Wildlife Crime and Welfare Impacts

Wildlife crime — including poaching, trafficking, and illegal trade — causes severe welfare harm to individual animals alongside its devastating conservation impacts.

Key Facts

Wildlife trafficking is estimated to be worth 7-23 billion dollars annually
Ivory poaching kills around 20,000 African elephants per year
Live animal trafficking has a mortality rate of up to 80% from capture to sale
Rhino horn poaching victims often survive dehorning but die from infection
The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) governs legal wildlife trade

Welfare Considerations

Wildlife crime causes suffering at every stage: capture methods (traps, snares, live netting) cause injury and distress; transport conditions for live animals are typically appalling; and end uses (traditional medicine, exotic pets, trophies) involve further suffering. Beyond the direct welfare harm to individuals, the fear response created in wildlife populations living under poaching pressure causes chronic stress in surviving animals. Effective wildlife crime prevention requires law enforcement, demand reduction in consumer countries, and alternative livelihoods for communities economically dependent on poaching.

What You Can Do

Never purchase ivory, rhino horn, or other wildlife products
Research the provenance of exotic animal products before purchasing
Support organisations working on wildlife crime enforcement such as TRAFFIC and WWF
Advocate for stronger international wildlife trade regulations and enforcement
Engage with demand reduction campaigns in countries where traditional medicine drives wildlife trade