Wildlife trade

Wildlife trade means buying and selling parts of animals or plants that are not kept on farms. This can include live animals, dead ones, their skins, bones, meat, or other products taken from nature. Some of this trade follows rules to protect animals and plants, but a lot of it happens without permission and is a big problem.

Many animals and plants are hurt or lost because of wildlife trade. This makes it hard for some species to survive. Illegal trade in wildlife is very common and is as big a problem as trading things like drugs or weapons. It can also help spread new diseases to people.

The world is working to stop illegal wildlife trade. For example, one of the United Nations' goals is to end the illegal supply of wildlife and help protect nature for the future.

Terminology

Wildlife use is a big term that covers all ways people use animals from the wild. This can include using them for special ceremonies, eating meat from hunted animals, or different kinds of trading. Wildlife trade is when people buy and sell animals or parts of animals, like fur or bones. This trade can be done legally or illegally, and it can happen in one country or between many countries. Often, legal and illegal trade are connected.

Ineffective monitoring of international wildlife trade

The trade of animals and plants from nature is very big and keeps growing. In 2012, people bought about $187 billion worth of these products around the world. This includes fish, plants, and other animals.

But it is hard to keep track of this trade because the system used by customs offices around the world does not give enough details. Most products are listed only as general things like "plant" or "animal products" without saying exactly what they are. This makes it difficult to know what is being traded and to stop illegal trading. Many people think the system needs to change to better protect animals and plants.

Reasons for concern

Different forms of wildlife trade or use are a major threat to endangered mammals and also rank among the top threats to birds, amphibians and cycads.

Wildlife trade can harm local ecosystems, adding pressure to animals already facing dangers like over-fishing, pollution, dredging, deforestation and other types of habitat destruction. Removing many animals from an area can cause big changes in nature, just like how overfishing can lead to too many jellyfish. Some research shows that animals that are not native to an area are traded more often in wildlife markets.

According to the United Nations, World Health Organization and World Wildlife Foundation, the Coronavirus disease 2019 is connected to damage to nature, especially to deforestation, habitat loss and wildlife trade. Leaders have noted that many diseases, like Zika, Aids, Sars and Ebola, came from animals facing tough environmental conditions.

Zoonoses

Outbreaks of diseases that can jump from animals to people, including COVID-19, H5N1 avian flu, severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), and monkeypox, have been linked to places where live wild animals are sold. These markets can create conditions where diseases change and spread to humans.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the need for companionship and distraction during isolation led to more wildlife being traded online.

Survival rate of species during transport

Sometimes animals like chameleons from Madagascar are moved by boat or plane to reach buyers. Sadly, very few of these animals survive the journey—only about 1% make it alive. This happens because the trade is often done secretly, and sellers don’t want the animals to be found, so they don’t take good care during transport. Because so many animals don’t survive, even more are taken from their homes to replace those that die.

Consequences for indigenous peoples

In many places, tribal people have suffered because of the illegal wildlife trade. When there is too much demand for animal products, these communities are often stopped from hunting for food. They are sometimes forced off their land when nature reserves are created to protect animals. Sadly, they are often blamed for the decrease in animal numbers, even though the real reason for some animal populations dropping is because of hunting by others long ago. In fact, there is evidence that tribal people can help manage animal populations well.

Illegal wildlife trade

Further information: Wildlife smuggling

Interpol has estimated that the illegal trade of wildlife is worth between $10 billion and $20 billion each year. This trade happens all around the world, but it is especially big in Southeast Asia. There, strong connections to big markets like China, the United States, and the European Union help the trade grow. Weak laws and weak border checks make it easier for people to move animals and animal parts secretly.

Important places for this trade include Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok, where animals are sent around the world. Markets in Bangkok also sell many animals, including lizards and primates, even though they are in danger of disappearing.

In Africa, many animals like African elephants, pangolin, and rhinoceros are traded. In Botswana, the number of dead elephants found increased a lot between 2014 and 2018.

In South America, markets in places like Iquitos and Manaus sell many rainforest animals. These include animals sold as food and as pets. This trade is very harmful to animals that are already in danger.

The internet is also used to sell wildlife illegally. A study in 2018 found that many endangered animals were being sold online in Europe.

Organizations addressing illegal wildlife trade

Many groups work to stop the illegal trade of animals and plants. These include organizations like the ASEAN Wildlife Enforcement Network, the Basel Institute on Governance, and the Clark R. Bavin National Fish and Wildlife Forensic Laboratory. Others, such as Four Paws, the FREELAND Foundation, and the International Fund for Animal Welfare, also help protect wildlife. The International Union for Conservation of Nature and the United Nations Environment Programme support these efforts as well.

Legal wildlife trade

Legal wildlife trade happens for many reasons, such as selling animals as pets, using them for business, or trying to help protect them. Some people think allowing legal trade can help stop illegal trade that harms animals. But others worry that selling certain animals, like pets that might escape, can hurt local wildlife.

Some places have successfully managed legal wildlife trade. In Australia, trading saltwater crocodiles and freshwater crocodiles is done carefully with rules set by the government. Kangaroos, like the red kangaroo, are also legally traded for meat and hides, following strict limits to protect their numbers.

In North America, alligators are traded as part of a plan to manage their numbers and help protect their homes.

Some believe allowing legal trade for endangered species could help protect them by making illegal products less valuable or funding conservation. However, this is difficult because of problems like fraud and corruption.

Under rules set by CITES, some endangered species cannot be traded commercially, while others can be traded only if it does not harm their wild populations.

Welfare of animals

Many animals are kept in markets for months before they are sold. Their living conditions are usually very bad. Most do not get enough space, food, or comfort, and they cannot behave normally. Reptiles, for example, are often kept in tight spaces, may get hurt on their claws, and can become dehydrated during capture and transport. Sometimes, they are even crushed when stacked together.