How illegal wildlife poaching actually works, according to an undercover investigator
Wildlife criminologist Allison Skidmore discusses her undercover work investigating transnational wildlife trafficking networks, including poaching rings in Russia and Africa. She explains the mechanics of how these networks operate, including money laundering and the exploitation of transit hubs.
Why it matters
Understanding the logistics of illegal wildlife trade is essential for developing effective anti-poaching strategies and disrupting global criminal networks.
Allison Skidmore is a wildlife criminologist and National Geographic Explorer specializing in transnational wildlife trafficking networks. She's gone undercover in Russia, Malaysia, and the Horn of Africa to expose poaching and the illegal wildlife trade. Skidmore began her career as an anti-poaching ranger in South Africa's Kruger National Park. In 2016 she began a PhD in environmental studies. As part of her doctoral research, Skidmore went undercover in Russia's Far East to investigate Amur tiger poaching.
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