How coronavirus is causing a boom in illegal wildlife poaching

<p>Wildlife experts have alerted the Evening Standard that&nbsp;<a href="https://www.standard.co.uk/news/stop-wildlife-trade/stop-the-illegal-wildlife-trade-covid-crisis-a4498831.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">a global conservation “crisis</a>” is unfolding as the disruption caused by Covid-19 causes a surge in the poaching of species for the illegal wildlife trade.&nbsp;India, Nepal, Pakistan and several African countries have all reported a poaching spike.&nbsp;A number of wildlife protection programmes have been curtailed due to the abrupt halt of tourism revenue as a result of Covid-19, leaving endangered animals more vulnerable to slaughter. In this special edition of the Leader podcast we speak to some of the world's leading conservation experts, who also warn that the booming poaching trade may have been the cause of coronavirus - and could do it again. You can also find out about the Evening Standard and Independent's joint&nbsp;<a href="https://www.standard.co.uk/news/stop-wildlife-trade/wildlife-trade-must-end-a4477281.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Stop the Illegal Wildlife Trade</a>&nbsp;campaign,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/a44bf7-esi039s-campaign-for-space-for-giants/donate" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">which you can donate to here.</a></p> &#10;&nbsp;<br /><hr><p style='color: grey; font - size: 0.75em; '>See <a style='color: grey; ' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for privacy and opt-out information.</p>