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Poached: Inside the Dark World of Wildlife Trafficking Hardcover – Illustrated, September 25, 2018

by Rachel Love Nuwer (Author)
4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 177 ratings
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An intrepid investigation of the criminal world of wildlife trafficking--the poachers, the traders, and the customers--and of those fighting against it

Journalist Rachel Nuwer plunges the reader into the underground of global wildlife trafficking, a topic she has been investigating for nearly a decade. Our insatiable demand for animals -- for jewelry, pets, medicine, meat, trophies, and fur -- is driving a worldwide poaching epidemic, threatening the continued existence of countless species. Illegal wildlife trade now ranks among the largest contraband industries in the world, yet compared to drug, arms, or human trafficking, the wildlife crisis has received scant attention and support, leaving it up to passionate individuals fighting on the ground to try to ensure that elephants, tigers, rhinos, and more are still around for future generations.

As Reefer Madness (Schlosser) took us into the drug market, or Susan Orlean descended into the swampy obsessions of TheOrchid Thief, Nuwer--an award-winning science journalist with a background in ecology--takes readers on a narrative journey to the front lines of the trade: to killing fields in Africa, traditional medicine black markets in China, and wild meat restaurants in Vietnam. Through exhaustive first-hand reporting that took her to ten countries, Nuwer explores the forces currently driving demand for animals and their parts; the toll that demand is extracting on species across the planet; and the conservationists, rangers, and activists who believe it is not too late to stop the impending extinctions. More than a depressing list of statistics, Poached is the story of the people who believe this is a battle that can be won, that our animals are not beyond salvation.
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  1. Part of series
    A Merloyd Lawrence Book
  2. Print length
    384 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Publisher
    Da Capo Press
  5. Publication date
    September 25, 2018
  6. Dimensions
    9 x 6.3 x 1.4 inches
  7. ISBN-10
    0306825503
  8. ISBN-13
    978-0306825507
  9. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"A must-read."―The Revelator

"Nuwer finds rays of hope in the park rangers and other conservation experts who are dedicating their lives to saving some of the earth's most majestic creatures."―Scientific American

"A compelling, lively, and highly informative read."―Science

"A deep, disturbing look into the illegal wildlife trade [that] offers a firsthand account of the battle between traffickers and conservationists."―Science News

"Nuwer's intimate look at different poaching industries is educational and overall heartfelt."―Library Journal

"Nuwer's engaging and immersive reporting style...illuminates and animates the larger forces driving the trade that's wiping out our remaining wildlife."―Sierra

"Nuwer, a conservation biologist turned science journalist, traces at first hand the front lines across the globe in her hard-hitting, wince-inducing report."―Nature

"By focusing on the humans at all points of the [illegal wildlife] trade, Nuwer is able to offer something rare: a window onto the feelings and beliefs that drive it."―Wall Street Journal

"Reads like a thrilling piece of fiction-which makes it even more heartbreaking when you remember the events are true."―Earther

About the Author

Rachel Nuwer is an award-winning science journalist who regularly contributes to The New York Times, National Geographic, BBC Future and Scientific American, among others. She lives in New York. 

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Da Capo Press; Illustrated edition (September 25, 2018)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 384 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0306825503
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0306825507
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.3 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 9 x 6.3 x 1.4 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 177 ratings

About the author

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Rachel Love Nuwer

Rachel Love Nuwer

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Rachel Nuwer is a freelance science journalist who regularly contributes to the New York Times, National Geographic, Scientific American and more.

Her award-winning first book, "Poached: Inside the Dark World of Wildlife Trafficking" (Da Capo 2018), took her to a dozen countries to investigate the multi-billion dollar illegal wildlife trade.

Her second book, "I Feel Love: MDMA and the Quest for Connection in a Fractured World" (Bloomsbury 2023), delves into the science, history, politics and culture surrounding MDMA.

Rachel earned a master’s degree in applied ecology from the University of East Anglia a master’s degree in science journalism from SHERP at New York University. She lives in Brooklyn with a computer programmer and a bossy rabbit.

Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars
4.6 out of 5
177 global ratings
Timely, Important Book about Wildlife Poaching
5 Stars
Timely, Important Book about Wildlife Poaching
While I was familiar with many of the wildlife poaching issues investigated by journalist/author Rachel Nuwer, I was riveted by her first-hand accounts of seeing poachers in action and traveling around the world to see how the demand for endangered species, such as tigers, rhinos and pangolins, triggers prices higher than gold or heroin! Rachel's extensive research and well-written book is also timely in that recent scientific research indicates that the mass extinction of many wildlife species is accelerating.Rachel provides many cringe-worthy investigations of the grim poaching of animals, but she also finds, interviews, and describes the admirable work of conservationists such as Lorna and Rian Labuschagne in Chad. Readers also will admire the dedication of rangers in protecting animals in parks in Africa and Asia, particularly since more than 1,000 have lost their lives in protecting wildlife from poachers.This is an extremely important book because Rachel covers a wide range of worldwide issues in poaching, from the poachers to the wildlife parts distributors to consumers and showing how corruption in governments help drive animal extinctions. She uses her science-writing background well in describing how there's no scientific proof for the use of wildlife parts in medicine or nutrition. But Rachel also brings a sense of humor to her travels as she uses all sorts of techniques to investigate aspects of wildlife misuse, even posing as a prostitute to enter an area in Laos that restricted the admittance of Westerners!Rachel Nuwer's "Poached" is the best book I've read about the tragedies of poaching.
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Top reviews from the United States

