Wildlife Trade and Welfare Impacts

The global wildlife trade - legal and illegal - is the second largest direct threat to wildlife after habitat loss and causes enormous individual and population welfare harms.

Key Facts

The illegal wildlife trade is estimated to be worth $7-23 billion annually
CITES regulates international trade in over 38,000 species of plants and animals
Live animal trade causes significant mortality - for every animal that reaches the consumer, several die in transit
Demand reduction in consumer countries is increasingly recognized as key to addressing wildlife trade
Online platforms have become a primary marketplace for illegal wildlife trade

Welfare Considerations

Wildlife trade welfare impacts occur across the entire chain from capture to consumer. Wild-caught animals experience capture trauma, inappropriate transport conditions, disease exposure in holding facilities, and high mortality throughout the chain. Even legal trade under CITES creates welfare harms that regulation does not eliminate. The exotic pet trade that originates in wild capture causes individual animal suffering from capture and transport, while creating disease vectors and invasive species risks. Demand reduction campaigns in consumer countries address root causes more effectively than enforcement alone, particularly for high-value wildlife products.

What You Can Do

Never purchase wild-caught animals, wildlife products, or exotic pets from the wild trade
Report suspected illegal wildlife trade to relevant authorities
Support demand reduction campaigns targeting key consumer markets
Engage social media platforms about their policies on wildlife trade listings
Support TRAFFIC and other organizations monitoring and combating wildlife trade