Illegal wildlife trade is a serious issue and one that affects the planet’s human and animal populations. Animals who are coveted for their skins, tusks, feathers, fins and other features that fetch high prices on the black market are in danger of extinction by the hands of illegal wildlife traders, or poachers. Such practices are often profit-driven and result in harm to the animal populations and ecosystems as well as the creation of airborne diseases that harm both animal and human populations. Though illegal in virtually all nations, illegal wildlife trading thrives as long as the demand for exotic species continues. Despite government efforts to discourage such practices by imposing high fines and jail sentences, sometimes internal corruption results in turning a blind eye to illegal wildlife trafficking and even when officials are zealous about intercepting illegal trading, the underground networks are difficult to track, catch and prosecute (National Geographic, Poaching).
Poachers are central to the illegal wildlife trade and have contributed to the near extinction of several species. A poacher is a person who kills, maims or trafficks an animal in order to either sell features such as skin, feathers, tusks or fins on the black market or to capture exotic animals to sell to zoos, farms or individuals who want to keep those animals as pets. As most countries have laws preventing individuals from maintaining exotic animals as pets, the trade is often dangerous, and traders ask a high price for being able to deliver an exotic animal. The pangolin is currently the most trafficked animal in the world with millions being trafficked and killed each year. They are coveted for their meat and scales which are considered to have medicinal properties in Chinese and African cultures (United Nations). The African Black Rhino population has been on a drastic decline since the 1960s and today is nearly extinct. Its horn is considered to have medicinal properties and is often ground down into powder and sold on the black market or is sometimes carved and used for ornamental purposes (Conserve Energy Future). Tigers are symbols of power and fetch high prices among wealthy buyers. In the National Geographic show Trafficked, it is revealed that it’s easier to buy a tiger in the US than to adopt a dog. In fact, there are more tigers held in captivity in the US than there are tigers in the wild in the rest of the world (The Observer). When they are not sold to private owners, tigers are killed for their pelts, claws and teeth. Each year 20,000 elephants are poached for their ivory tusks. However, in recent years, some landmark legislations in the U.S., Hong Kong, U.K. and China banning the sale of ivory will hopefully help to reduce the number of poached elephants (World Wildlife Institute). Shark fins are considered a delicacy in Chinese culture, and it is a sign of status among the elite to eat shark fin soup in restaurants or to serve it at weddings. Shark fins are captured by netting sharks on large fishing boats and cutting off their dorsal fins. Sometimes the sharks are released back into the water where they may die of blood loss or infection or struggle to survive without their fin. Other times the entire shark is sold for its meat in addition to the fin which catches a higher price. Though outlawed in the U.S. and other nations with large Chinese populations, enforcing laws to prevent the capture and de-finning of sharks at sea is extremely difficult, therefore the practice continues, leading to the diminishing population of sharks such as the shortfin mako (National Geographic, Shark fin).
Illegal wildlife trading has many harmful effects, both to animals and to humans. It can decimate populations of rare species, vastly reducing their numbers and their chances of survival for future generations. Additionally, when traffickers take animals out of their natural habitat, they put the animal’s lives at risk, often subjecting them to cramped and confined spaces while being transported, putting them at risk. Such cruel and inhumane practices may bring financial gains to the trader but causes untold harm to the animals being traded and their species in general. Additionally, the Earth’s ecosystem is delicate and depends on maintaining the natural balance of plants and wildlife to thrive. By removing a specific species from an ecosystem or introducing a foreign species to an ecosystem, the balance can easily be thrown off, resulting in a chain reaction that can have devastating effects in a short period of time. Biosecurity is another major factor that makes wildlife trading a dangerous practice (Anderson, Jooste 18). By introducing foreign animals to a new environment, the chances of spreading bacteria and diseases increases, especially through contact with domesticated farm animals that will later be consumed by humans. The SARS viruses, including the coronavirus and its variants are said to have originated due to bacteria spread through cross-contamination with exotic species in China whereas the Ebola virus is speculated to have originated through the consumption of wild species, known as bushmeat, in Africa. Finally, poachers all over the world resort to violence in order to defend their captures and are often involved in extended mafia-like networks. Efforts in Africa to train rangers to prevent poachers from killing or capturing wild animals has resulted in over 1,000 ranger deaths in the last decade at the hands of poachers (UNDOC).
There are a few things concerned citizens can do to help prevent illegal wildlife trading. Anyone who witnesses or suspects someone is engaging in illegal wildlife trade in the United States should contact the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to file a report. Also, boycotting products sourced by poachers such as: exotic animal dishes such as shark fin soup; exotic animal skin products and fashion items; ivory products from elephant and rhinoceros’ tusks; medicinal products sourced from endangered species such as turtle blood, pangolin scales and rhinoceros’ tusks (Duffy, Humphreys3). Concerned citizens can further help to fight illegal wildlife trade by not buying exotic animals to keep as pets. Finally, making donations to organizations committed to wildlife conservation can help combat illegal trafficking.
Illegal wildlife trade is a dangerous practice for animals and humans. Though it is still prevalent, wildlife conservation organizations have turned up the pressure for the enforcement of laws regarding poaching and exotic animal trafficking. Each person can make a difference in reducing illegal wildlife trade by reporting wildlife trafficking, making donations to wildlife conservation organizations and being more conscious consumers.
Works Cited
Anderson, Bradley and Jooste, Johan. Wildlife Poaching: Africa’s Surging Trafficking Threat, 2014.
Duffy, Rosaline and Humphreys, Jasper. Mapping Donors: Key Areas for Tackling Illegal Wildlife Trade (Africa and Asia), London, 2014.
Fobar, Rachel. “Shark fin is banned in 12 US states, but it’s still on the menu.” National Geographic, January 16, 2019: https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/article/restaurants-sell-shark-fin-soup-despite-state-bans.
Harmon, Leon. “America has a tiger problem.” The Observer, September 11, 2018:
UNDOC, The implications of wildlife trafficking: https://www.unodc.org/e4j/en/wildlife-crime/module-1/key-issues/implications-of-wildlife-trafficking.html.
United Nations, Wildlife trafficking harms animals and human health – the case of the pangolin:https://www.unodc.org/unodc/frontpage/2020/April/wildlife-trafficking-harms-animals-and-human-health—the-case-of-pangolins.html.
World Wildlife Institute, Stopping Elephant Ivory Demand: https://www.worldwildlife.org/initiatives/stopping-elephant-ivory-demand.