Beyond Tigers: The Wildlife Trade Fuelled by Pets and Myths

Somewhere in the collective memory of Indian cinema perches Allah Rakha, the trained bird of prey from Coolie that generations of filmgoers grew up watching. It was a small but glamorous detail in a blockbuster: a wild creature transformed into a loyal companion. It would be difficult to prove that any one film encouraged the wildlife trade. Yet such portrayals can make proximity to a wild animal appear exciting, harmless and even aspirational. The reality behind that image is far less charming.