Wildlife Crime and Trafficking Welfare Impacts

Wildlife crime including illegal trade, poaching and persecution causes profound welfare harm to individual animals and threatens species at population level.

Key Facts

An estimated 10-20 billion dollars of wildlife products are traded illegally annually
The illegal wildlife trade is the fourth largest criminal enterprise globally
Live animal trafficking causes extreme stress, injury and mortality during transport
Poaching for ivory, horn and other body parts causes prolonged suffering
Online platforms have become major marketplaces for illegal wildlife products
Wildlife crime enforcement capacity varies enormously between range countries

Welfare Considerations

Wildlife crime causes welfare harm at both individual and population levels. Individual animals caught for the live trade experience capture trauma, often brutal transport conditions with high mortality, and then life in inappropriate captivity. Animals killed for body parts - elephants for ivory, rhinos for horn, pangolins for scales - often experience prolonged suffering during capture and killing. Species that decline to low population levels suffer the welfare consequences of inbreeding and loss of social complexity. Consumer choices in destination countries and enforcement in range countries together determine the scale of this welfare crisis.

What You Can Do

Never purchase wildlife products including ivory, tortoiseshell, exotic pets or traditional medicines made from wild animals
Report suspected wildlife trafficking to relevant enforcement authorities
Support anti-poaching organisations working in range countries
Engage with policy advocacy for stronger wildlife crime enforcement and penalties