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Illegal wildlife trade

Tortoises © WWF

WWF is steadfastly working against the illegal trade in wildlife – the second biggest threat to species survival after habitat destruction.

Although most wildlife trade is legal, a significant amount is not. For example, in just one year during 2003-04, EU-based enforcement authorities made more than 7,000 seizures – these included more than 3.5 million wildlife specimens that were prohibited from being traded. And from 2002-06, almost 1,000 illegally-traded Egyptian tortoises were seized in the EU, which represent around 13% of the species’ entire wild population – an illustration of how devastating trade impacts can be.

Iberian or Spanish lynx (Lynx pardinus)

International species conservation policy

We work with the UK government – and through the global WWF Network – to influence international policy on conservation issues affecting some of the world’s most important species. We make sure our voice is heard at two important policy bodies: the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) and the International Whaling Commission (IWC).

Products carved from elephant ivory

Wildlife trade in the UK

The illegal trade in wildlife is a still a major problem in the UK. Find out how WWF is working to tackle wildlife crime and how you can help support our work.

Marine turtles' skins and boxes made of Marine turtles scales seized at customs.© WWF / Wil LUIIJF

TRAFFIC

TRAFFIC, the wildlife trade monitoring network, is a joint conservation programme of WWF and the International Union for Conservation of Nature.

Ivory products

Forensics help fight illegal trade

It’s not illegal to buy and sell antique ivory products – as long as the ivory in question dates back to before 1947. It’s a loophole that has helped maintain the illegal ivory trade. Before now, the only way to estimate the age of animal parts was to employ an expert with a skilled eye, which was not always enough for a successful prosecution. But it’s been discovered that by applying the forensic testing technique of radio carbon dating, we can prove if an ivory product is pre- or post- the 1947 watershed, and therefore legal or not.