What is the illegal wildlife trade?

Wildlife trade, legal or illegal, is the exchange or sale of wild animal or plant resources. This includes live animals and plants, animal body parts such as skins and feathers, and any products made from or including a wild animal or plant.

What can we do to stop illegal wildlife trade?

Here is what you can do to help:

1. Ask before you buy.
2. Stick to certified products.
3. Choose sustainable, eco-friendly pets.
4. Eat only sustainable seafood.
5. Petition your local government to stop or restrict legal ivory trade.
6. Pledge your support.
7. Report any illegal wildlife trade.

Is wildlife trafficking a crime?

Wildlife trafficking involves the illegal trade, smuggling, poaching, capture, or collection of endangered species, protected wildlife (including animals or plants that are subject to harvest quotas and regulated by permits), derivatives, or products thereof.

What are wildlife crimes?

Wildlife crime is an area of study typically defined from a legalistic perspective as an act in contravention of laws protecting wildlife. These crimes occur both within and across national borders and may include trafficking in wildlife or wildlife products.

Who is poaching elephants?

Despite a ban on the international trade in ivory, African elephants are still being poached in large numbers. Tens of thousands of elephants are being killed every year for their ivory tusks. The ivory is often carved into ornaments and jewellery – China is the biggest consumer market for such products.

Are elephants endangered?

Elephant populations With only 40,000-50,000 left in the wild, the species is classified as endangered. And it is critical to conserve both African and Asian elephants since they play such a vital role in their ecosystems as well as contributing towards tourism and community incomes in many areas.

How does illegal wildlife trade affect the environment?

Illegal wildlife trade is also often unsustainable, harming wild populations of animals and plants and pushing endangered species toward extinction. Endangered animals and plants are often the target of wildlife crime because of their rarity and increased economic value.

What’s animal poaching?

poaching, in law, the illegal shooting, trapping, or taking of game, fish, or plants from private property or from a place where such practices are specially reserved or forbidden. Poaching is a major existential threat to numerous wild organisms worldwide and is an important contributor to biodiversity loss.

How does wildlife crime affect humans?

“Wildlife crime endangers the health of our planet – and our own health. Pangolins offer no threat to humans in their own habitat, but allowing them to be trafficked, slaughtered and sold in illicit markets along with other wild species greatly increases the risk of transmission of viruses and other pathogens.

Are human teeth ivory?

They are made up of stuff similar to human teeth The visible, ivory part is made up of extremely dense dentin, which is also found in our teeth. While humans have the option of visiting a dentist to replace missing teeth, elephants sadly, do not, which brings us to our next point.