Uncaged Conservation: the realities of the illegal bird trade

Sicily Fiennes, a PhD researcher in the School of Biology, explains how a new interactive website is helping to challenge misconceptions about the wildlife trade and the people involved.

In Southeast Asia, the demand for songbirds for singing competitions, breeding, prayer release and as pets has led to uncontrolled trapping and trading of birds. 

It is a complex problem because it involves many interconnected, often conflicting factors. Solutions to such problems are hard to define, as different groups may have competing interests and values.

Through their PhD, Sicily Fiennes from the School of Biology, is exploring how technology can be used to address this social and environmental issue, whilst challenging misconceptions about the trade and the people involved. 

Read Uncaged Conservation: the realities of the illegal bird trade, on Medium.