Insights into the illegal trade of feline derivatives in Costa Rica

Abstract

Research has given the illegal trade of feline derivatives in Mexico as well as Central and South America little attention. The purpose of this article is to: 1) Begin a dialogue among human dimensions of wildlife scholars about the economic and cultural values of feline derivatives throughout Mexico, Central and South America; 2) Present the range of economic values that emerged in my interview and participant observation data from Costa Rica; 3) Offer an explanation of how sociological concepts influence the buying and selling of dead jaguars (Panthera onca), pumas (Puma concolor), and ocelots (Leopardus pardalis) in Costa Rica. The principal results are: 1) The sociological concepts of social status and masculine identity interlace with and motivate the illegal trade; 2) The value of feline parts in Costa Rica ranges from $25 to $5000; 3) This value differs by culture and geographic residency of the seller (urban versus rural) and diverged from values discovered in other countries; 4) The men who adorn their homes with illegal trophies are not necessarily the poachers. The value of jaguar skin has been recorded for as little as $100 in a 1983 study conducted in Belize and for as high as $600 in a study done in Venezuela in approximately 2011. Because of cultural differences, Cabécar sell a feline skin for as little as $25 and up to $400 if it includes teeth and nails, but Ticos, who are non-indigenous Costa Ricans, sell the skins from $500-$5000. Non-indigenous, wealthy urban men indicate prestige by the display of feline parts. My findings align with existing research that jaguar skins are sold to people in larger cities and that adornment of feline derivatives is a masculine tradition that can be linked with Amerindian cultures and ancient times. Historically jaguars have been associated with elitist symbolism and evidence in this study suggests this continues in today's culture as a sign of social status. Results suggest that money alone does not drive illegal hunting. The contribution of this study urges researchers to: 1) Develop a typology which includes the characteristics of not only the poachers, but also the buyers of illegal wildlife parts; 2) Evaluate concepts of culture, geographic residency, masculine identity, and social status in the illegal trade of feline derivatives in Mexico, Central, and South America. Keywords: Felines, Illegal, Residency, Masculinity, Social status, Value