Wildlife Crime and Wilderness Problems

The thematic group Wildlife Crime and Wilderness Problems conducts fundamental and applied research on topics such as the location choices rhino poachers make, the detection probability of snares by ranger patrols, the use of crime scripting to unpack wilderness problems, how to measure the deterrent effect of law enforcement interventions, drivers of poaching across regions/species, and the use of agent-based modelling to understand corruption. It has started a program on Dutch Wilderness Problems, to increase the focus of this group on nationally relevant issues. The group has a special interest in problem-oriented wildlife protection, the adaptation of problem-oriented policing to solve wilderness problems by law enforcement agencies and NGOs supporting conservation efforts. 

International collaborations

The group has worked with numerous partners over the years from both academia and practice. Including research with Transfrontier Africa and Balule Nature Reserve in South Africa to study rhino poaching and snare detection, a KNAW visiting professor collaboration with Rebecca Wong, City University of Hong Kong, to examine the illegal killing of protected species in China, and continued work with research fellow Robert Pickles of Panthera, a subject matter expert on problem-oriented wildlife protection.