The international wildlife trade is a serious conservation problem, addressed by the United Nations' Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), which currently has 170 member countries called Parties. The 15th Conference of the Parties of CITES was held in Doha, Qatar in March 2010. The trade in wildlife is the third largest illegal business behind only drugs and weapons

International wildlife trade can be classified in 2 forms: Still, it's a serious threat to a number of endangered and vulnerable species. The removal of species from regions which are part of illegal wildlife trade may cause severe problems for the local ecosystem.

  • Legal trade in wildlife is distinguished by the sale of wildlife, yet done so in a sustainable manner. Wildlife farms for example farm wildlife animals with the intent of selling these, an activity which usually does not cause any negative effect to the ecosystem. It may also solve some other issues (see below).


Problem | Save Tigers Now

The international illegal wildlife trade is sometimes differentiated from the bushmeat trade by virtue of its geographic scale and commercialization. Bushmeat, usually but not always referring to Africa, is the consumption of wildlife locally or nationally for protein. Sometimes bushmeat is internationalized through trade links from Africa to Europe or North America, but most bushmeat is consumed near its place of origin. The international illegal trade of wildlife, conversely, is defined by the trade of high-value wild animals and products derived from wild animals across borders.

Reasons for concern

Illegal Wildlife Trade | Threats | WWF

Wildlife trade threatens the local ecosystem, and puts all species under additional pressure at a time when they are facing threats such as over-fishing, pollution, dredging, deforestation and other forms of habitat destruction. Wildlife is traded alive or dead.

In the food chain, species higher up on the ladder ensure that the species below them do not become too abundant (hence controlling the population of those below them). Animals lower on the ladder are often non-carnivorous (but instead herbivorous) and control the abundance of plant species in a region. Due to the very large amounts of species that are removed from the ecosystem, it is not inconceivable that environmental problems will commence to occur (similar to i.e. overfishing that causes abundance of jellyfish to occur). In the example given it also becomes quickly clear that having the governments of countries where wildlife occurs crack down effectively on wildlife trade may, in some instances, allow these countries to save themselves a considerable amount of money.

Survival rate of species during transport

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In some instances; such as the sale of chameleons from Madagascar, organisms are transported by boat or via the air to consumers. The survival rate of these is extremely poor (only 1% survival rate). This is undoubtably caused by the illegal nature; vendors rather not risk that the chameleons were to be discovered and so do not ship them in plain view. Due to the very low survival rate, it also means that far higher amounts of organisms (in this case chameleons) are taken away from the ecosystem, to make up for the losses.

Illegal wildlife trade and globalization

The Illegal Wildlife Trade - China - ESDAW

Interpol has estimated the extent of the illegal wildlife trade between $10 billion and $20 billion per year. While the trade is a global one, with routes extending to every continent, conservationists say the problem is most acute in Southeast Asia. There, trade linkages to key markets in China, the United States, and the European Union; lax law enforcement; weak border controls; and the perception of high profit and low risk contribute to large-scale commercial wildlife trafficking. The ASEAN Wildlife Enforcement Network (ASEAN-WEN) ASEAN Wildlife Enforcement Network, supported by the U.S. Agency for International Development and external funders, is one response to the region's illegal wildlife trade networks.

Consequences for indigenous peoples

Laurel Neme

In many instances, tribal people have become the victims of the fallout from poaching. With increased demand in the illegal wildlife trade, tribal people are often direct victims of the measures implemented to protect wildlife. Often reliant upon hunting for food, they are prevented from doing so, and are frequently illegally evicted from their lands following the creation of nature reserves aimed to protect animals. Tribal people are often falsely accused of contributing to the decline of species â€" in the case of India, for example, they bear the brunt of anti-tiger poaching measures, despite the main reason for the tiger population crash in the 20th century being due to hunting by European colonists and Indian elites. In fact, contrary to popular belief, there is strong evidence to show that they effectively regulate and manage animal populations.

Illegal wildlife trade over the world

The most trafficked mammal you've never heard of -- CNN.com

In Asia and Africa

Notable trade hubs of the wildlife trade include Suvarnabhumi International Airport in Bangkok, which offers smugglers direct jet service to Europe, the Middle East, North America and Africa. The Chatuchak weekend market in Bangkok is a known center of illicit wildlife trade, and the sale of lizards, primates, and other endangered species has been widely documented. Trade routes connecting in Southeast Asia link Madagascar to the United States (for the sale of turtles, lemurs, and other primates), Cambodia to Japan (for the sale of slow lorises as pets), and the sale of many species to China.

Morocco has been identified as a transit country for wildlife moving from Africa to Europe due to its porous borders with Spain. Wildlife is present in the markets as photo props, sold for decoration, used in medicinal practices, sold as pets and used to decorate shops. Large numbers of reptiles are sold in the markets, especially spur-thighed tortoises. Although leopards have most likely been extirpated from Morocco, their skins can regularly be seen sold openly as medicinal products or decoration in the markets.

