Donate now

Wildlife trade in the UK

Products carved from elephant ivory

The UK still plays a major part in the global trade in illegal wildlife despite successful campaigning work by WWF.

In 2003, WWF and TRAFFIC (the wildlife trade monitoring network) successfully lobbied to make it an arrestable offence to illegally trade in wildlife and extended the maximum prison sentence it carried from two to five years. Yet, there is still much work to be done to halt the illegal trade in wildlife in the UK.

In the year running from April 2006 to March 2007, customs officials seized more than 163,000 illegal wildlife products crossing UK borders.

142 tonnes of illegally traded ramin wood were seized in the UK between 2001 and 2007. Ramin – often used for picture frames and snooker cues – is a Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) listed species for which trading permits are required.

Although the illegal trade has been identified as one of the UK government’s national priorities in combating wildlife crime, the UK’s ability to control the problem is influenced by its membership of the EU – still a major centre for illegal wildlife trade.

What the law says

To find out if a wildlife product requires a permit or is illegal to import, export, buy or sell, please contact Animal Heath's Wildlife Licensing and Registration Service. Either call 0117 372 8774, fax 0117 372 8206 or email: wildlife.licensing@animalhealth.gsi.gov

Barry Kauffman Wright

How WWF is tackling wildlife crime in the UK

WWF is involved in a number of initiatives to challenge the illegal trade in endangered species.

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

Please report illegal wildlife trading

We need you to help us fight the illegal trade in wildlife. By lending us your eyes and ears, you could make a real difference to the future of hundreds of endangered animals and plants. If you’ve seen something suspicious report it to us.

Useful links

How you can help

Downloads

Wildlife Souvenir Guide

Latest news

Black rhino

Rhino crisis - how you can help

We know you'll feel as angry as we do about the latest shocking figures on rhino poaching - 448 rhinos killed in South Africa alone in 2011, including 19 critically endangered black rhinos. The worst figures on record, and fuelled by rising demand in Asia, particularly Vietnam, where rhino horn is sold as a spurious cancer medicine and even a lifestyle post-party drug for the rich. Rhinos could be wiped out for a hangover cure! Please help us tackle this outrage...

Solving the rhino crisis

The growing demand for rhino horn in Asia - driven by mistaken belief in its medicinal properties - has led to record levels of illegal poaching and rhino deaths. The latest appalling statistic shows more rhinos have been killed in South Africa in the past 10 months than in all of 2010. And now the IUCN has confirmed what we've suspected for some years - that the black rhino is officially extinct in West Africa. It all strengthens our resolve to save the rhino - not just through our effective on-the-ground conservation and relocation projects (see amazing 'flying rhino' video footage below), but by increasing pressure on global governments and law-enforcers to clamp down hard on illegal wildlife trade.

Swamp forest habitat of Javan rhino

Javan rhino: now extinct in Vietnam

Sadly, it’s official. WWF and the International Rhino Foundation (IRF) have confirmed that the Javan rhinoceros (Rhinoceros sondaicus annamiticus) is extinct in Vietnam – and has been for well over a year.

Western lowland gorilla, bush meat orphan, Cameroon

Forest ranger killed by gorilla poachers

A forest ranger has been killed and another seriously injured following a violent clash with gorilla poachers in Cameroon. We utterly condemn the attack, and want to see more protection for our courageous colleagues working on the frontline of conservation - and much stronger deterrents and severe sentences for those involved in this kind of horrific crime.

African elephants at water-hole © Martin HARVEY / WWF-Canon

CITES wildlife trade meeting round-up

Despite some setbacks, progress was made at the latest CITES meeting (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) last week in Geneva.