Shocking Facts About The Illegal Wildlife Trade

Endangered animals are far from the eyes and often far from the thoughts of city-dwellers, yet our actions have a direct impact on their survival. Katie Roberts talks to key figures in the conservation movement that’s taking on the global trade in illegally sourced wildlife, to find out what’s going on and what we can do to stop a shocking industry that’s pushing thousands of species to the brink.

- Katie Roberts

The illegal wildlife trade keeps some illustrious company, ranking alongside drugs, guns and human trafficking in the top few illegal global industries. Some agencies say the trade is worth around US$10 billion a year. In Southeast Asia, a biodiversity hotspot, the trade is partly responsible (along with habitat loss) for the near-extinction of 200 species and the uncertain future of many more.

Animals are sold either alive as exotic pets, or dead as food; animal parts and skins are used in handbags and other luxury items, and in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) products.

In Southeast Asia, the pangolin (also known as the scaly anteater, and found in tropical areas of Asia and Africa) is currently the most-traded mammal and in hot demand as an exotic meat and for its use in TCM remedies. Many other animal species are threatened, too millions of animals are harvested illegally, fracturing ecosystems and destroying biodiversity to meet consumer demand across the globe.

Global figures from Prince William to Hillary Clinton have called for action, adding to the voices of wildlife and environment organisations in drawing attention to the scale of this trade. Malaysia-based Chris Shepherd is Regional Director of TRAFFIC in Southeast Asia, and has worked in the wildlife trade monitoring field for 20 years.

Chris says the scale of the trade and its profits is enormous, and while it’s true that some wildlife can be legally bred and sold, it’s difficult to be able to prove this. “With the volumes that are being imported and exported around the world, traceability is the big issue. Where are these animals coming from?”