Wildlife trade products available to U.S. military personnel serving abroad |
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Authors: | Heidi E Kretser McKenzie F Johnson Lisa M Hickey Peter Zahler Elizabeth L Bennett |
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Institution: | (1) North America Program, Wildlife Conservation Society, 7 Brandy Brook Ave, Saranac Lake, NY 12983, USA;(2) Afghanistan Program, Wildlife Conservation Society, Kabul, Afghanistan;(3) Wildlife Conservation Society, 2300 Southern Boulevard, Bronx, New York, NY 10460, USA;(4) Present address: Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA |
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Abstract: | Military personnel and affiliates have significant buying power that can influence demand for wildlife products. Purchase
and transport of certain wildlife products violates United States laws, military regulations, and national country laws where
the items were purchased. We surveyed military bazaars (n = 4) in Kabul, Afghanistan from June 2007 to March 2009 to observe which species were available to soldiers. In June 2008,
we conducted a pilot survey of U.S. Army personnel (n = 371) stationed at Fort Drum, New York, USA, who had been deployed or stationed overseas including in Afghanistan and Iraq.
Soldiers reported skins of wild felids and gray wolf Canis lupus as most commonly observed wildlife products available for sale in Afghanistan. Forty percent of respondents said they had
either purchased or seen other members of the military purchase or use wildlife products. The U.S. military was willing to
assist in curtailing supply and demand for wildlife products in order to protect soldiers from unknowingly breaking the law
and to conserve wildlife in the countries where they serve. Regular, focused training of military personnel should be considered
an important step to reducing trade in wildlife products by addressing both demand and market supply. |
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