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Wildlife Trade

The multibillion dollar trade in wildlife and wildlife parts and products is a crisis facing animal species worldwide. Dead and living animals are traded for a number of purposes including for food, pets, clothing, ornaments, exhibition in zoos, research, medicines and trophies. The species involved span the gamut of wildlife including seahorses, groupers, butterflies, birds, spiders, primates, felines, ungulates and cetaceans. Most often, the more exotic the species, the greater the price it fetches. With significant profit margins to be made, the illegal trade in wildlife is flourishing, and even the so-called legal wildlife trade is rife with corruption, and blatant disregard for both international and national laws.

Aside from the obvious concern of overexploitation and the risk of extinction, the wildlife trade can also be an extremely inhumane enterprise; this is especially true of illegal operations. Animals may be shipped in overcrowded conditions, sometimes bound or drugged, smuggled in suitcases or boxes, and hidden in shipping containers. The mortality rates of smuggled animals are excessive, sometimes as high as 10 dead animals for each animal that survives transport or even higher.

The illegal trade is estimated to be worth up to $20 billion a year, placing it right behind the revenue generated by the trade in drugs and guns. Increasingly, animals and their parts are used as a cover for drug trafficking since penalties for the former are significantly lesser. The same shady characters that are involved in the narcotics trade are attracted to exotic wildlife species due to the potential for significant profits, low risk of apprehension, and weak penalties if caught.

Who is involved in the Wildlife Trade?

The menagerie of parties involved in the trade in wildlife make it particularly difficult to manage. From hunter/trapper, smuggler, dealer to consumer - the merchandise may pass through a number of hands. In the case of illegal trade, it is frequently only the lowly smuggler who may be apprehended and penalized while professional traffickers elude capture. Those from developed countries sometimes act as brokers or middlemen facilitating the export of animals from poor third world countries where locals are primarily responsible for the collection of the animals.

CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora)

CITES is an international agreement between governments to regulate the trade in wild animals and plants to ensure that the trade does not endanger their survival. The Convention was agreed upon at a meeting of representatives from 80 countries and entered into force in 1975. There are now 175 Parties to the Convention. Adherence to CITES is voluntary and it is up to each country to adopt relevant domestic legislation to implement the treaty. For this reason, many say that CITES lacks teeth. AWI regularly attends CITES meetings as an observer to lobby for stronger protective measures.

CITES listed species fall under three categories: Appendix I, Appendix II and Appendix III. Appendix I species are considered threatened with extinction and therefore trade in these species is prohibited (except under exceptional circumstances). Appendix II species are not threatened however they are at risk of becoming so if trade is not controlled. For these species an export permit is required however an import permit is not. Appendix III species are those that are protected in at least one country that has asked CITES Parties for assistance in controlling their trade. The exporting and importing countries of Appendix I species and the exporting countries of Appendix II species are required to make non-detriment findings (NDF) verifying that the trade in those species will not harm their survival in the wild. Unfortunately this very important requirement is very loosely and inconsistently implemented by Parties and therefore many exports take place without the presence or in some cases, even existence, of NDFs or the NDFs, if made, are not based on credible scientific information.

Clark R. Bavin Wildlife Law Enforcement Awards

The Bavin Awards have been presented to deserving law enforcement officers for nearly 20 years and are given in honor of the late U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's Mr. Clark R. Bavin who was a pioneer in wildlife law enforcement. His far-sightedness and willingness to use novel yet complex sting operations to catch wildlife smugglers was ahead of its time and a model for today's wildlife crime fighters. AWI, in coordination with the Species Survival Network, has presented the award since 1997.

The 2010 Clark R. Bavin Wildlife Law Enforcement Awards

WTO (World Trade Organization)

The WTO is an international organization whose purpose is to facilitate trade between nations. The organization was established in 1995 and currently has 153 member countries. It is responsible for negotiating new trade agreements and ensuring that all member countries adhere to the WTO agreements. Unlike CITES, the WTO rules are binding and enforceable through economic sanctions.

Unfortunately, the standards that the WTO sets and enforces are generally weak and therefore countries with higher standards are often forced to abide by the weaker WTO standards. The weakening of domestic laws to facilitate international trade is irresponsible and puts many species at risk.