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‘Poached� is a creation that works on a multitude of levels, being not only good old� hard-hitting journalism, but a nuanced telling of the current climate when it comes to the state of animal trafficking on a global scale.�
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Whether it be the Ivory trade, wildlife restaurants, or the concept of traditional Chinese medicine, Nuwer comes at each subject from all angles - giving great insight into why things are the way they are, how we can change them, and even (depressingly) why some things may not ever change. (I’ll give you a hint, it’s about the money). �
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Focusing on a variety of topics, Nuwer encapsulates an element of trafficking around a specific animal and explores in detail why the animal is currently endangered - why, for instance, are pangolins currently the most poached animal in the world? What role do their scales play in Chinese medicine? How easy are they to obtain? Nuwer truly investigates all these aspects, down to patrolling the streets of Vietnam to see how easy it is to obtain illegal scales on the black market. �
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It’s an interesting insight and creates a more personal element, making Nuwer a voice in the story - sometimes adding lighter touches to the text - such as being part of a mass pangolin release party, or focusing on darker elements - like visiting Vietnamese restaurants to see if they have pangolin on the menu. This ‘on the ground� style emphasises just what goes into protecting these animals and also how much the laws that are created really need policing.�
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Nuwer takes us on the journey of the ugly truth in ‘Poached�, emphasising what an on-going battle the fight against trafficking will be, and giving us all the information we need to be more enlightened on the topic, and that is all I can ask for from my non-fiction. 5 stars.