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The animal that tops the illegal wildlife trade is surprising. It’s not an elephant or tiger, but an exotic anteater called a Pangolin. This animal is a mammal with scales, has a tongue the size of its body, and an unfortunate self-defense mechanism. They are on their way to becoming extinct because their scales are used in Asian medicine and their meat is considered delicious in some countries. Some organizations are petitioning to list the Pangolin as endangered in the U.S. Listen to hear more about the efforts to save the Pangolin.
Story Length: 6:06
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September 30, 2014
3:41
Crickets are seen as a little but loud insect, some might think they are creepy, others cute, but most Americans don’t see crickets as food. This might start changing as the world searches for more environmentally sound sources of protein. Whether people fry crickets or use ground cricket flour to enrich their baked good - crickets are coming. This public radio story takes you to a farm that grows crickets in Ohio and provides a rich framework to understand the advantages to eating insects.
Read MoreJune 23, 2014
7:23
A new research article has ruffled the feathers of some scientists. The study questions whether it’s damaging endangered populations of birds and other species to collect them for scientific study. Many scientists see the collection of rare animals as a way to discover diseases and understand the past, while some ethicists see collection as a threat to small endangered animal populations. Listen to this public radio story to learn more.
Read MoreApril 11, 2014
5:16
The illegal animal smuggling trade is right behind drugs and weapons smuggling because there is a large market actively seeking exotic, illegal animals. Smugglers have found many creative ways to sneak animals in, from stuffing them in pant legs to tires.
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