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Petrossian GA, Elwin A, Sosnowski M, Nunphong T, Chiang HT, Riungu JK, D'Cruze N. A synthesis of wild animal-related trade laws in some of the world's most biodiverse countries. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2024; 354:120141. [PMID: 38354606 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2024.120141] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2023] [Revised: 12/05/2023] [Accepted: 01/18/2024] [Indexed: 02/16/2024]
Abstract
We examined the laws and legal provisions governing the commercial trade of terrestrial wild fauna across the trade chain in some of the world's megadiverse countries and how these relate to key animal welfare and conservation concerns. Over the past century, an increase in the quantity and complexity of laws related to commercial wildlife trade has been observed in the 11 focal countries examined. Our review identified 95 laws with 560 provisions adopted since 1910 across these countries. Surprisingly, the level of biological diversity in a country does not correlate with the extent of legislation addressing wildlife trade. Moreover, legislation is unevenly distributed across different stages of the wildlife trade chain, with more provisions on extraction and transportation compared to captive management. Notably, animal welfare considerations are relatively underrepresented in legislation related to wildlife trade, despite their broad implications for public health and economies. Urgent legislative action is needed to meet global biodiversity targets and respond to the challenges posed by the growing scale and complexity of the wildlife trade. Recommendations are made to streamline legislation, consider the legal status of wild animals, and address gaps in enforcement mechanisms. We conclude that alignment of national and international regulations is crucial for the effective protection of both wild animal populations and individual animals' welfare in the context of commercial trade. Further research is needed to assess the effectiveness of existing laws, bridge legal gaps, and address diverse concerns related to wildlife trade, including public health and the rights of local communities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gohar A Petrossian
- John Jay College of Criminal Justice, Department of Criminal Justice, 524 West 59th Street, New York, NY, 10019, USA.
| | - Angie Elwin
- World Animal Protection, 222, Gray's Inn Rd, London, UK.
| | - Monique Sosnowski
- Farmingdale State College, Department of Criminal Justice, 2350 Broadhollow Road, Farmingdale, NY, 11735, USA.
| | - Thanaphon Nunphong
- Department of Probation, 4 & 6 Fl Chaengwattana Government Complex Building A, Bangkok, 10210, Thailand.
| | - Ho-Tu Chiang
- John Jay College of Criminal Justice, Department of Criminal Justice, 524 West 59th Street, New York, NY, 10019, USA.
| | - Jim Karani Riungu
- John Jay College of Criminal Justice, Department of Criminal Justice, 524 West 59th Street, New York, NY, 10019, USA.
| | - Neil D'Cruze
- World Animal Protection, 222, Gray's Inn Rd, London, UK; Recanati-Kaplan Centre, Tubney House, Abingdon Road, Tubney, Abingdon, OX13 5QL, UK.
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Bardosh K, Guinto RR, Bukachi SA, Hang TM, Bongcac MK, de los Santos MYM, Mburu CM, Abela J, Kelly D, Maller C. Wet market biosecurity reform: Three social narratives influence stakeholder responses in Vietnam, Kenya, and the Philippines. PLOS GLOBAL PUBLIC HEALTH 2023; 3:e0001704. [PMID: 37672556 PMCID: PMC10482282 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgph.0001704] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2023] [Accepted: 06/26/2023] [Indexed: 09/08/2023]
Abstract
In 2020, Covid-19 led to global policy statements promoting bans and reforms to wet markets in Asia and Africa to prevent future pandemics. We conducted a comparative, exploratory qualitative study in 2021 in three countries (Kenya, Vietnam and the Philippines) to understand the social and political dimensions to biosecurity reform at wet markets. This included 60 key informant interviews and rapid ethnographic research in 15 markets, as well as a review of policy documents and online media articles. We found no evidence that the rhetoric of pandemic spillover that emerged in 2020 had any influence on policy or reform efforts apart from those related to Covid-19 infection control. Rather, we identified three main narratives that frame the problem of biosecurity and preferences for reform. The first, a human health narrative, questioned global framings about pandemic risk, viewed markets as sources for food security rather than disease, emphasized the need to strengthen the control of endemic diseases, and conceptualized health through the lens of 'freshness' rather than biomedical categories. A second modernization narrative approached biosecurity as part of a broader process of socio-economic development that emphasized infrastructural gaps, spatial arrangements, cleanliness and a conflict between reform and economic interests. A third narrative centered on local livelihoods and the tension between local market stakeholders and biosecurity and modernization efforts. This final narrative called into question the appropriateness of certain regulations and policies, including bans and closures, emphasized the importance of preserving cultural heritage and highlighted the need for collective political action to resist certain veterinary policies. In conclusion, wet market biosecurity strategies occur in the context of three contrasting narratives that emphasize different aspects of health and risk, and reflect different worldviews and interests. Within this context, there is a need for local government to strengthen market management and biosecurity in ways that enhance the agency of market stakeholders and strengthen local livelihoods and food security as part of a pluralistic and democratic politics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin Bardosh
- School of Public Health, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
- Edinburgh Medical School, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
- Centre for Urban Research, Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Renzo R. Guinto
- Planetary and Global Health Program, St. Luke’s Medical Center College of Medicine-William H. Quasha Memorial, Quezon City, Philippines
| | - Salome A. Bukachi
- Institute of Anthropology, Gender and African Studies, University of Nairobi, Nairobi’, Kenya
| | - Tran Minh Hang
- Institute of Anthropology, Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences, Hanoi, Vietnam
| | - Marianne K. Bongcac
- Planetary and Global Health Program, St. Luke’s Medical Center College of Medicine-William H. Quasha Memorial, Quezon City, Philippines
| | - Mara Ysabella M. de los Santos
- Planetary and Global Health Program, St. Luke’s Medical Center College of Medicine-William H. Quasha Memorial, Quezon City, Philippines
| | - Caroline M. Mburu
- Institute of Anthropology, Gender and African Studies, University of Nairobi, Nairobi’, Kenya
- Department of Social Anthropology, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, United Kingdom
| | - Jackielyn Abela
- Palawan State University, Puerto Princesa, Palawan, Philippines
| | - David Kelly
- Centre for Urban Research, Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Cecily Maller
