Wildlife

Wildlife Illegal Trade: Welfare Emergency

The illegal wildlife trade causes immense individual suffering through capture, transport, and inappropriate captivity conditions.

Key Facts

Wildlife trafficking generates an estimated 23 billion dollars annually
Tropical birds in illegal trade experience transport mortality rates of 40-60%
Reptiles traded live endure weeks of transport in cramped, dark containers without food or water
The illegal pet trade drives demand for species that perform poorly in captivity

Welfare Considerations

Every stage of wildlife trafficking causes welfare harm. Capture involves snares, nets, and shooting that injure animals. Live transport in boxes and suitcases causes dehydration, starvation, and temperature extremes. Those arriving at destinations are often traumatized, injured, and susceptible to disease. The welfare cost to individuals is immense and largely invisible to consumers of illegal wildlife products.

What You Can Do

Never purchase wildlife products of uncertain provenance
Report suspected illegal wildlife sales to Border Force or police wildlife crime units
Support TRAFFIC and Environmental Investigation Agency investigations into wildlife crime
Advocate for higher sentencing for wildlife trafficking offenses to reflect welfare severity