The Wildlife Trade and Animal Welfare

The global wildlife trade causes immense animal suffering through capture trauma, transport mortality and inappropriate captive conditions, while also threatening wild populations.

Key Facts

Wildlife trafficking is the fourth largest illegal trade globally, worth an estimated 23 billion dollars annually
Up to 66% of animals die during capture and transport before reaching market
Thousands of species are legally and illegally traded, from parrots to pangolins to primates
The wildlife trade is a major driver of zoonotic disease emergence, including COVID-19 and SARS
CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species) regulates but does not eliminate the trade

Welfare Considerations

The wildlife trade causes suffering at every stage. Capture is traumatic — animals are trapped, snared, netted or captured by hand, often with injuries. Transport involves overcrowding, dehydration, stress and poor temperature control. Mortality rates are high; for every animal that reaches a buyer, several may have died. Once in captivity, many wild-caught animals struggle to adapt to artificial environments and diets. The illegal trade operates entirely without welfare oversight. Even regulated legal trade often fails to prevent significant suffering. Ending demand and strengthening enforcement are the most important interventions.

What You Can Do

Never purchase exotic pets captured from the wild
Report suspected wildlife trafficking to relevant authorities or TRAFFIC
Support WWF, TRAFFIC and other organizations working to end illegal wildlife trade
Learn to identify whether products might contain illegally traded wildlife ingredients