Wildlife Crime Enforcement and Animal Welfare

Wildlife crime is the fourth largest illegal trade globally, causing immense suffering to billions of individual animals through poaching, trafficking, and illegal captivity.

Key Facts

Wildlife crime is valued at up to 23 billion USD annually, behind only drugs, arms, and human trafficking
CITES regulates international trade in over 38,000 animal and plant species
The illegal wildlife trade involves live animals, skins, bushmeat, medicines, and trophy parts
Live animal trafficking causes extreme suffering - mortality rates in transport can exceed 80%
Key species targeted include elephants, rhinos, tigers, pangolins, parrots, and reptiles
Wildlife crime enforcement is underfunded relative to other serious crimes in most countries
Technology including AI-powered customs scanning is improving trafficking detection

Welfare Considerations

Wildlife crime causes welfare suffering at every stage: the capture of wild animals using traps and snares, the killing of adults to capture juveniles, the transport of live animals in cramped, dark, dehydrated conditions, and the conditions of holding awaiting sale. Animals that survive trafficking often arrive severely stressed, injured, and malnourished. Confiscated animals face further welfare challenges in rehabilitation or sanctuary settings. The enforcement gap - the difference between the scale of trafficking and enforcement resources - directly translates to ongoing welfare harm for millions of individual animals annually.

What You Can Do

Report suspicious wildlife trade activity to TRAFFIC or national wildlife crime units
Never purchase wildlife products of uncertain origin including traditional medicines
Support TRAFFIC and WWF wildlife crime enforcement campaigns
Advocate for wildlife crime to be treated with the seriousness of other serious organised crime
Choose wildlife tourism that actively supports anti-poaching efforts