Wildlife Trade

Tikki Hywood Trust
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Home Our Work Wildlife Trade
Giraffe hide pillows

USD $8–$20 billion

Estimated annual value of the illegal wildlife trade

1 million

Number of pangolins poached in the last decade alone

7,000

The number of species that have been seized from the wildlife trade

The Issue

Tiger
Asbjorn M Olsen/Alamy

The wildlife trade poses a major threat to wild animals across the globe. The trade puts a price tag on species, leading to unsustainable population declines and causing undue pain and distress to animals killed for their body parts or smuggled long distances for the pet trade. The illegal wildlife trade is now one of the most lucrative illicit markets in the world.

Wildlife trade facts:

  • Wildlife parts sold in the trade include skins, leathers, teeth, bones, trophies, live animals and more.
  • Live animals in the trade may be used as exotic pets, stock for game farms, zoo animals and biomedical research subjects.
  • The line between legal and illegal wildlife trade is blurred, as poachers and traffickers often try to pass off illegal wildlife products as legal. In addition, consumers may unknowingly break the law by bringing wildlife products across borders without proper permits.
  • Tiger bones and rhino horn are often bought for medicinal purposes, but they have no scientifically proven medicinal value.
  • Wildlife traders sometimes breed animals in captivity, kill them and sell their parts. These facilities are sometimes disguised as sanctuaries.
  • The illegal wildlife trade is linked with organized criminal syndicates involved in arms, drugs and human trafficking.
  • Endangered species are highly valued in the wildlife trade because of their rarity, leading to overexploitation and black market trade, and pushing these species further toward extinction.
Waldo Swiegers/AP Images for HSI

Our work in action

Forty animals rescued from illegal trafficking in Peten, Guatemala return to the wild

“Keeping wild animals as ‘pets’ is a dangerous trend that is seriously affecting our ecosystems.”-Andrea Borel, executive director of HSI/Latin America

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Costa Rican authorities step up to combat wildlife trafficking

“These animals suffer greatly and end their days as pets, decorations or souvenirs, and this is unacceptable.” -Andrea Borel, HSI/Latin America executive director

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HSI donates equipment to Costa Rican authorities to combat wildlife trafficking

“we are pleased to support authorities in their investigation and prosecution efforts to reduce wildlife trafficking that originates or transits through Costa Rica.”-Andrea Borel, HSI/Latin America executive director

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Parrots regain their freedom in Peten, Guatemala after being rescued from illegal trafficking

“We urge everyone to refrain from buying these animals as pets, to not purchase objects that contain parts or derivatives of wild animals, and to report to the authorities any suspicious activity regarding wildlife.”-Mauricio Mota, advocacy officer for ESAP

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Conservationists celebrate birth of pangolin pup whose mum was saved from traffickers in South Africa

“The birth of this pango-pup signifies hope that with better enforcement of laws prohibiting pangolin trafficking and continued work on rehabilitating and protecting these iconic animals, we can halt the rapid decline in pangolin populations.” -Dr. Audrey Delsink, wildlife director for HSI/Africa

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Thirteen spider monkeys regain their freedom in Peten

“At HSI/Latin America and ARCAS we work to ensure a successful rehabilitation of these animals and thus give them a second chance to live in freedom.” -Grettel Delgadillo, deputy director for HSI/Latin America

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Big wins and one tragic loss for 348 animal species as representatives from 184 countries wrap up international conference in Panama

“Glass frogs will finally receive the protection they badly need, in face of the horrific, increasing and often illegal international pet trade.” -Grettel Delgadillo, deputy director for HSI/Latin America

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EU gets serious about combating illegal wildlife trade with new action plan

“It is fantastic to see that the European Commission is taking concrete policy action to address civil society’s concerns about the EU’s failures to comprehensively tackle both the legal and illegal trade in wildlife.” -Dr Joanna Swabe, senior director of public affairs for HSI/Europe

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Iguanas travel from torture to freedom

“No living creature should have to endure such torture.
Fortunately, these little ones were rescued, rehabilitated, and released back into the wild.” -Grettel Delgadillo Molina, HSI/Latin America

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WHO and others recommend countries to urgently suspend trade in wild mammals and close food markets selling wild mammals

“It’s imperative that all countries heed this call from the world’s health authority in order to prevent the emergence or spread of future pandemics.” -Teresa Telecky, HSI’s vice president of Wildlife

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Inside the illegal wildlife trade

“Five birds taken out of the wild—only one survives.” -Cynthia Dent, Global Expansion Director

Killed, sold and approaching extinction

“Purchasing giraffe parts puts the entire species at risk. The giraffe is going quietly extinct.” -Kitty Block, HSI President
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More you can do

1. Read our Don't Buy Wild guide.

Quick reference

2. Read: Seven ways to be a Wildlife Warrior

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Become an Animal Defender

Help protect wildlife and keep all animals safe.

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Rhino and Elephant Protection

As poaching and habitat loss ravage rhinoceros and elephant populations, protections for these species are vitally important. Today, all five rhino species and both elephant species are threatened with extinction. Efforts are underway across the globe to save these iconic animals.

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Trophy Hunting

Trophy hunters pay huge sums of money to kill wild animals for in-home display. HSI works to raise public awareness and end corporate support of trophy hunters’ interests, as well as improve legal protections and encourage alternatives.

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Seal Slaughter

The commercial seal hunt in Atlantic Canada is one of the largest and cruelest slaughters of marine mammals on Earth. Each year, tens of thousands of baby seals, just weeks of age, are beaten, shot and skinned for their fur.

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