MEET THE SCIENTIST
Vu Hoai Nam Dang
Investigating the illegal wildlife trade by talking to rhino horn consumers in Vietnam
VU HOAI NAM DANG, PHD FELLOW FROM THE University of Copenhagen, has spent nearly 10 years investigating the illegal wildlife trade. Funded by the People’s Trust for Endangered Species (PTES) and the EU, his latest study focuses on how legalising the rhino horn trade would affect consumer behaviour. “Consumers prefer horns from wild or semi-wild rhinos to those from captive-bred rhinos,” he says. His research reveals that consumers would buy wild horns from illegal vendors if legal supplies were not enough.
“The illegal and unsustainable wildlife trade poses a major threat to biodiversity conservation and drives many species to extinction,” says Nam. He explains that many studies have been conducted on the consumption of “regular wildlife products” (accessible to lower-income groups) but very few focus on high-value ones.
“I reached out to different stakeholders in the illegal wildlife-trade chain, including poachers, farm owners, traders, retailers, consumers and those working to tackle the wildlife trade, to discover motivations,” he says. By establishing good relationships, Nam was able to talk to consumers in Vietnam, most of whom are older and very wealthy individuals, about purchasing these products.
“Beliefs in the medicinal benefits of rhino horns are deeply rooted in local culture, and a legal trade is not enough to stop poaching,” he states. “Demand reduction campaigns should continue, alongside strengthened law enforcement.” To date, no consumers have been prosecuted for buying or using rhino horns.
“Some important questions remain unanswered to evaluate the overall effects of legalising the international rhino horn trade, especially demand in China,” says Nam. He recently finished another study interviewing about 80 traders of various illegal wildlife products. “The tiger traders told me they can make a lot of money because the trade is banned. If it is legalised, everyone can join, and the price will go down.”