| Criminologists have long been interested in the study of transnational
crime -- the illicit procurement, transportation and distribution of
commodities across international borders. By and large, the majority of the
research has focused on the illegal narcotics trade with limited, though
growing interest in nuclear and conventional arms dealing, money
laundering, art and antiquities trafficking, and the smuggling of humans.
However, one area of transnational crime -- the black market in endangered
animals and animal parts that generates an estimated $6 billion per year --
has been all but ignored by criminologists. Employing field research
methods, the authors explored the nature of this illegal market in Namibia
and South Africa, two major source countries for illegal wildlife
trafficking. The authors present their results via multi-media format using
images and audio clips to supplement and compliment their major findings.
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Updated 05/20/2006