- Centre for Urban Research, Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology, Melbourne, Australia
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Bielby J, Ferguson A, Rendle M, McMillan KM. Online classified adverts reflect the broader United Kingdom trade in turtles and tortoises rather than drive it. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0288725. [PMID: 37440593 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0288725] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2023] [Accepted: 07/03/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Online sales are increasingly a route by which exotic animals are sold in the global pet trade. There are numerous types of online platforms and transaction types, and dedicated classified advertisement sites are a popular means of buying and selling animals. Despite their large and increasing use, we have a relatively poor understanding of the number of, and taxonomic variation in, the animals sold online. This information may be key in efforts to optimise the welfare of the animals being sold, and the ethics and sustainability of the trade via that platform. To fill this knowledge gap, we monitored and analysed the advertisements of chelonians (turtles and tortoises) placed on one of the United Kingdom's largest dedicated classified ads sites, www.pets4homes.co.uk, over the course of a year, from July 2020 until June 2021. We analysed temporal, taxonomic, and advertiser related trends in the volumes of advertisements placed and compared the prices and the sentiment of language within adverts for different species. We found that the species advertised, the prices requested, and infrequent use of the site by most advertisers is consistent with most adverts being for animals being resold by casual users. Further, we found that turtles were consistently advertised for lower prices and in multiples than tortoises, and that the language with which they were advertised was less positive. We conclude that on this website the online trade reflects the broader trade, rather than drives the sales of chelonians in the UK, and that any interventions aiming to improve welfare and sustainability would be better placed earlier in the supply chain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jon Bielby
- School of Biological and Environmental Sciences, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, England
| | - Andy Ferguson
- Lincolnshire Wildlife Park, Friskney, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Matthew Rendle
- Association of Zoo & Exotic Veterinary Nurses, Market Harborough, United kingdom
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Esposito MM, Turku S, Lehrfield L, Shoman A. The Impact of Human Activities on Zoonotic Infection Transmissions. Animals (Basel) 2023; 13:ani13101646. [PMID: 37238075 DOI: 10.3390/ani13101646] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2023] [Revised: 05/04/2023] [Accepted: 05/11/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
As humans expand their territories across more and more regions of the planet, activities such as deforestation, urbanization, tourism, wildlife exploitation, and climate change can have drastic consequences for animal movements and animal-human interactions. These events, especially climate change, can also affect the arthropod vectors that are associated with the animals in these scenarios. As the COVID-19 pandemic and other various significant outbreaks throughout the centuries have demonstrated, when animal patterns and human interactions change, so does the exposure of humans to zoonotic pathogens potentially carried by wildlife. With approximately 60% of emerging human pathogens and around 75% of all emerging infectious diseases being categorized as zoonotic, it is of great importance to examine the impact of human activities on the prevalence and transmission of these infectious agents. A better understanding of the impact of human-related factors on zoonotic disease transmission and prevalence can help drive the preventative measures and containment policies necessary to improve public health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michelle Marie Esposito
- Department of Biology, College of Staten Island, City University of New York, Staten Island, New York, NY 10314, USA
- Ph.D. Program in Biology, The Graduate Center, City University of New York, New York, NY 10314, USA
- Macaulay Honors College, City University of New York, New York, NY 10314, USA
| | - Sara Turku
- Department of Biology, College of Staten Island, City University of New York, Staten Island, New York, NY 10314, USA
- Macaulay Honors College, City University of New York, New York, NY 10314, USA
| | - Leora Lehrfield
- Department of Biology, College of Staten Island, City University of New York, Staten Island, New York, NY 10314, USA
- Macaulay Honors College, City University of New York, New York, NY 10314, USA
| | - Ayat Shoman
- Department of Biology, College of Staten Island, City University of New York, Staten Island, New York, NY 10314, USA
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Hughes A, Auliya M, Altherr S, Scheffers B, Janssen J, Nijman V, Shepherd CR, D'Cruze N, Sy E, Edwards DP. Determining the sustainability of legal wildlife trade. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2023; 341:117987. [PMID: 37178541 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2023.117987] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2023] [Revised: 03/19/2023] [Accepted: 04/18/2023] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Abstract
Exploitation of wildlife represents one of the greatest threats to species survival according to the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services. Whilst detrimental impacts of illegal trade are well recognised, legal trade is often equated to being sustainable despite the lack of evidence or data in the majority of cases. We review the sustainability of wildlife trade, the adequacy of tools, safeguards, and frameworks to understand and regulate trade, and identify gaps in data that undermine our ability to truly understand the sustainability of trade. We provide 183 examples showing unsustainable trade in a broad range of taxonomic groups. In most cases, neither illegal nor legal trade are supported by rigorous evidence of sustainability, with the lack of data on export levels and population monitoring data precluding true assessments of species or population-level impacts. We propose a more precautionary approach to wildlife trade and monitoring that requires those who profit from trade to provide proof of sustainability. We then identify four core areas that must be strengthened to achieve this goal: (1) rigorous data collection and analyses of populations; (2) linking trade quotas to IUCN and international accords; (3) improved databases and compliance of trade; and (4) enhanced understanding of trade bans, market forces, and species substitutions. Enacting these core areas in regulatory frameworks, including CITES, is essential to the continued survival of many threatened species. There are no winners from unsustainable collection and trade: without sustainable management not only will species or populations become extinct, but communities dependent upon these species will lose livelihoods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alice Hughes
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Hong Kong, China.
