The illegal wildlife trade
According to Interpol, wildlife and environmental crime is the 4th largest international crime, making over £17 billion annually.
The international illegal wildlife trade involves the exploitation of thousands of different species of animals across the globe, including big cats, pangolins, crocodiles, rhinos, elephants, reptiles, sharks and exotic birds.
The trade in these animals can involve live animals smuggled illegally across countries, including the UK and also the trade in animal parts. It also often involves various environments, consumers and vulnerable people.
The animals are often illegally captured and butchered and their long-term survival is frequently threatened by this exploitative practice. There is no doubt that the illegal wildlife trade is part of organised criminality across the globe, including right here in the UK.
The Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora(CITES) is an international agreement between governments. CITES aims to ensure that the global trade in wild animals, parts of animals and plants does not threaten their survival. CITES involves various lists of threatened species, such as some tortoise species and is managed using licences to import, export, sell and own.
The UK’s National Wildlife Crime Unit (NWCU) has more information on CITES and its regulation here: NWCU CITES
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What is the illegal wildlife trade?
The illegal wildlife trade
What are the statistics?
According to the United National Office on Drugs and Crime 2024 Wildlife Crime Report (UNODC), the top species identified from seizures between 2015 and 2021 were:
- 29% rhinos
- 28% pangolins
- 15% elephants
But why?
Most of the species above, whether live or animal parts are trafficked for display and demonstration purposes, including ivory jewellery or used to form part of medicines within Chinese medicine. Other species, such as exotic birds, are often trafficked for ownership, sales and collection purposes.
What you can do to help put an end to the illegal wildlife trade
The best thing you can do to help wildlife and stop the illegal wildlife trade is to not fuel it.
The demand for products directly impacts their supply. When abroad on holiday, avoid products that appear to be made from animal products, including ivory, bone, skins and feathers.
If you suspect products in the UK are being sold illegally, or you become aware of illegal importation or exportation of animals or animal parts, make a report with the police force in that area. Most forces have Wildlife Crime Units or intelligence links with the Border Force and they can look to investigate allegations of the illegal wildlife trade.
Enforcement is the responsibility of HM Customs and Revenue, the UK Border Force, the Crown Prosecution Service and the police.
