Menu Close

Articles on Wildlife trade

Displaying 21 - 37 of 37 articles

Burning confiscated elephant ivory and animal horns in Myanmar’s first public display of action against the illegal wildlife trade, Oct. 4, 2018. Ye Aung Thu/AFP via Getty Images

Can Asia end its uncontrolled consumption of wildlife? Here’s how North America did it a century ago

In the 1800s, Americans hunted many wild species near or into extinction. Then in the early 1900s, the US shifted from uncontrolled consumption of wildlife to conservation. Could Asia follow suit?
Wildlife markets, where live animals are sold and slaughtered, are an integral part of the global wildlife trade. GettyImages

What is the wildlife trade? And what are the answers to managing it?

Ecological systems are at breaking point and a global economic collapse is under way. It’s time to invest in risk mitigation to prevent another COVID-type disaster.
Government officers seize civets in a wildlife market in Guangzhou, China to prevent the spread of SARS in 2004. Dustin Shum/South China Morning Post via Getty Images

The new coronavirus emerged from the global wildlife trade – and may be devastating enough to end it

Wild animals and animal parts are bought and sold worldwide, often illegally. This multibillion-dollar industry is pushing species to extinction, fueling crime and spreading disease.
Part of a shipment of 33 rhino horns seized by Hong Kong customs, originated from Cape Town, South Africa. Bobby Yip /Reuters

Why is the illicit rhino horn trade escalating?

Rhino horn trade continues to be a highly lucrative business across the world.
Boa constrictors are frequently found at large in Australia, despite being banned. Marcos André/flickr

Alien invaders: the illegal reptile trade is a serious threat to Australia

Keeping non-native reptiles as pets is against the law – with good reason. Alien species traded on the black market can potentially establish themselves in the wild if they are released or escape.
The fate of elephants ultimately lies in the hands of humans and a continued ban will not solve the poaching problem. Shutterstock

The ban on ivory sales has been an abject failure. A rethink is needed

The ivory trade is a very contentious issue and will be debated at CITES. It will revolve around maintaining or lifting the ban on trade. But the human element is likely to be ignored.
CITES has become the premier multilateral arrangement to tackle illegal wildlife trafficking. Ross Harvey

Explainer: what is CITES and why should we care?

The focus of CITES is not solely on the protection of species. It also promotes controlled trade that is not detrimental to the sustainability of wild species.

Top contributors

More