Wildlife Trade and Animal Welfare

The global wildlife trade causes immense suffering through capture, transport, and keeping conditions, and drives population declines of many species toward extinction.

Key Facts

Wildlife trade is the fourth largest illegal trade globally after drugs, firearms, and human trafficking.
Capture mortality is often 80-90% in some species before animals reach their destination.
Wild-caught animals experience extreme stress, injury, dehydration, and disease during transport.
The legal and illegal wildlife trade affects an estimated 100 million plants and animals annually.
Zoonotic disease risk from wildlife trade contributed to the SARS, MERS, and COVID-19 outbreaks.

Welfare Considerations

Wildlife trade causes acute and prolonged suffering from capture through transport to captivity. Capture methods including trapping and netting cause injury and terror. Holding conditions during transport are frequently fatal for sensitive species. Survivors face lifelong captivity in conditions unable to meet their complex behavioural needs. Enforcement of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), demand reduction, and alternative livelihood programmes in source countries are the most effective interventions.

What You Can Do

Never purchase wild-caught animals, plants, or animal-derived products from unverified sources.
Report suspected illegal wildlife trade to national enforcement agencies or TRAFFIC.
Support international conservation organisations working on demand reduction in key markets.
Check CITES appendices before purchasing exotic plants, reptiles, or birds.
Advocate for strengthened international enforcement and penalties for wildlife trafficking.