| | - Mark Auliya
- Department of Herpetology, Leibniz Institute for the Analysis of Biodiversity Change, Zoological Research Museum Alexander Koenig, Bonn, Germany
| | | | - Brett Scheffers
- Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, University of Florida/IFAS, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Jordi Janssen
- Monitor Conservation Research Society, PO BOX 200, Big Lake Ranch, BC, V0L 1G0, Canada
| | - Vincent Nijman
- Oxford Wildlife Trade Research Group, Oxford Brookes University, Oxford, OX3 0BP, UK.
| | - Chris R Shepherd
- Monitor Conservation Research Society, PO BOX 200, Big Lake Ranch, BC, V0L 1G0, Canada
| | - Neil D'Cruze
- The Wildlife Conservation Research Unit, Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, Tubney, UK; World Animal Protection, 222 Greys Inn Road, London, WC1X 8HB, UK
| | - Emerson Sy
- Philippine Center for Terrestrial & Aquatic Research, Manila, Philippines
| | - David P Edwards
- Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, School of Biosciences University of Sheffield, Sheffield, S10 2TN, UK.
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Warwick C, Pilny A, Steedman C, Howell T, Martínez-Silvestre A, Cadenas V, Grant R. Mobile Zoos and Other Itinerant Animal Handling Events: Current Status and Recommendations for Future Policies. Animals (Basel) 2023; 13:ani13020214. [PMID: 36670754 PMCID: PMC9854913 DOI: 10.3390/ani13020214] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2022] [Revised: 12/07/2022] [Accepted: 12/25/2022] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Mobile zoos are events in which non-domesticated (exotic) and domesticated species are transported to venues such as schools, hospitals, parties, and community centres, for the purposes of education, entertainment, or social and therapeutic assistance. We conducted literature searches and surveyed related government agencies regarding existing provisions within laws and policies, number of mobile zoos, and formal guidance issued concerning operation of such events in 74 countries or regions. We also examined governmental and non-governmental guidance standards for mobile zoos, as well as websites for mobile zoo operations, assessed promotional or educational materials for scientific accuracy, and recorded the diversity of species in use. We used the EMODE (Easy, Moderate, Difficult, or Extreme) algorithm, to evaluate identified species associated with mobile zoos for their suitability for keeping. We recorded 14 areas of concern regarding animal biology and public health and safety, and 8 areas of false and misleading content in promotional or educational materials. We identified at least 341 species used for mobile zoos. Mobile zoos are largely unregulated, unmonitored, and uncontrolled, and appear to be increasing. Issues regarding poor animal welfare, public health and safety, and education raise several serious concerns. Using the precautionary principle when empirical evidence was not available, we advise that exotic species should not be used for mobile zoos and similar itinerant events.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clifford Warwick
- Emergent Disease Foundation, 71-75 Shelton Street, Covent Garden, London WC2H 9JQ, UK
- Correspondence:
| | - Anthony Pilny
- Arizona Exotic Animal Hospital, 2340 E Beardsley Road Ste 100, Phoenix, AZ 85024, USA
| | - Catrina Steedman
- Emergent Disease Foundation, 71-75 Shelton Street, Covent Garden, London WC2H 9JQ, UK
| | - Tiffani Howell
- School of Psychology and Public Health, La Trobe University, P.O. Box 199, Bendigo, VIC 3552, Australia
| | | | - Vanessa Cadenas
- Animal Protection Biodiversity & Environment Section, Government of Catalonia, 43004 Tarragona, Spain
| | - Rachel Grant
- School of Applied Sciences, London South Bank University, 103 Borough Rd, London SE1 0AA, UK
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Pham TT, Tang HTK, Nguyen NTK, Dang PH, Nguyen ATV, Nguyen ATT, Tran HNM, Hoang LT, Tran DNL, Nguyen QN. COVID-19 impacts, opportunities and challenges for wildlife farms in Binh Duong and Ba Ria Vung Tau, Vietnam. Glob Ecol Conserv 2022; 40:e02314. [PMID: 36312591 PMCID: PMC9598250 DOI: 10.1016/j.gecco.2022.e02314] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2022] [Revised: 09/17/2022] [Accepted: 10/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The wildlife trade is a major cause of species loss and can trigger disease transmission. While the COVID-19 pandemic sparked public interest in eliminating the wildlife trade, a better understanding is needed of the economic repercussions of COVID-19 on those who rely on wildlife farming for their livelihoods. Using the case studies of Ba Ria Vung Tau and Binh Duong provinces in Vietnam - a country seen as Asia's wildlife trade hotspot - this paper explores COVID-19's impacts on wildlife farms and their owners. Understanding these impacts is important, both in order to design appropriate interventions to support local people in mitigating COVID-19's impacts as well as to inform effective policymaking around wildlife conservation in Vietnam. In this study, we adopted mixed research methods (including a literature and policy review, stakeholder consultation with government agencies and NGOs engaged in designing and monitoring wildlife conservation policies, a wildlife farming household survey, and research validation workshop) to understand the status of Vietnamese wildlife farms, as well as the impacts of COVID-19, and any opportunities and challenges for wildlife conservation and management in Vietnam. Our