Wildlife crime including illegal trade, raptor persecution, and poaching causes significant animal suffering and requires coordinated intelligence, enforcement, and prosecution to address effectively.
Animals subjected to wildlife crime suffer directly: raptors poisoned die slowly and painfully; animals caught for illegal trade endure capture stress, transport in poor conditions, and often high mortality. Wildlife crime reduces populations of protected species, diminishing the welfare of surviving individuals through disrupted social structures and increased vulnerability. Effective intelligence and prosecution of wildlife crime prevents ongoing individual suffering and protects populations. Public reporting of suspicious activity near protected species is a direct contribution to welfare protection.