Wildlife trafficking causes severe welfare harm from capture through transport to destination. Understanding the scale and nature of this trade helps target effective action.
Wildlife trafficking causes welfare harm at every stage of the supply chain. Capture is often violent and traumatic. Transport conditions are typically extreme — animals crammed into hidden compartments, denied water and food for days, experiencing temperature extremes and crushing injuries. The mortality rate during transport is staggering — for every parrot reaching a buyer, several may have died in transit. Animals that survive trafficking and are seized by authorities are often in critical condition, requiring intensive veterinary care. Long-term psychological trauma in primates and other cognitively complex species persists after physical recovery. Addressing demand — through consumer awareness and legal pressure — is as important as enforcement for reducing this enormous welfare burden.