Wildlife Crime: Trafficking and Individual Animal Welfare

Wildlife trafficking is one of the most lucrative illegal trades globally, causing enormous individual animal suffering through capture, transport and destination conditions.

Key Facts

Wildlife trafficking is estimated as a USD 7-23 billion industry annually - the fourth largest illegal trade globally
Capture mortality in wildlife trafficking can exceed 70% before animals reach their destination
Pangolins are the most trafficked wild mammal globally - an estimated 100,000+ taken annually despite CITES protection
Birds destined for the cage bird trade are often transported in conditions causing extremely high mortality from stress and disease
The TRAFFIC monitoring network tracks wildlife trade and supports enforcement, but global enforcement capacity is severely limited

Welfare Considerations

Wildlife trafficking welfare impacts begin at capture - animals are often trapped by painful methods, kept in crowded conditions without adequate food, water or temperature management, and transported across borders in containers concealed from inspection. Mortality rates during this process are extreme. Survivors often arrive at destinations with injuries, disease and severe stress responses. The welfare cost of wildlife trafficking is measured in millions of individual animals suffering acutely, many dying before any conservation intervention is possible. Reducing trafficking demand through education, enforcement and reducing consumption of wildlife products addresses both conservation and welfare objectives simultaneously.

What You Can Do

Never purchase wildlife products including exotic pets, traditional medicines containing wildlife, and wildlife-derived curios
Report suspicious wildlife trade to TRAFFIC, WWF or local wildlife crime units
Support CITES implementation and national wildlife crime enforcement through relevant NGOs
Learn to recognise signs of illegally traded wildlife when visiting markets or encountering unusual animals