paper shows that, across the two studied provinces, numbers of wildlife farms and farmed wildlife animals have both declined since the pandemic, with declining market demand and wildlife farm owners experiencing difficulties accessing markets due to travel restrictions. Although this affected wildlife-related income, this represented less than 30 % of families' overall income on average, and thus households were able to maintain their livelihoods through other sources. Most wildlife is raised as an additional food source for farming families and plays an important role in the diets of surveyed households. Findings also highlighted that most surveyed households' post-pandemic recovery strategies involved expanding their wildlife farms in scope and scale; these households perceived a stable domestic market and high prices for wildlife products in future. Our study found several opportunities for sustainable wildlife farming practices, including greater political commitment, an increasing number of wildlife conservation policies, and stronger law enforcement mechanisms. Challenges remain, however; including an unclear and inconsistent policy framework, the presence of an illegal market, and wildlife farm owners' limited knowledge and understanding of wildlife policies. Our paper also shows a lack of comprehensive data and understanding around actual wildlife transactions during the pandemic, leading to challenges in confirming whether COVID-19 had any real impact on wildlife trade. Further research is required to address this knowledge gap.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thuy Thu Pham
- Center for International Forestry Research, Bogor 16115, Indonesia
| | | | | | | | - Anh Thi Van Nguyen
- University of Economics and Business, Vietnam National University, Hanoi 100000, Viet Nam
| | | | - Hoa Ngoc My Tran
- Center for International Forestry Research, Bogor 16115, Indonesia
| | - Long Tuan Hoang
- Center for International Forestry Research, Bogor 16115, Indonesia
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Pham TT, Tang TKH, Dang HP, Nguyen TKN, Hoang TL, Tran NMH, Nguyen TTA, Nguyen TVA, Valencia I. Policymaker perceptions of COVID-19 impacts, opportunities and challenges for sustainable wildlife farm management in Vietnam. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & POLICY 2022; 136:497-509. [PMID: 35855780 PMCID: PMC9279387 DOI: 10.1016/j.envsci.2022.07.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2021] [Revised: 04/17/2022] [Accepted: 07/11/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
This paper uses Vietnam - where overexploitation of wildlife resources is a major threat to biodiversity conservation - as a case study to examine how government officials perceive the impacts of COVID-19 on wildlife farming, as well as the opportunities and challenges presented for sustainable wildlife management. Findings show Vietnamese government officials perceive COVID-19 to have had mixed impacts on wildlife conservation policies and practice. While the pandemic strengthened the legal framework on wildlife conservation, implementation and outcomes have been poor, as existing policies are unclear, contradictory, and poorly enforced. Our paper also shows policymakers in Vietnam are not in favor of banning wildlife trade. As our paper documents the immediate impacts of the pandemic on wildlife farming, more research is necessary to analyse longer-term impacts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thu Thuy Pham
- Center for International Forestry Research, Bogor 16115, Indonesia
| | | | | | | | - Tuan Long Hoang
- Center for International Forestry Research, Bogor 16115, Indonesia
| | - Ngoc My Hoa Tran
- Center for International Forestry Research, Bogor 16115, Indonesia
| | | | - Thi Van Anh Nguyen
- University of Economics and Business, Vietnam National University, Hanoi 100000, Viet Nam
| | - Isabela Valencia
- Center for International Forestry Research, Bogor 16115, Indonesia
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Green J, Schmidt-Burbach J, Kukreja K, Guillon E. Bear with me: Understanding motivations for bear farming in Vietnam. FRONTIERS IN CONSERVATION SCIENCE 2022. [DOI: 10.3389/fcosc.2022.913263] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Bears were once farmed legally across Vietnam to supply bile, a digestive fluid, as an ingredient for traditional medicine products. Extracting and selling bear bile has been prohibited in Vietnam since 2005, but there is evidence that an illegal industry remains active. The aim of this study is to gain insight into the motivations and experiences of Vietnamese bear farmers. Thirty-seven semi-structured interviews were conducted with 28 active and 9 former bear farmers across 14 provinces in Vietnam. Our findings confirm previous reports in the literature that there is still an active, illegal bear bile market in Vietnam, but that bear farming is becoming less profitable due to a reduction in demand for farmed products and the decreasing price of bile. Additional results indicate that many Vietnamese bear farmers may have a poor understanding of regulations governing the trade of bear parts and that most farmers do not intend to stop farming bears. Based on these findings, we suggest the most effective method of persuading bear farmers to stop trading bile would be via former bear farmers and to reduce the social acceptability of bile consumption throughout the country. We hope the results of this study can help refine strategies and inform future efforts to end the bear bile industry in Vietnam.