Peter
5.0 out of 5 stars Entertaining and informative!
Reviewed in the United States on October 24, 2018
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The author breathes life, humor, and a sense of adventure into the heavy but important topic of the illegal wildlife trade. In addition to the requisite numbers and research, there is a ton of critical on-the-ground reporting--the author personally dives deep and travels extensively for interviews and to see the ins and outs of this world for herself, and paints a vivid picture of the environments she encounters and characters she meets. All sides are represented, from those fighting the trade, to the perpetrators (and consumers and bureaucrats who enable them), and while it's clear where the author's sympathies justifiably lie, the interviews and field trips with the latter two are important in illuminating the hows and whys of the trade. It's a starkly honest account--there's no sugarcoating the reality--but moments of hope are found, and not simply shoehorned in for their own sake, largely in the success stories and the inspiring people that drive them. Entertaining characters and slices of adventure run throughout the book, making for a quick read that was hard to put down.
5 people found this helpful
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Karin Oatley
5.0 out of 5 stars This is an email I sent to the author, great book
Reviewed in the United States on July 26, 2020
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Hi Rachel,
My name is Caroline and I am a HUGE fan. If you have a few minutes to read my email I would greatly appreciate it.
I recently graduated from the __________________ where I studied Wildlife and Conservation Biology. I took a course called "Illegal Wildlife Trafficking". In that course my professor had us split up into "book clubs" and my group read your (incredibly amazing) book Poached: Inside the Dark World of Wildlife Trafficking. I loved how you made the book so educational but also interesting. Your journey throughout the book was very brave; seeing the personal side of the hunters and traders was aweing. I think outsiders (especially people in developed countries) don't truly understand how hard life can be and why people hunt wildlife; sometimes it's all they can do to put food on the table. On the flip side, seeing the insiders view on policy making really showed how difficult it can be to implement and enforce wildlife laws. I never knew anything about CITES meetings but your book really painted a clear picture on how hard it can be to pass certain policies in certain countries and how easily local law enforcement can be swayed to bend the laws for people they know.
Before reading your book I wasn't aware of how badly some species need to be saved from illegal hunting. Ever since my high school days I have wanted to work with bonobos and I am now looking into postgraduate programs in bonobo research. I hope to start a career in primate conservation in Africa when I finish. I feel that I could gain a lot of knowledge from you.
Thank you so much for taking time out of your day to read my email!!! I will leave my contact information below. Have a great day.
4 people found this helpful
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D.E.
5.0 out of 5 stars Very well researched and written
Reviewed in the United States on December 31, 2019
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Poached is easily one of the best books I have ever read. Ms. Nuwer is a very skilled wordsmith as well as a courageous and highly committed investigative journalist; I am glad she transitioned from doing conservation science to conservation journalism. If animal welfare is important to you this book is not always easy to read - I would not have been able to contain my rage when presented with a captured civet presented in a bag alive or when watching a cobra being vivisected in a restaurant to obtain it's heart, but enduring these situations and remaining outwardly calm and somewhat detached are absolutely necessary if you are going to write an informed article or book about these topics. Rachel Nuwer took some big personal risks to meet with poachers and wildlife traders. This book is hopefully the first of many from her.
3 people found this helpful
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Frank Conner
4.0 out of 5 stars A general survey of various animals that are subject to poaching
Reviewed in the United States on January 18, 2024
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The book is a journey with the author of animals that are poached, where the markets are, who the buyers are and finally who the poachers are.
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Ken Mccloud
5.0 out of 5 stars THE BEST BOOK ON THE UNLAWFUL WILDLIFE TRADE & ILLEGAL WILDLIFE TRAFFICKING
Reviewed in the United States on February 12, 2019
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I do not personally know the Author of this book well, but I have spent my life devoted to the study of wildlife and for over 31 years worked as a Supervisory Wildlife Inspector, Special Agent and Senior Special Agent for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Office of Law Enforcement, including the Branch of Special Operations (FWS/OLE); then 6 years as the Chief Crimes Investigator at a major Humane Society and presently the Curator of Natural History for a Major Museum, etc. Through this continuing career, I have specialized in combatting the unlawful trafficking of endangered, imperiled and protected species and studied any reference on this topic, and now lecture to large groups on these important topics. I was extremely impressed with the devotion, research and details Rachel NUWER put into this single book. All the fine books, Rachel NUWER mentioned in her Book, "POACHED" I have read and studied. As I have mentioned to others, given the fact that a significant number of newly hired and even some veteran FWS/OLE Wildlife Inspectors and Special Agents lack this type of knowledge on the commercial poaching, smuggling, and organized crime, I highly recommend they read this detailed account of this horrific industry. Often this international wildlife and flora trafficking are interwoven with drugs, weapons and even child-sex smuggling and this investigative journalist was able to capture the raw truth that goes with wildlife smuggling which I find outstanding! I would strongly suggest that the FWS/OLE make this book mandatory reading for all new hires. I commend Rachel NUWER on an excellent book, "POACHED"! s/ Ken McCloud, RETIRED Senior Special Agent, U.S. FWS/OLE, etc.
18 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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Nwg Gregory
5.0 out of 5 stars Exactly as described
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 10, 2022
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Delivered extremely quickly and book in great condition as described
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Peer Sylvester
5.0 out of 5 stars Der aktuelle Stand in Sachen Wilderei
Reviewed in Germany on July 13, 2019
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Nuwers ist Journalistin, die sich auf Tier- und Umweltschutzthemen spezialisiert hat und z.B. für National Geographic schreibt. Poached basiert auf diesen Artikeln, ergänzt und aktualisiert und um neue Kapitel ergänzt. Dabei deckt die Autorin einen Großteil dessen ab, was man unter moderner Wilderei versteht: Die Jagd nach Schuppenechsen und Nashörnern, die Versuche der großen Nationalparks Afrikas die Wilderei in Griff zu bekommen, die Probleme den Internationalen Handel zu regulieren und illegalen Handel auch durchzusetzen, Das "Melken"von Bären, wegen deren Gallenflüssigkeit oder auch exotische (und verbotene) Speisen bedrohter Tiere wie Tigern, in Vietnam und China. Der illegale Handel mit lebenden Tieren für private Haustiere kommt etwas zu kurz, aber ansonsten ist das Buch beeindruckend vollständig und bietet ein vielschichtiges, aber auch sehr erschreckendes Bild - Trotz einiger Erfolgsgeschichten sieht es nicht gut aus für viele Tiere (und zwar alleine auf Wilderei, Dinge wie den Klimawandel oder systematsiche Abholzung werden gar nicht angesprochen).
Nuwers Verdienst ist es in meinen Augen zudem ein Buch abgeliefert zu haben, dass nicht nur interssant sondern auch gut lesbar ist - sie besucht die meisten Orte, zum Teil Undercover und lässt uns an ihren Beobachtungen teilhaben. Dabei gibt sie aber auch zahlreiche andere Quellen an, es ist also nicht nur ein "Das habe ich alles erlebt!"-Buch, sondern tatsächlich eines mit Substanz!
Wer sich für den Sachverhalt interessiert - und das sollte es zumindest jedem einigermaßen an Umweltdingen interessierter Mensch - und wem die Sprache nicht abschreckt, dem sei das Buch ans Herz gelegt! Online findet man auf der Seite der Autorin übrigens zwei Bonuskapitel, dort kann man also schon einmal probelesen.
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Shashi Paul
5.0 out of 5 stars Great insights
Reviewed in India on September 2, 2019
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Wonderful book. Gives a lot of information about conservation related challenges. Written in a very interesting way. Recommend for all conservationists and animal lovers.
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Belinda
5.0 out of 5 stars A compelling read
Reviewed in Australia on October 22, 2018
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Poached is a gripping look inside a horrific industry, made vividly real by science journalist Rachel Nuwer - Rachel makes you feel like you're adventuring with her through the exotic locations she visits. The intensity of the subject matter is balanced by the humour and pathos that comes through in Rachel's writing. If you care about animals, people, and our planet, you will enjoy this book.
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S.
5.0 out of 5 stars Investigative journalism at its best
Reviewed in Germany on March 2, 2021
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I came across this book while looking for literature that would make me more familiar with the highly criminal and illegal wildlife trade. Rachel did a really good job on depicting different sides and aspects of trade and trafficking. The book focuses mainly on Asia and Africa by describing scenes and interviews which touched me deeply.

It would be interesting to read more about what's going on in the rest of the world as well, especially in the so called "Western societies" that fire up the demand for a lot of highly endangered species due to their lifestyle.

All in all, I can definitely recommend Rachel's book.
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