What is “wildlife”? Legal definitions that matter to conservation

Abstract

The outbreak of COVID-19 has highlighted the pressing need to prevent zoonotic diseases, resulting in a surge of interest and research on wildlife legislation and policies. These discussions cover many aspects of wildlife governance, such as wildlife farming, hunting and consumption. However, the legal concept of “wildlife” has received insufficient attention, raising the question of what it entails in a legal context. This study reveals significant differences in species classification, language clarity, and human-wildlife relationships between China and the UK through conducting a comparative analysis of the legal definitions and scope of “wildlife” in these two countries. By contributing to the growing body of literature on wildlife conservation, this study provides insights into the legal definitions and scope of “wildlife” in different countries, and underscores the significance of clarifying the context and scope of legally defined “wildlife” terms in shaping public policy and discourse in wildlife governance. Additionally, it emphasises the importance of legal clarity and harmonisation in wildlife definitions for improved conservation efforts at both domestic and international levels. Finally, this study concludes by stressing the importance of the human-nature relationship in shaping wildlife definitions and classifications, and highlighting the need for conservation practitioners to be attentive to legal details related to wildlife governance in future research and practical efforts to achieve protection.