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Green J, Schmidt-Burbach J, Elwin A. Commercial trade of wild animals: examining the use of the IUCN Red List and CITES Appendices as the basis for corporate trade policies. FRONTIERS IN CONSERVATION SCIENCE 2022. [DOI: 10.3389/fcosc.2022.902074] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Wildlife exploitation is considered a predominant factor driving global biodiversity loss and zoonotic disease transmission, in addition to a range of concerns for animal welfare and ecosystem health. One of the ways in which wild animals are exploited is for commercial trade as exotic pets, fashion products, luxury foods, traditional medicine, entertainment, ornaments and more. While the trade in some wildlife species is restricted or prohibited under various domestic and international laws, many species are not bound by legal protection and are traded in largely unmonitored numbers with the potential for severe consequences. Companies, particularly large e-commerce platforms, are increasingly adopting policies to restrict the legal trade in wild animals. Due to the absence of clear guidelines for corporate services of wildlife trade, these policies commonly adopt pre-determined species lists, such as the International Union for the Conservation of Nature’s (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species or the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) Appendices, as the basis for ‘negative lists’ to guide which species to restrict trade in. However, these databases were not intended for this application and there has been no assessment of their use for this purpose. Here, we summarise and compare the scale and scope of species listed on the IUCN Red List and the CITES Appendices, to discuss how much additional protection these lists provide wild animals if used as policy instruments to guide corporate wildlife trade restrictions beyond the relevant legal bounds. Based on our results, we discuss why that using one list or another would likely omit taxa of conservation concern from protection, and using both lists in conjunction would still not comprehensively reflect all species vulnerable to extinction as a result of exploitation. Further, neither list can mitigate the animal welfare and public health concerns inherently associated with all commercial wildlife trade. We recommend that companies looking to develop policies relating to commercial wildlife trade consider going beyond the scope of predetermined species lists to help mitigate the harmful effects of commercial wildlife exploitation via trade for all wild animals.
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Gomez L, Siriwat P, Shepherd CR. The trade of Saiga Antelope horn for traditional medicine in Thailand. JOURNAL OF THREATENED TAXA 2022. [DOI: 10.11609/jott.7726.14.6.21140-21148] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Demand for Saiga Antelope Saiga tatarica horn products in Southeast Asia, due to their perceived medicinal value, has drastically impacted the conservation of this species. At the same time, poor understanding of the dynamics of this trade in parts of Southeast Asia continues to impede regulation and conservation efforts. Here we examine the trade of Saiga horn products in Thailand through a rapid physical and online market survey, and via an analysis of Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) trade data. We found an active local trade in Saiga horn products in Thailand, with both physical market surveys and online surveys showing predominantly two forms of Saiga horn products in the market, i.e., cooling water and horn shavings (mostly sold as pre-packaged boiling kits). These products are commercially marketed as staple household medicines. Greater scrutiny, monitoring and research is urgently needed to understand how the use of Saiga horn is being regulated in Thailand including the number of licensed traders, potential stockpiles and management of these. Traditional medicine outlets and online sales of commercial Saiga horn products also requires attention. As a non-native species, the Saiga Antelope is not protected in Thailand which makes it difficult for enforcement authorities to prevent illegal trade of Saiga horn products within the country. Thailand is currently revising its wildlife laws with the intention of addressing the protection of non-native and CITES-listed species. Considering the widespread use of Saiga horn in Thailand, we recommend that Saiga Antelope be included in the revised species protection lists to enable enforcement action against trade in illegally sourced Saiga horn products.
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Green J, Hankinson P, de Waal L, Coulthard E, Norrey J, Megson D, D’Cruze N. Wildlife Trade for Belief-Based Use: Insights From Traditional Healers in South Africa. Front Ecol Evol 2022. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2022.906398] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The use of animals and plants as traditional remedies for medical and magico-religious purposes has a long history of socio-cultural and economic importance in South Africa. Herein, we aim to characterize the social and economic value of wild animal species used in traditional, belief-based medicine within South Africa from traditional healers’ perspective and to explore healers’ knowledge of plant-based alternatives to wildlife-based derivatives for this type of trade. Through structured surveys with five traditional healers, we sought to gain insight into the range of wild animal species used, as well as the purpose, the perceived commercial value and the perceived availability of commonly used species. Particular focus was placed on exploring the socio-economic value of lions due to their prominence within the traditional medicine market, both in South Africa and internationally. Three of the respondents interviewed had been generating an income from traditional healing for between 30 and 50 years, and the overall monetary gain across all respondents was between ZAR 30,000 (1,800 USD) and 120,000 (7,200 USD) per annum. Our study confirms that a wide range of wild animal species are used in traditional healing practices in South Africa, for both medicinal and magico-religious purposes. The traditional healers we interviewed cited 20 common wild animals from a range of vertebrate classes including birds, reptiles, mammals, and one invertebrate. These included a number of species listed as threatened on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Traditional healers cited 32 different uses for wild animal parts, as well as 19 alternative plant-based preparations. For lions specifically, four out of five practitioners listed lions among their top three profitable derivatives and three practitioners reported that lion had become the most rare or unavailable species in the last 5 years. Although our study is based on a limited number of interview participants, we believe that our findings provide valuable initial insights into the socio-economic drivers of traditional healing practices in South Africa, and that further research quantifying medicinal and belief-based use of wild animal ingredients and their plant-based alternatives could help to inform approaches to managing related pressures exerted on wild populations in South Africa in the future.
