Wildlife Crime and Animal Welfare

Illegal wildlife trafficking causes enormous suffering to individual animals while also threatening species survival and ecosystem integrity.

Key Facts

Wildlife trafficking is estimated to generate $7-23 billion annually, making it the fourth largest illegal trade
Mortality during capture and transport in the illegal wildlife trade commonly exceeds 50%
Live animals in trafficking suffer dehydration, injury, and extreme stress over days or weeks
Demand reduction in consumer countries is increasingly recognized as the most effective intervention
Elephants, rhinos, pangolins, big cats, and parrots are among the most heavily trafficked species

Welfare Considerations

Wildlife trafficking causes suffering at every stage: capture methods including snares and trapping cause immediate injury; transport in concealed, cramped conditions causes dehydration and stress over extended periods; and surviving animals may spend years in inadequate captive conditions. The welfare emergency of individual trafficking victims is often overshadowed by conservation framing, but both dimensions are real and both demand action. Reducing consumer demand through education and enforcement is the highest-leverage intervention.

What You Can Do

Never purchase wildlife products including ivory, rhino horn, pangolin scales, or live exotic animals
Report suspected wildlife trafficking to relevant enforcement agencies
Support organizations working on demand reduction campaigns in consumer countries
Advocate for stronger penalties for wildlife trafficking in national and international law