Illegal wildlife trade and poaching

Not everyone views our planet's extraordinary plants and animals the same way as we do. Some see them as a resource to be plundered and to profit from. Around the world, conservation gains are at risk of being overturned by the illegal trade in wildlife, which is growing at an alarming rate.

Wildlife crime is big business. Dangerous international networks traffic wildlife and animal parts much like illegal drugs and arms. While it’s almost impossible to obtain reliable figures for the value of the illegal wildlife trade (excluding timber and fisheries) it is estimated at US$7.8-10 billion per year (GFI, 2011).

Some examples of illegal wildlife trade are well known, such as the poaching of elephants for ivory or tigers for their skins and bones. However, many other plant and animal species are similarly overexploited, from marine turtles to timber trees.

Wildlife crime is one of the largest direct threats to many of the world’s most threatened species, second only to habitat destruction. This is why WWF is determined to combat illegal trade and help tackle the global poaching crisis and unprecedented surge in organised wildlife crime.

Impacted species

Impacts

The illegal wildlife trade knows no borders. International crime networks often use complicated ever-changing transit routes to take advantage of weak governance and inadequate surveillance. In many cases its impact is exacerbated by habitat loss and other pressures. However, if actions and funds are well focused there are significant opportunities for conservation success along known illegal wildlife trade pathways.

Threatening species populations

Growing demand for ivory, particularly from Asia, has led to a surge in African elephant poaching in recent years. Tens of thousands of elephants are killed annually to meet the demand for ivory products, putting elephant populations — especially in central and eastern Africa— at considerable risk.

Compromised security

There can also be far-reaching security implications from organised illegal wildlife trade. It is run by criminal networks with a wide, international reach. Some also traffic illegal drugs, arms and even people. Poaching and wildlife trafficking also undermines sustainable development and community livelihoods and safety, posing related challenges around law enforcement, poverty and economic opportunities.

What we're doing

Much of WWF’s work to stop the illegal trade in wildlife is in collaboration with TRAFFIC, the wildlife trade monitoring network. We also work closely with other conservation organisations, local communities and governments.

Some examples include:

Improving conditions for rangers

Rangers are often required to do dangerous, difficult jobs far away from home with inadequate training, equipment and working conditions. WWF is working with the International Ranger Federation and other partners to improve the conditions for these front line staff.

Supporting local communities

Local communities are often vulnerable to the impacts of poaching as they can be either threatened by the illegal activity or tempted by poverty to become part of it. WWF and partners work with local communities to provide alternative incomes through, for example, tourism opportunities and to assist them to become guardians of the wildlife.

Wildlife legislation

It’s one thing to ban or limit the trade in a particular species, but another to effectively enforce such regulations, especially in developing countries. WWF helps countries to comply with CITES commitments through training workshops and the development and effective implementation of regulations.

Public education

Persuading consumers to make informed choices is a powerful way to address the illegal wildlife trade. WWF actively discourages the purchase of certain wildlife goods and encourages the production and purchase of sustainable wildlife goods and certification systems such as the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) and Forest Stewardship Council (FSC). We also support communities around the world to overcome poverty and use wildlife in sustainable ways.

Causes

As human populations grow, so does the demand for wildlife products. At one end of the spectrum, growing affluence fuels an appetite for seafood, leather goods, timber, medicinal ingredients and textiles. At the other, extreme poverty can mean some people see wildlife as a valuable, if not only, source of income.

Demand drives crime

Rhino horn, elephant ivory and tiger products continue to command high prices, especially in Asia. In Vietnam, a myth that rhino horn could cure cancer contributed to massive poaching in South Africa however horn now appears to be used and given as a status symbol. Vulnerable wild animals are pushed closer to the edge of extinction when their natural population growth cannot keep pace with human consumption.

Gaps in protection

Corruption, toothless laws, weak judicial systems and light sentences allow criminal networks to keep plundering wildlife with little regard for the consequences. Poachers are usually the only ones caught, leaving the real masterminds and their networks safe from prosecution. The illegal trade is therefore a low risk business that attracts high returns. WWF is trying to change the balance to make wildlife trade high risk and low reward.

Ivory bracelets on sale in Thailand © WWF / James Morgan

Stop wildlife crime

The Wildlife Crime Initiative (WCI) is a long term collaboration between WWF and TRAFFIC. It has helped with penalties being strengthened, crime networks being disrupted, consumers rejecting illegal products, and wildlife being saved from poachers’ snares, bullets and poison.

Together WWF and TRAFFIC:

• work with governments to protect threatened animal populations by increasing law enforcement, imposing strict deterrents, reducing demand for endangered species products and honouring international commitments made under CITES

• ensure that local communities have alternative opportunities to being unwilling accomplices in wildlife crime

• ensure that those on the front line being threatened by armed poachers are properly equipped, trained and compensated

• reduce demand for illegal wildlife parts and products by encouraging others to be informed shoppers.

You can help – Use apps like Wildlife Witness (TRAFFIC / Taronga Zoo) when you go abroad to record any suspicious wildlife trade and help make it harder for wildlife criminals to operate.

For more information on wildlife crime and the joint Wildlife Crime Initiative between WWF and TRAFFIC click here.

Impacted species

Impacts

What we're doing

Improving conditions for rangers

Supporting local communities

Wildlife legislation

Public education

Causes

Stop wildlife crime

Recommended reading

Turtles not trinkets: Behind the scenes of the illegal wildlife trade

In photos: The deadly price of tortoiseshell

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Impacted species

Impacts

What we're doing

Improving conditions for rangers

Supporting local communities

Wildlife legislation

Public education

Causes

Stop wildlife crime

Recommended reading

Turtles not trinkets: Behind the scenes of the illegal wildlife trade

In photos: The deadly price of tortoiseshell

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