Wildlife trafficking
3 ton pangolin scale seizure
Wildlife trafficking & wildlife products
Wildlife trafficking is growing and lucrative trade. When the value of rhino horn exceeds the value of both heroine and gold with little to no legal repercussion, this illegal trade is far exceeding the natural resources available.
Rhino, pangolins, elephants, are just a few of the big names on the critically endangered hit list. Aside from the increasing demand for wildlife products that act as status symbols (largely catering for a specific Asian demographic), medicinal cures for cancer or food delicacies (like shark fin), wildlife is also being trafficking for an large and increasing demand for exotic pets. The exotic pet trade has sky rocketed in the last decade with rare tortoises being shipped in tons from Madagascar to orangutans being transported across Asian borders for private collector’s – the demand is growing and the trade increasing (scroll down more more images on pet trade).
Pet trade
The legal and illegal pet trade industry is expanding as the demand for exotic pets increases. With the Internet and online platforms like Instagram, Facebook, Whatsapp and Weechat, people can easily access images and contact dealers worldwide. This online presence also makes locating and tracking illegal activity increasingly more difficult.
Many local markets in countries like Asia and Africa still sell a great deal of critically endangered and venerable wildlife in open sales or in the back of their shops.
Poaching & trophy hunting
There are distinctly two differences between poaching and hunting, however the later is under particular scrutiny especially when it comes to endangered wildlife life such as elephants and rhinos etc.
There are occasional loopholes with wildlife such as elephants, where in some African counties for example, they can be labelled as critically endangered and others on the same continent the are not, so it is possible to hunt them for a price.
Poaching is not limited to wildlife, many plant species and rare timber, like rosewood, are listed as critically endangered and is poached in great qualities from countries like Thailand.
Poaching is illegal. Hunting is legal (albeit a practice I do not support).