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Thurstan RH, Hockings KJ, Hedlund JSU, Bersacola E, Collins C, Early R, Ermiasi Y, Fleischer‐Dogley F, Gilkes G, Harrison ME, Imron MA, Kaiser‐Bunbury CN, Refly Katoppo D, Marriott C, Muzungaile M, Nuno A, Regalla de Barros A, van Veen F, Wijesundara I, Dogley D, Bunbury N. Envisioning a resilient future for biodiversity conservation in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. PEOPLE AND NATURE 2021; 3:990-1013. [PMID: 34909607 PMCID: PMC8661774 DOI: 10.1002/pan3.10262] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2020] [Accepted: 08/07/2021] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to affect societies across the world, the ongoing economic and social disruptions are likely to present fundamental challenges for current and future biodiversity conservation.We review the literature for outcomes of past major societal, political, economic and zoonotic perturbations on biodiversity conservation, and demonstrate the complex implications of perturbation events upon conservation efforts. Building on the review findings, we use six in-depth case studies and the emerging literature to identify positive and negative outcomes of the COVID-19 pandemic, known and anticipated, for biodiversity conservation efforts around the world.A number of similarities exist between the current pandemic and past perturbations, with experiences highlighting that the pandemic-induced declines in conservation revenue and capacity, livelihood and trade disruptions are likely to have long-lasting and negative implications for biodiversity and conservation efforts.Yet, the COVID-19 pandemic also brought about a global pause in human movement that is unique in recent history, and may yet foster long-lasting behavioural and societal changes, presenting opportunities to strengthen and advance conservation efforts in the wake of the pandemic. Enhanced collaborations and partnerships at the local level, cross-sectoral engagement, local investment and leadership will all enhance the resilience of conservation efforts in the face of future perturbations. Other actions aimed at enhancing resilience will require fundamental institutional change and extensive government and public engagement and support if they are to be realised.The pandemic has highlighted the inherent vulnerabilities in the social and economic models upon which many conservation efforts are based. In so doing, it presents an opportunity to reconsider the status quo for conservation, and promotes behaviours and actions that are resilient to future perturbation. A free Plain Language Summary can be found within the Supporting Information of this article.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruth H. Thurstan
- Centre for Ecology and ConservationCollege of Life and Environmental SciencesUniversity of ExeterPenrynUK
| | - Kimberley J. Hockings
- Centre for Ecology and ConservationCollege of Life and Environmental SciencesUniversity of ExeterPenrynUK
| | - Johanna S. U. Hedlund
- Centre for Ecology and ConservationCollege of Life and Environmental SciencesUniversity of ExeterPenrynUK
- Department of BiologyLund UniversityLundSweden
| | - Elena Bersacola
- Centre for Ecology and ConservationCollege of Life and Environmental SciencesUniversity of ExeterPenrynUK
| | - Claire Collins
- Centre for Ecology and ConservationCollege of Life and Environmental SciencesUniversity of ExeterPenrynUK
- Institute of ZoologyZoological Society of LondonLondonUK
| | - Regan Early
- Centre for Ecology and ConservationCollege of Life and Environmental SciencesUniversity of ExeterPenrynUK
| | - Yunsiska Ermiasi
- Yayasan Borneo Nature IndonesiaCentral KalimantanPalangka RayaIndonesia
| | | | | | - Mark E. Harrison
- Centre for Ecology and ConservationCollege of Life and Environmental SciencesUniversity of ExeterPenrynUK
- Borneo Nature Foundation InternationalTremough Innovation CentrePenrynUK
- School of Geography, Geology and the EnvironmentUniversity of LeicesterLeicesterUK
| | | | | | | | | | - Marie‐May Muzungaile
- Biodiversity Conservation and Management DivisionMinistry of Environment, Energy and Climate ChangeVictoriaRepublic of Seychelles
| | - Ana Nuno
- Centre for Ecology and ConservationCollege of Life and Environmental SciencesUniversity of ExeterPenrynUK
- Interdisciplinary Centre of Social Sciences (CICS.NOVA)School of Social Sciences and Humanities (NOVA FCSH)NOVA University LisbonLisboaPortugal
| | - Aissa Regalla de Barros
- Instituto da Biodiversidade e das Áreas ProtegidasDr. Alfredo Simão da Silva (IBAP)BissauGuiné‐Bissau
| | - Frank van Veen
- Centre for Ecology and ConservationCollege of Life and Environmental SciencesUniversity of ExeterPenrynUK
| | | | | | - Nancy Bunbury
- Centre for Ecology and ConservationCollege of Life and Environmental SciencesUniversity of ExeterPenrynUK
- Seychelles Islands FoundationVictoriaRepublic of Seychelles
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Gomez L. The illegal hunting and exploitation of porcupines for meat and medicine in Indonesia. NATURE CONSERVATION 2021. [DOI: 10.3897/natureconservation.43.62750] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
Indonesia is home to five species of porcupines, three of which are island endemics. While all five species are currently assessed as Least Concern by the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, impacts of harvest and trade have not been factored in. To gain a fuller understanding of the porcupine trade in Indonesia, this study examines seizure data of porcupines, their parts and derivatives from January 2013 to June 2020. A total of 39 incidents were obtained amounting to an estimated 452 porcupines. Various confiscated commodities revealed porcupines are traded for consumption, traditional medicine, trophies/charms as well as for privately run wildlife/recreational parks. Targeted hunting of porcupines for commercial international trade was also evident. Porcupines are also persecuted as agricultural pests and wildlife traffickers take advantage of such situations to procure animals for trade. What clearly emerges from this study is that porcupines are being illegally hunted and exploited throughout their range in Indonesia facilitated by poor enforcement and legislative weakness. Porcupines are in decline due to habitat loss, retaliatory killings and uncontrolled poaching. It is therefore crucial that effective conservation measures are taken sooner rather than later to prevent further depletion of these species. Including all porcupines as protected species under Indonesian wildlife laws and listing them in Appendix II of CITES to improve regulation, enforcement and monitoring of domestic and international trade trends involving porcupines in Indonesia would contribute significantly towards this end.
