES still plays a critical role in regulating wildlife trade, but growing polarisation over iconic species risks weakening its legitimacy and impact.”
@orchiddelirium.bsky.social @danchallender.bsky.social @michelleanagnostou.bsky.social
NEW: Wildlife experts say reforms are needed now to avoid irreversible damage to global wildlife treaties.
Countries threatening to leave CITES over ivory & rhino horn trade echo Japan's International Whale Commission exit in 2019.
Read more: https://www.oxfordmartin.ox.ac.uk/news/polarised-cites
@biology.ox.ac.uk @danchallender.bsky.social @orchiddelirium.bsky.social @ejmilnergulland.bsky.social
Led by experts from our Wildlife Trade programme, the course explores:
📌 Wildlife trade systems, actors, and dynamics
📌 Interventions, policies, for legal, sustainable trade
📌 Tools, economic approaches, and project skills, including funding.
Pangolin walking on a field.
Are you working on conservation, wildlife trade or policy in West Africa?
This free Oxford masterclass with Dr Dan Challender & Dr Amy Hinsley offers practical insights to tackle illegal wildlife trade using evidence-led strategies.
🧵👇
The CITES Convention turns 50 this year. How could it be more effective? Read our new paper to find out. @ejmilnergulland.bsky.social @tsasrolfes.bsky.social @iccs.bsky.social @biology.ox.ac.uk @oxmartinschool.bsky.social @ox.ac.uk www.frontiersin.org/journals/eco...
Presenting research on the proportionality of trophy hunting bans, @danchallender.bsky.social stresses:
🟢 Trophy hunting isn't a major threat to any CITES-listed species/most species on #IUCNRedList
🟢 Import bans have disproportionate impact with no apparent #conservation benefits
Consult the studies:
- Disproportionate regulation of wildlife trade ▶️ biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
- Evaluating key evidence & formulating regulatory alternatives regarding UK's Hunting Trophies (Import Prohibition) Bill ▶️ conbio.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
@danchallender.bsky.social
"The world wildlife trade regulator is 50 – here’s what has worked and what needs to change"
Great insights here from @danchallender.bsky.social and @tsasrolfes.bsky.social
".. legislating on animal welfare grounds .. is a highly paternalistic intervention that infringes on the sovereignty of countries to manage and use their wildlife as they see fit."
@danchallender.bsky.social @oxfordbiology.bsky.social
The House of Commons will this week again debate whether to ban the import of hunting trophies to the UK. The Government conflates conservation and animal welfare. My op-ed in @thehousemag.bsky.social. www.politicshome.com/members/arti.... @iccs.bsky.social @oxfordbiology.bsky.social @ox.ac.uk
Latest contribution www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
