What Sustains Wildlife Crime? Rhino Horn Trading and the Resilience of Criminal Networks

Transnational Environmental Crime Project, Australian National University, Working Paper 2/2012

22 Pages Posted: 28 Sep 2012 Last revised: 16 Aug 2021

See all articles by Julie M. Ayling

Julie M. Ayling

RegNet School of Regulation and Global Governance, Australian National University; European University Institute Dept of Law

Date Written: September 27, 2012

Abstract

The problem of illegal trading in wildlife is a long-standing one. Humans have always regarded other sentient and non-sentient species as resources and tradeable commodities, frequently resulting in negative effects for biodiversity. However, the illegal trade in wildlife is increasingly meeting with resistance from states and the international community in the form of law enforcement and regulatory initiatives. So why does it persist? What makes the criminal networks involved in it resilient? In this paper I consider the networks involved in the illegal trade in rhinoceros horn that is currently posing an existential threat to most rhino species. The paper considers possible sources of these networks' resilience, both internal and external, and the implications for how the trade could be tackled.

Keywords: transnational environmental crime, illegal wildlife trade, rhinoceros horn, criminal networks, resilience

Suggested Citation

Ayling, Julie M. and Ayling, Julie M., What Sustains Wildlife Crime? Rhino Horn Trading and the Resilience of Criminal Networks (September 27, 2012). Transnational Environmental Crime Project, Australian National University, Working Paper 2/2012, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2152776 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2152776

Julie M. Ayling (Contact Author)

European University Institute Dept of Law ( email )

Via Bolognese 156 (Villa Salviati)
I-50139 Firenze
Italy

RegNet School of Regulation and Global Governance, Australian National University ( email )

Canberra, Australian Capital Territory 0200
Australia

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