🦓🦜🐅🦍 The illegal wildlife market is a dark and dangerous world that many people might not know about. It is a market that facilitates the trade of exotic animals and plants, often for use as pets, food, fashion or traditional medicine. The truth is that many species have become endangered or extinct due to the illegal wildlife trade. In this blog post, we will take a deep dive into the world of the illegal wildlife market, so buckle up and let’s go!

History of the Illegal Wildlife Market

It’s not a new phenomenon: the trade in exotic animals has been happening for centuries. However, in the past, it was mostly for the purpose of owning them as curios or exotic pets. In recent times, it has become more sinister, with animals being traded for their parts or meat. This trade has resulted in the extinction of some species and the near-extinction of others. It has also become a multi-billion dollar industry that is difficult to regulate due to its clandestine nature.

A painting of exotic animals being traded in a market.

What Drives the Illegal Wildlife Market?

There is a high demand for exotic animal parts, meat, and live animals in many countries, particularly in China and Southeast Asia, where they are seen as symbols of wealth and status. Many common items that are used in traditional Chinese medicine, such as rhinoceros horns, bear bile, and tiger bone, are derived from endangered or threatened species. Another factor that drives the market is the desire for exotic pets. These animals are smuggled into countries all over the world, their existence often kept a secret by owners.

Illustrated depiction of people buying exotic animals.

How Animals are Captured and Smuggled

To satisfy demand, the illegal wildlife trade relies on poaching, or hunting and killing animals in the wild. Poachers use a variety of methods, including traps, snares, and poison. Once captured, animals are smuggled across borders in a variety of ways, including packed in crates and suitcases or even hidden in plain sight. The smuggling process is traumatic for animals, many of whom die or become injured during transport.

Sketch of animals being captured and smuggled in a suitcase.

The Impact of the Illegal Wildlife Trade

The illegal wildlife trade has devastating consequences for both animals and humans. The trade often fuels corruption and violence, and endangered animals face the risk of being hunted to extinction. They lose their natural habitats, families and ecosystems are damaged, and there’s always the risk of diseases being spread. People involved in the trade often also suffer, especially as they get punished for smuggling or trading. The trade may provide income to poachers, traffickers, or those stocking stores, but it comes at a high cost.

A tiger in a cage being trafficked.

What Can We Do to Help Stop the Illegal Wildlife Trade?

There are many things you can do to help, including spreading awareness, supporting conservation efforts, avoiding products made from illegal wildlife, and talking to your representatives. We can bring the trade to the forefront of public consciousness, and by doing so, we may be able to influence change. Organizations such as Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), World Wildlife Foundation (WWF), and more are working hard to prevent the trade and protecting endangered animals. You can also inspire others to take action by sharing information about the impact of the illegal wildlife trade on social media.

A group of people holding signs to stop the illegal wildlife trade.

🌿🐘🦏 The illegal wildlife trade is a complex design that has fueled corruption, violence and threatened the existence of many animals. It’s important to raise awareness about the negative effect of the illegal trade and encourage people to take action, even small ones, to make a difference. Together, we can fight the worrisome practice so that animals can thrive in their natural habitats.

An illustrated image of animals in the wild with the word "Stop" overlaid on the picture.