Illegal Wildlife Trade

After habitat destruction, the biggest direct threat to species survival is the illegal wildlife trade. Every year, hundreds of millions of plants and animals are traded illegally, with a turnover of billions of pounds. This illegal trade in wildlife has pushed species such as tigers and rhinos to the verge of extinction and continues to pose a major threat to many others.

Tigers and leopards are still being killed for their pelts and parts to be used in traditional Chinese medicine, and an illegal ivory trade threatens populations of rhinos and Asian elephants. The sale of meat from endangered primates, and the smuggling of live birds and reptiles for the exotic bird trade are also decimating wild populations. From tigers to caviar, the illegal wildlife trade is driving dozens of species towards extinction.

WWF in Partnership

WWF tackles the illegal and unsustainable trade in wildlife through providing financial and logistical support to TRAFFIC - the wildlife trade monitoring network set up by WWF and IUCN, the world conservation union. WWF and TRAFFIC co-operate with governments, other NGOs, national enforcement agencies, and local communities all over the world to conserve species and their habitats.

Through TRAFFIC, we aim to increase awareness amongst governments and encourage their participation in CITES - the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna and, increase penalties for the illegal trade in wildlife.

So far by supporting anti-poaching patrols in far eastern Russia, one WWF-supported tiger anti-poaching brigade has caught over 2,000 poachers and confiscated 700 weapons.

To find out more go to www.wwf.org.uk