Wildlife

Wildlife Trade, Zoonotic Disease, and Animal Welfare

The live wildlife trade creates welfare harms at every stage and poses pandemic risk. The COVID-19 pandemic renewed attention to the link between wildlife markets and disease emergence.

Key Facts

SARS, COVID-19, Ebola, and Nipah virus all have wildlife origins
Wet markets bring multiple wild species into close, stressful contact with humans
Stress in traded animals suppresses immunity, increasing viral shedding
An estimated 3-4 billion live animals enter international trade annually
CITES regulates but does not eliminate much of this trade

Welfare Considerations

Animals in live wildlife markets suffer acutely: capture stress, transport deprivation, crowded holding conditions, and slaughter without stunning are typical. Stress-induced immunosuppression increases zoonotic disease risk by amplifying viral loads. The welfare and public health cases for reform of live wildlife markets are inseparable. Ending or reforming the wildlife trade is simultaneously a welfare intervention and a pandemic prevention measure.

What You Can Do

Oppose live wildlife markets through advocacy and petitions
Support CITES strengthening and enforcement
Avoid purchasing wild-caught exotic animals or wildlife products
Support organisations working at the intersection of wildlife welfare and zoonotic disease
Advocate for wildlife trade reform as a public health measure