Recently, I read a book called Poached: Inside the Dark World of Wildlife Trafficking. It was written by Rachel Love Nuwer, and it explores the illegal wildlife trade. Wildlife trafficking is a crime that involves the illegal trading of animals, plants, and their products. I found this book both interesting and informative.
In Poached, the author explores a variety of aspects of the illegal wildlife trade—literally! She travels to foreign countries such as Vietnam and China and interviews poachers, sellers, and buyers; exploring the issue of wildlife trafficking from all angles. This is a book that really emphasizes the human side of the issue. Nuwer focuses on individual people and their role in wildlife trafficking. Zooming in allowed me to get a deeper, more personal look at one of the world’s most profitable crimes.
One thing I loved about this book is that Nuwer avoids oversimplifying the issue. While some may have taken a black-and-white approach, she treats the issue delicately and acknowledges the variety of factors that contribute to trade. Different financial and cultural aspects contribute heavily to wildlife trafficking. The fact that someone may participate in the illegal wildlife trade does not necessarily correlate with their individual character. For example, Nuwer speaks to a poacher in a rural part of Vietnam suffering from acidic water and soil, frequent fires, and low spirits. People in this area often make less than $1,000 a year. This particular poacher chose the profession due to the relatively high monetary potential in order to support his family. However, he does not enjoy his job. He often suffers from bouts of malaria and wishes he could do something else, “Eleven to thirteen dollars per trip [as a forest guide], and I’d quit hunting” (p. 21).
Overall, I would recommend this read to anyone who loves wildlife, is interested in conservation, or is just looking for an informative read.
Poached: Inside the Dark World of Wildlife Trafficking by Rachel Love Nuwer is available for checkout from the Mission Viejo Library.
Mission Viejo Library Teen Voice 
Thanks for the recommendation. I will definitely consider reading this.