WILDLIFE TRADE

Wildlife trade Sale and exchange of

wild animals, plants, and products

Multi-billion dollar business driving species to brink of extinction

Much trade is legal, but significant portion is unmanaged and/or illegal

-WWF

Parts and Products Ornamental objects

Elephant ivory jewelry Sea turtles shell casesMatted butterflies

Exotic leathers and furKangaroo skin soccer ballsCat, fox, and coyote fur coatsSnake and lizard skin shoes

Live Wildlife Food

Reptiles, amphibians, fish Zoos and safari parks

Elephants, giraffes, rhinoceros, monkeys, birds

Biomedical researchPrimates, reptiles, fish

Pet TradeBirds, reptiles, amphibians

Conservation Problems Wildlife-rich nations

unable to control trade of wildlife.

40% of vertebrates endangered or threatened today, in part due to uncontrollable wildlife trade

Rarely enough funds to study conservation

Human Problems Methods to capture and kill for the trade

are inhumane Poisoned, trapped, snared or

bludgeoned Trade in live wildlife results in injury and

death of large % captured-HSUS

Wildlife Trade Illegal trade- well

organized crimeCreates black markets Smuggling syndicates

move and trade rarest animals

Ivory Poaching Death rate from poaching throughout Africa

is 8% per year Unless more reinforcement occurs, large

groups extinct by 2020 Illegal ivory trade-driven by markets in China

and Japan Demand risen in U.S. for knife handles and

gun grips-ranks 2nd behind China for marketplace for illegal ivory

Ivory Poaching IFAW has found eBay accounts for majority

of illegal ivory sold openly on web DNA tools can determine which elephant

population ivory came from Can help to provide enforcement in specific

areas where poaching is known to occur

Illegal Tiger Trade Numbers have decreased dramatically

due to poaching Fewer than 3,500-4,000 tigers remain in

Asia The 5 existing subspecies all are

critically endangered-HSUS

Illegal Tiger Trade Most illegal tiger trade

and poaching driven by illegal markets in China

China argued that tigers should be treated like crocodiles: farmed for bones and skin

Tiger farms- slaughter, entertainment

Video An activist uses a video camera to

expose what many would consider a grisly illegal wildlife trade in Myanmar

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jjtEJHQluCQ

World Wildlife Fund Plays important role in fighting illegal

trade

50 years of environmental conservation.

“Human induced change.”

Works in conjunction with TRAFFIC and CITES

Methods of WWF Global 200 ecoregions

Social, economic, and policy issues

Working with others

Creating harmony between humans and nature

TRAFFIC World’s largest wildlife monitoring

network Protect wild animal and plant species Promote international agreements and

policies Safeguard priority ecoregions

Methods of TRAFFIC Mobilization of knowledge Use of effective regulation Use of positive economic incentives Promotion of sustainable consumptive

behaviors

CITES CITES was established in the 1960’s

Ensuring that international trade of wild animals and plants does not threaten their survival

Roughly 5000 species of animals and 28000 species of plants are protected

Methods of CITES Control of international trade

Import, export, re-export and introduction from the sea

Designate one or more Management Authorities

Scientific Authorities advise on effects