Wildlife Crime and Anti-Poaching Welfare

Wildlife crime affects millions of animals annually through poaching, trafficking and habitat destruction. Understanding its scale and solutions helps effective advocacy.

Key Facts

Illegal wildlife trade is valued at USD 23 billion annually - the fourth largest criminal enterprise globally
Poaching kills approximately 20,000 elephants and 1,000 rhinoceroses annually in Africa
Live animal trafficking causes mortality rates of 60-80% during transport
Pangolins are the most illegally trafficked mammal globally with over 1 million taken in the last decade
Wildlife crime enforcement agencies in range countries are chronically underfunded

Welfare Considerations

Wildlife crime inflicts acute suffering on both killed and captured animals. Snaring causes prolonged injury and pain before death or capture. Live trafficking involves extreme confinement, dehydration, and stress during transport, with massive mortality. Animals that survive capture and reach market are held in conditions causing chronic stress. Anti-poaching interventions that disrupt trafficking networks reduce this suffering at scale. Consumer demand reduction - particularly in Asian markets - addresses the economic driver of wildlife crime.

What You Can Do

Support Traffic, WWF and Born Free wildlife crime reduction programmes
Avoid purchasing items made from ivory, turtle shell, pangolin scales or other wildlife products
Engage with demand reduction campaigns targeting traditional medicine and luxury trade
Report suspicious wildlife products being sold online or in person to relevant authorities
Support ranger protection programmes providing equipment and training in range countries