Wildlife crime — including poaching, trafficking, and illegal trade — is among the most profitable criminal enterprises globally; tackling it requires welfare-aware enforcement alongside conservation goals.
Poached animals experience severe welfare harms. Elephants killed for ivory are shot repeatedly and may die slowly, or are maimed by snares. Rhinoceroses dehorned by poachers are often killed to prevent identification, after sustaining traumatic injuries. Animals trafficked alive — birds, reptiles, primates — endure confinement, dehydration, and trauma in transit. Even anti-poaching operations cause animal stress through pursuit and capture. Welfare-aware enforcement minimizes harm to animals during interdiction while maintaining deterrence against the underlying crime.