Wildlife trade Sale and exchange of wild animals, plants, and products Multi-billion dollar business driving species to brink of extinction Much trade is legal, but significant portion is unmanaged and/or illegal -WWF Parts and Products Ornamental objects Elephant ivory jewelry Sea turtles shell cases Matted butterflies Exotic leathers and fur Kangaroo skin soccer balls Cat, fox, and coyote fur coats Snake and lizard skin shoes Live Wildlife Food Reptiles, amphibians, fish Zoos and safari parks Elephants, giraffes, rhinoceros, monkeys, birds Biomedical research Primates, reptiles, fish Pet Trade Birds, reptiles, amphibians Conservation Problems Wildlife-rich nations unable to control trade of wildlife. 40% of vertebrates endangered or threatened today, in part due to uncontrollable wildlife trade Rarely enough funds to study conservation Human Problems Methods to capture and kill for the trade are inhumane Poisoned, trapped, snared or bludgeoned Trade in live wildlife results in injury and death of large % captured -HSUS Wildlife Trade Illegal trade- well organized crime Creates black markets Smuggling syndicates move and trade rarest animals Ivory Poaching Death rate from poaching throughout Africa is 8% per year Unless more reinforcement occurs, large groups extinct by 2020 Illegal ivory trade-driven by markets in China and Japan Demand risen in U.S. for knife handles and gun grips -ranks 2 nd behind China for marketplace for illegal ivory Ivory Poaching IFAW has found eBay accounts for majority of illegal ivory sold openly on web DNA tools can determine which elephant population ivory came from Can help to provide enforcement in specific areas where poaching is known to occur Illegal Tiger Trade Numbers have decreased dramatically due to poaching Fewer than 3,500-4,000 tigers remain in Asia The 5 existing subspecies all are critically endangered -HSUS Illegal Tiger Trade Most illegal tiger trade and poaching driven by illegal markets in China China argued that tigers should be treated like crocodiles: farmed for bones and skin Tiger farms- slaughter, entertainment Video An activist uses a video camera to expose what many would consider a grisly illegal wildlife trade in MyanmaruCQ World Wildlife Fund Plays important role in fighting illegal trade 50 years of environmental conservation. Human induced change. Works in conjunction with TRAFFIC and CITES Methods of WWF Global 200 ecoregions Social, economic, and policy issues Working with others Creating harmony between humans and nature TRAFFIC Worlds largest wildlife monitoring network Protect wild animal and plant species Promote international agreements and policies Safeguard priority ecoregions Methods of TRAFFIC Mobilization of knowledge Use of effective regulation Use of positive economic incentives Promotion of sustainable consumptive behaviors CITES CITES was established in the 1960s Ensuring that international trade of wild animals and plants does not threaten their survival Roughly 5000 species of animals and species of plants are protected Methods of CITES Control of international trade Import, export, re-export and introduction from the sea Designate one or more Management Authorities Scientific Authorities advise on effects