Wildlife Alliance

Confronting Cambodia's Wildlife Crisis

The illegal wildlife trade, and the consumption of endangered wildlife for food, traditional folk remedies, or other uses, is driving many species in Southeast Asia toward extinction in the wild, including tigers, Asian elephants, and great apes. Nick Marx, program manager for Wildlife Alliance's Care for Rescued Wildlife and Wildlife Rapid Rescue Team in Cambodia, will present a discussion on the role of wildlife rescue and care programs in dealing with this issue.  Nick will also present on Wildlife Alliance programs dealing with habitat protection, wildlife law enforcement, sustainable economic development, environmental education and outreach to prevent the illegal wildlife trade in Southeast Asia and its impacts on globally threatened species.

Nick Marx advises the Wildlife Alliance's law enforcement teams on dealing with human-wildlife conflict issues and rescuing and caring for animals rescued from illegal wildlife trade. He also directs the wildlife care and rehabilitation programs of Cambodia's Phnom Tamao Wildlife Rescue Center. Nick holds a master's degree in Conservation Biology and has more than thirty years of experience in the care and husbandry of large wildlife, including large predators (tigers, lions, cheetahs, and leopards), primates (orangutans, gibbons), elephants, and other large mammals. Nick has worked in park management, wildlife conservation, and animal care in the United Kingdom, India, South Africa, and Southeast Asia.

Following the presentation, Nick Marx and Professor Justin Brashares, a wildlife trade specialist from the College of Natural Resources, Environmental Science, Policy, and Management Program, may be available to discuss illegal wildlife trade and extinction risks in Southeast Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa on an informal basis.

Presentation and discussion will be followed by a light reception on the patio.