Despite international and local laws designed to crack down on the trade, live animals and animal parts â€" often those of endangered or threatened species - are sold in open-air markets throughout Asia. The animals involved in the trade end up as trophies, or in specialty restaurants. Some are used in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). Despite the name, elements of TCM are widely adopted throughout East and Southeast Asia, among both Chinese and non-Chinese communities.

The trade also includes demand for exotic pets, and consumption of wildlife for meat. Large volumes of fresh water tortoises and turtles, snakes, pangolins and monitor lizards are consumed as meat in Asia, including in specialty restaurants that feature wildlife as gourmet dining.

In South America

Although the volume of animals traded may be greater in Southeast Asia, animal trading in Latin America is widespread as well.

In open air Amazon markets in Iquitos and Manaus, a variety of rainforest animals are sold openly as meat, such as agoutis, peccaries, turtles, turtle eggs, walking catfish, etc. In addition, many species are sold as pets. The keeping of parrots and monkeys as pets by villagers along the Amazon is commonplace. But the sale of these "companion" animals in open markets is rampant. Capturing the baby tamarins, marmosets, spider monkeys, saki monkeys, etc., in order to sell them, often requires shooting the mother primate out of a treetop with her clinging child; the youngster may or may not survive the fall. With the human population increasing, such practices have a serious impact on the future prospects for many threatened species. The United States is a popular destination for Amazonian rainforest animals. They are smuggled across borders the same way illegal drugs are - in the trunks of cars, in suitcases, in crates disguised as something else.

Legal trade of wildlife

Legal trade of wildlife has occurred for many species for a number of reasons, including commercial trade, pet trade as well as conservation attempts. Whilst most examples of legal trade of wildlife are as a result of large population numbers or pests, there is potential for the use of legal trade to reduce illegal trade threatening many species. Legalising the trade of species can allow for more regulated harvesting of animals and prevent illegal over-harvesting.

Examples of successful wildlife trade



Trade of crocodiles in Australia has been largely successful. Saltwater crocodiles (Crocodylus porosus) and freshwater crocodiles (Crocodylus johnstoni) are listed under CITES Appendix II. Commercial harvesting of these crocodiles occurs in Northern Territory, Queensland and Western Australia, including harvesting from wild populations as well as approved captive breeding programs based on quotas set by the Australian government.


Kangaroos are currently legally harvested for commercial trade and export in Australia. There are a number of species included in the trade including:

  • Red kangaroo (Macropus rufus)
  • Eastern grey kangaroo (M. giganteus)
  • Western grey kangaroo (M.fuliginosus)
  • Common wallaroo (M. robustus)

Harvesting of kangaroos for legal trade occur does not occur in National Parks and is determined by quotas set by state government departments. The trade of kangaroos has gained commercial value of kangaroos through meat and other product as well as active kangaroo management.

North America


Alligators have been traded commercially in Florida and other American states as part of a management program. The use of legal trade and quotas have allowed management of a species as well as economic incentive for sustaining habitat with greater ecological benefits.

Legalising trade for endangered species

Under the Convention on International Trade of Endangered Species (CITES), species listed under Appendix I are threatened with extinction and are prohibited for commercial trade. This rule applies to all species threatened with extinction, except in exception circumstances. Commercial trade of endangered species listed under Appendix II and III is not prohibited although Parties must provide non-detriment finding to show that the species in the wild is not being unsustainably harvested for the purpose of trade.

Organizations addressing illegal wildlife trade

  • ASEAN Wildlife Enforcement Network (ASEAN-WEN)
  • South Asia Wildlife Enforcement Network (SAWEN)
  • Clark R. Bavin National Fish and Wildlife Forensic Laboratory
  • FREELAND Foundation
  • National Rifle Association
  • Species Survival Network
  • TRAFFIC, the wildlife trade monitoring network
  • Wildlife Alliance

See also

  • Environmental crime
  • Ivory trade
  • Poaching
  • Wildlife smuggling
  • Wildlife farming


Further reading

  • Roe, D. (2002). Making a Killing Or Making a Living: Wildlife Trade, Trade Controls, and Rural Livelihoods. IIED. ISBNÂ 978-1-84369-215-7.Â 

External links

  • TRAFFIC âˆ' international NGO dedicated to ensuring that trade in wild plants and animals is not a threat to nature conservation
  • ASEAN Wildlife Enforcement Network âˆ' wildlife law enforcement network
  • FREELAND Foundation âˆ' international NGO dedicated to ending the illegal wildlife trade, conserving natural habitats and protecting human rights
  • Wildlife Alliance âˆ' international NGO addressing wildlife trafficking and other crimes against nature
  • Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA)
  • EIA in the USA
  • The Species Survival Network âˆ' international coalition of over 80 NGOs committed to the promotion, enhancement, and strict enforcement of CITES
  • Wildlife at Risk âˆ' combating the illegal wildlife trade in Vietnam
  • Saving Vietnam's Wildlife
  • Elephant Action League (EAL)

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