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Valdez JW. Using Google Trends to Determine Current, Past, and Future Trends in the Reptile Pet Trade. Animals (Basel) 2021; 11:ani11030676. [PMID: 33802560 PMCID: PMC8001315 DOI: 10.3390/ani11030676] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2021] [Revised: 02/06/2021] [Accepted: 02/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Reptiles are one of the most popular exotic pets in the world, with over a third of all described species currently being traded. However, the most commonly available reptiles are typically non-threatened, captive-bred, and/or domestically obtained, which means they are also largely unregulated and unmonitored, resulting in a large portion of the reptile pet trade remaining unknown. In this study, the past, current, and future trends of the most popular reptiles in the pet trade were examined. Google Trends was used to determine the global popularity of the most popular pets from 2004 to 2020 and compared to the results from an online survey sent to individuals involved in the reptile trade. The most popular pets from the previous five years were also compared globally across regions and countries. The results determined that the most popular reptile species during the last decade is by far bearded dragons, followed by ball pythons and leopard geckos. Although the survey results were similar when asked what the top reptiles were, most respondents named ball pythons as the most popular reptile. However, when asked what reptiles had lost the most popularity during the previous decade, the survey respondents named green iguanas, Burmese pythons, chameleons, red-eared sliders, and green anoles, concurring with what was found with Google Trends. The reptiles thought to be more popular in the upcoming decade by the survey participants were blue-tongued skinks, tegus, uromastyx, crested geckos, and ball pythons-most of which did indeed show an increase in popularity during the last decade, as indicated with Google Trends. The results from Google Trends demonstrated that ball pythons and crested geckos have increased their popularity more than any other reptile in the last two decades. Reptile popularity also differed between countries, with bearded dragons the most popular reptile in Australia, Western Europe, the U.S., and Canada. Leopard geckos were the most popular reptile in Italy and Turkey, and ball pythons were the reptile of choice in Mexico, Indonesia, and India. The general finding of this study is that the reptiles declining in popularity were mostly wild-caught or restricted due to regulations, while current and future species were captive-bred and available in many varieties or morphs. The most popular species were also docile, medium-sized, and easy to handle, with relatively simple care requirements. This study demonstrates that Google Trends can be a useful tool for determining relative popularity among reptiles, or any other pet group, with results closely mirroring those obtained through direct surveying of people involved in the pet trade. However, unlike surveys, this analysis is quick, quantifiable, and can show what is popular and in-demand not only at the global level but at much finer scales. Thus, Google Trends can be a valuable tool in many research applications, especially in topics that may otherwise be difficult to monitor and quantify.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jose W Valdez
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Puschstrasse 4, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
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Peng S, Broom DM. The Sustainability of Keeping Birds as Pets: Should Any Be Kept? Animals (Basel) 2021; 11:ani11020582. [PMID: 33672378 PMCID: PMC7927005 DOI: 10.3390/ani11020582] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2020] [Revised: 02/17/2021] [Accepted: 02/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary The trade in birds for pet trade is harming wild bird populations and bird welfare. Inadequate housing of many pet birds results in stereotypies and other indicators of poor welfare in the birds that are currently widespread. Some pet birds were taken from the wild or bred in poor conditions, while others had nutritional, health, and behavioral problems resulting from inadequate living conditions and incorrect husbandry by the bird owners. As a consequence, it is not ethically right to keep the majority of the birds that are at present kept as pets. If birds are to be continued as a companion animal for people, then more effort should be made by pet shop owners and veterinarians to supply literature to prospective owners highlighting not only the proper care for the species of bird but also its needs and requirements, so that bird owners can do their utmost to meet them. Owners do not comply with laws requiring duty of care, unless they obtain and act on such information and also have knowledge of how to provide good nutrition and minimize the risk of disease. New laws are needed to prohibit taking birds from the wild and keeping birds in conditions that do not meet their needs. Abstract We describe a wide range of unethical and unsustainable practices inherent to the trading and keeping of pet birds. At present, biodiversity and wild bird populations are being greatly harmed and many individual birds have poor welfare. Wild-caught birds should not be sold to the public as pets, or to breeding establishments for several reasons, including because 75–90% of wild-caught birds die before the point of sale and taking birds from the wild has negative effects on biodiversity. The housing provided for pet birds should meet the needs of birds of that species and allow good welfare, for example there should be no small cages but aviaries with space for each bird to exercise adequately, and social birds should be kept in social groups. At present, inadequate housing of many pet birds results in stereotypies and other indicators of poor welfare in birds. Owners should have knowledge of how to provide good nutrition and minimize the risk of disease. Unless these changes are made, keeping birds as pets should not be permitted. New laws are needed to prohibit taking birds from the wild and ensure captive pet birds in conditions that do meet their needs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shawn Peng
