Expert perceptions on women’s involvement in illegal wildlife trade networks

Abstract

Illegal wildlife trade is often male dominated at harvest, yet women’s roles across supply chains are under-examined. This study adds substantially to this growing body of knowledge drawing on 112 semi-structured interviews with law enforcement and illegal wildlife trade experts in South Africa, Hong Kong, and Canada. We show women participate in finance and money laundering, brokerage, logistics, retail, online marketing, and couriering, with occasional leadership. Women are also strategically used to shield men. Drawing on conservation and feminist criminology—specifically women’s liberation and strain/marginalization perspectives—alongside an intersectional framework, we interpret role differentiation across contexts. While perceptions-based data and male-dominated enforcement may bias visibility, patterns are consistent. We recommend gender-competent, intersectional counter-illegal wildlife trade strategies and better gender-disaggregated data.