Illegal wildlife trade
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.
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).
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.
TRAFFIC
TRAFFIC, the wildlife trade monitoring network, is a joint conservation programme of WWF and the International Union for Conservation of Nature.
How you can help
Latest news
Illegal trade in European wild birds highlighted
The illegal hunting of European wild birds for food in the European Union – an issue of concern to WWF – has been raised during a meeting of EU government agencies involved in regulating wildlife trade.
Huge haul of dead owls and live lizards in Malaysia
WWF is urging people and governments to help tackle illegal hunting and trading after thousands of endangered wild animals were seized in two raids in Malaysia. The animals, including over 7,000 live clouded monitor lizards and almost 900 ’oven-ready’ plucked owls, were probably bound for China to be sold in restaurants.
Controls needed on China’s wildlife trade
China’s rapidly increasing and unsustainable wildlife trade – including its traditional medicine trade, its consumption of wild animals and the use of commodities such as wood – needs greater control, says a new report supported by WWF.
Pirates taking heavy toll of toothfish
The future of the Patagonian and Antarctic toothfish, along with the highly valuable fishery concentrated in the Southern Ocean, are under significant pressure from illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing.
New Red List highlights plight of mammals
Almost one in four of the world’s mammals are at risk of disappearing for ever, according to the World Conservation Union (IUCN)’s newly-updated Red List of Threatened Species, the most comprehensive assessment of the threat of extinction.