Wildlife Crime and Welfare Nexus

Wildlife crime including poaching and trafficking causes direct and profound welfare harm to millions of animals annually.

Key Facts

Wildlife crime is worth an estimated 23 billion dollars annually
Animals in illegal trade endure transport mortality rates of 50-70%
Poaching for bushmeat, ivory, and traditional medicine causes enormous direct suffering
Enforcement gaps in key transit countries allow most trafficking to go unpunished

Welfare Considerations

Animals killed in poaching operations experience traumatic death from snares, traps, or gunshots that may cause prolonged suffering before death. Those taken alive for trafficking endure capture stress, poor holding conditions, and transport in containers causing injuries and suffocation. Species targeted for traditional medicine including bears and tigers are subjected to captive conditions causing chronic suffering. Wildlife crime enforcement reduces both the scale and duration of this suffering.

What You Can Do

Report suspected wildlife crime to authorities
Support anti-poaching organizations financially
Never purchase products from illegal wildlife trade
Advocate for stronger wildlife crime penalties and enforcement capacity