- Taipei Zoo, No.30, Sec.2, Xinguang Road, Taipei 116, Taiwan
- Correspondence:
| | - Donald M. Broom
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and St Catharine’s College, University of Cambridge, Madingley Road, Cambridge CB3 0ES, UK;
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Bernete Perdomo E, Araña Padilla JE, Dewitte S. Amelioration of Pet Overpopulation and Abandonment Using Control of Breeding and Sale, and Compulsory Owner Liability Insurance. Animals (Basel) 2021; 11:ani11020524. [PMID: 33670459 PMCID: PMC7922531 DOI: 10.3390/ani11020524] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2020] [Revised: 02/09/2021] [Accepted: 02/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Overpopulation and abandonment of pets are long-standing and burgeoning concerns that involve uncontrolled breeding and selling, illegal trafficking, overpopulation, and pet-safety and well-being issues. Historical and current prevention measures for avoiding these problems, such as sanctions, taxes, or responsibility education, have failed to provide significant moderation or resolution. Globally, millions of pets are commercially and privately bred and abandoned annually, damaging biodiversity and ecosystems, and presenting road safety and public health risks, in addition to becoming victims of hardship, abuse, and illegal trafficking, especially in the case of exotic species. This article proposes a novel comprehensive management system for amelioration of overpopulation and abandonment of pets by using greater control of supply and demand of the pet market, highlighting the role of the compulsory owner liability insurance to prevent pet abandonment and all its associated costs. This system aims to act preventatively, through flexible protocols within the proposed management system to be applied to any pet and any country. Abstract Overpopulation and abandonment of pets are long-standing and burgeoning concerns that involve uncontrolled breeding and selling, illegal trafficking, overpopulation, and pet safety and well-being issues. Abandonment of pets creates numerous negative externalities and multimillion-dollar costs, in addition to severe consequences and problems concerning animal welfare (e.g., starvation, untreated disease, climatic extremes, uncertainty of rescue and adoption), ecological (e.g., invasive species and introduction of novel pathogens), public health and safety (e.g., risks to people from bites, zoonoses, or road hazards), and economic (e.g., financial burdens for governmental and nongovernmental organizations). These interwoven problems persist for several reasons, including the following: (1) lack of an efficient system for the prevention of abandonment and overpopulation, (2) lack of regulatory liability for pet owners, (3) lack of legal alternative to abandonment. This article proposes a novel comprehensive management system for amelioration of overpopulation and abandonment of pets aimed to tackle the current supply and demand dysfunction of the pet market and provide a legal alternative to abandonment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eva Bernete Perdomo
- University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, 35017 Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain;
- Correspondence:
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García Pinillos R. One welfare impacts of COVID-19 - A summary of key highlights within the one welfare framework. Appl Anim Behav Sci 2021; 236:105262. [PMID: 33612900 PMCID: PMC7885704 DOI: 10.1016/j.applanim.2021.105262] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2020] [Revised: 02/04/2021] [Accepted: 02/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
One Welfare describes the interconnection between animal welfare, human wellbeing and their physical and social environment. The SARS-CoV-2 virus is the cause of COVID-19 and emerged as a human pathogen in 2019 although is thought to have a zoonotic source. The original wildlife reservoir and any potential intermediate hosts have not yet been identified. The combination of the virus zoonotic condition together with the impacts of disease control measures has exposed clear interconnections between animals, people and their environment from both a health and a welfare perspective. The One Welfare Framework comprises five sections that can help understand the different One Welfare levels on which the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the world. This paper uses the One Welfare Framework to provide an overview of examples, within each of the five sections, where evidence is and/or can be made available to document COVID-19 impacts on One Welfare. The paper identifies a number of areas where further research and evidence gathering is required to better understand the different One Welfare impacts. Based on evidence summarised in this paper the author recommends that those responsible for managing the COVID-19 impacts and for planning the future recovery phase of the pandemic should consider adopting a holistic approach, including both health and welfare, by adopting & One Health, One Welfare & policies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebeca García Pinillos
- One Welfare C.I.C, Kemp House, Kemp House 160 City Road, London, EC1V 2NX, United Kingdom
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