Wildlife Trade
Overview
Featured Story
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Elephants Under Increased Threat
Elephants are under increased threat from illegal ivory trade. Read more
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Illegal Ivory Seizures
Massive seizures of illegal ivory have taken place in Asia and Africa. Read more
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Gorilla Poaching Attempt Thwarted
An infant mountain gorilla was rescued from poachers in Rwanda. Read more
Latest News
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Record Rhino Poaching in South Africa
Eight rhinos found dead in one day after a year of record losses Read more
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WWF Works to Fight Wildlife Crime
WWF encouraged authorities to hand down a maximum sentence to a suspected tiger smuggler that was put on trial on August 10, 2011 in a West Sumatra, Indonesia district court.
Illegal wildlife trade is one of the primary threats to a large number of species. In the last hundred years tiger numbers have declined by 95%. Each year up to 12,000 African elephants are illegally killed to supply domestic ivory markets. Three out of seven species of marine turtles are critically endangered.
TRAFFIC, a joint program of WWF and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), is the world's largest wildlife trade monitoring network. TRAFFIC works to create stronger protections for threatened and endangered species around the world through enforcement agencies, educational efforts and influencing policy.
Why it matters
In the last hundred years tiger numbers have declined by 95%. Up to 12,000 African elephants are illegally killed each year to supply domestic ivory markets. Three out of seven species of marine turtles are now critically endangered. Illegal wildlife trade is one of the primary threats to a large number of species. Read more
What we are doing
TRAFFIC is the world's largest wildlife trade monitoring network. Founded in 1976, this joint program of WWF and IUCN, The World Conservation Union, is working to ensure the trade in wild plants, fisheries, timber, wild meat, medicinal plants and animals is not a threat to the conservation of nature. Read more
Engaging business
As millions of tourists travel to the Caribbean, Mexico and Central America they purchase souvenirs, often originating from threatened wildlife. Engaging the cruise line industry, awareness tools are being developed to empower passengers to make informed decisions about the souvenirs they purchase. Read more
Delivering results
Actively combating illegal trade around the world, our conservation results address the regulation and protection of American black bears, Chihuahuan Desert cactus, Mexican parrots, native sturgeon, paddlefish, hawksbill turtles, tigers, rhinos, leopards, musk deer and many more animals and plants. Read more
CITES
The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) is an international regulating body developed in response to declining wildlife populations due to over-exploitation for international trade. Read more
Traditional Chinese medicine
Traditional Chinese medicine is a holistic approach to healthcare using natural plant, mineral and animal-based ingredients. WWF is working to promote alternatives to traditional treatments that use threatened or endangered species. Read more
