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

Conference celebrates first year of revised Action Plan against Wildlife Trafficking

“By failing to criminalise the import of nationally protected wildlife species that have been taken in violation of the laws of other countries and allowing this stolen wildlife to be traded legally in Member States, the EU continues to be complicit in the loss of biodiversity elsewhere in the world.” -Joanna Swabe, HSI/Europe

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Endangered wild cats and monkeys among 27 animals returned to the wild by wildlife charities in Guatemala after rescue from illegal trafficking

“By supporting and working with our local partner, ARCAS, this rescue, rehabilitation and release program is giving these animals back their freedom as well as increasing their wild populations to ensure future breeding in their natural forest habitat where they belong.”-Andrea Borel, HSI/Latin America

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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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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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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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