Episode #65 Show Notes

Turning the Lens: Tiger Wildlife Crime in the US with Sarika Khanwilkar

March 2, 2022

Headshot photo of Sarika Khanwilkar
Sarika KhanwilkarFounder of Wild Tiger, PhD Student at Columbia University

Episode #65 Summary

To teach us about this issue, in this episode we’re sitting down with Sarika Khanwilkar, founder of the non-profit Wild Tiger, a PhD student at Columbia University, and a tiger expert. Sarika discovered her passion for tigers during an internship studying human-tiger conflict in central India through TRACT, a well-known tiger conservation organization led by her aunt and uncle. She returned to the US a changed woman and decided to dedicate her life to tiger conservation. In keeping with that theme, Sarika recently published a paper examining the US’ role in the illegal trade of tiger parts, and oh my, is it interesting. Sarika teaches us all about the illegal tiger trade in the US, the conservation of wild tigers in India, and the actions we can take to protect this phenomenal cat.

Alright, let’s get to today’s episode with Sarika.

Listen to the Episode

Watch this Episode on YouTube

Links & Resources

Sarika’s Websites
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarikalivingwild/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/4thewildtiger
ResearchGate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Sarika-Khanwilkar

Research Paper About Tiger Crime
Khanwilkar, S., Sosnowski, M., & Guynup, S. (2022). Patterns of illegal and legal tiger parts entering the United States over a decade (2003–2012). Conservation Science and Practice, 4(3). https://doi.org/10.1111/csp2.622

Wild Tiger
Website: https://www.wild-tiger.org/

Big Cat Safety Act
H.R.211 – Big Cat Public Safety Act: https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/211?s=1&r=29

Organizations Mentioned in the Episode
TRACT: https://www.tractindia.org/
Last Wilderness Foundation: http://thelastwilderness.org/
Jackson Wild: https://www.jacksonwild.org/

Shows Mentioned in the Episode
Tiger King: https://www.netflix.com/title/81115994

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