© 2024 Michigan State University Board of Trustees
Public Media from Michigan State University
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

MSU professor fights illegal wildlife traffic

Madagascar malachite kingfisher photo
Meredith Gore
Meredith Gore found this stuffed Madagascar malachite kingfisher in an open air market in Madagascar. The bird is endangered.

Illegal wildlife trading is the fifth most profitable illicit trade in the world, and it’s not just happening in other parts of the world, it happens here in Michigan too. Current State talks with MSU associate professor Meredith Gore, who researches the decline and exploitation of wildlife and natural resources and works to find solutions.

When you think of illegal trade, you probably first think of drugs and weapons, but there’s another type that’s on the rise in many parts of the world: wildlife trading. It’s the fifth most profitable illicit trade in the world, and it’s being researched extensively by a professor at MSU.

Current State talks with Meredith Gore, who has a joint appointment in the Department of Fisheries & Wildlife and School of Criminal Justice at MSU. She also co-founded the Conservation Criminology Program at Michigan State. Her research focuses not only on illegal wildlife trade, but also the exploitation of natural resources, and she works to understand people’s perceptions of these problems and find solutions within communities.

This segment is supported by Michigan State University's Knight Center for Environmental Journalism. More news about the Great Lakes environment can be found at GreatLakesEcho.org and on Current State every Tuesday as part of our partnership.

Related Content
Journalism at this station is made possible by donors who value local reporting. Donate today to keep stories like this one coming. It is thanks to your generosity that we can keep this content free and accessible for everyone. Thanks!