Killing an endangered species is a heinous crime, but the language around the act requires a refocus away from colonialization.
A man sneaks into a protected forest, where he hunts and illegally kills an animal. He’s later caught and charged with a crime: poaching.
That’s a word those of us in the conservation community need to rethink.
I’m a conservation journalist focusing on endangered species, and I’ve written about wildlife trafficking and used the term “poach” (or “poacher” or “poaching”) hundreds of times, often in headlines. But for a while now, I’ve also found the word … troubling.
Conservation Communication: Time to Rethink the Word ‘Poacher’? • The Revelator
A man sneaks into a protected forest, where he hunts and illegally kills an animal. He’s later caught and charged with a crime: poaching.
That’s a word those of us in the conservation community need to rethink.
I’m a conservation journalist focusing on endangered species, and I’ve written about wildlife trafficking and used the term “poach” (or “poacher” or “poaching”) hundreds of times, often in headlines. But for a while now, I’ve also found the word … troubling.
Conservation Communication: Time to Rethink the Word ‘Poacher’? • The Revelator