Wildlife Crime and the Welfare of Illegally Traded Animals

The illegal wildlife trade is one of the most profitable criminal industries globally, causing immense welfare suffering to millions of animals captured, transported, and sold under inhumane conditions.

Key Facts

The illegal wildlife trade is estimated to be worth between 7 and 23 billion US dollars annually, the fourth largest criminal industry globally
Wild-caught animals destined for the pet trade may lose 70 to 90 percent of their number to mortality during capture and transport
Wildlife seized from illegal traders typically require specialist rehabilitation before release, if release is even possible
Traditional medicine markets drive demand for rhino horn, bear bile, pangolin scales, and other animal products from threatened species
CITES regulates legal international trade in endangered species but enforcement capacity varies enormously between countries

Welfare Considerations

The welfare suffering associated with the illegal wildlife trade is of a scale and severity that is difficult to comprehend. Animals captured from the wild for the exotic pet trade experience acute terror during capture, severe stress during concealment in transport, dehydration and starvation during trafficking, and often death before reaching their destination. Those that survive live in inadequate captive conditions that cannot meet their welfare needs. Species harvested for traditional medicine markets may be killed in cruel ways to extract products. The connection between consumer demand and animal suffering in this trade is direct, making demand reduction campaigns alongside law enforcement a critical welfare intervention.

What You Can Do

Never purchase exotic animals or animal parts from unverified sellers or in markets where illegal wildlife trade is known to operate
Report suspicious sales of exotic animals or wildlife products to national wildlife crime enforcement agencies
Support organisations working on wildlife trafficking enforcement and demand reduction campaigns
Choose verified, responsibly sourced wildlife products and avoid purchasing in tourist markets where provenance is uncertain
Engage with campaigns targeting demand reduction for illegal wildlife products in key consumer markets