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Wildlife Trade

Publications

Wildlife Trade Multimedia

View a selection of WWF wildlife trade video clips:

  • The carving and polishing of ivory from collected stockpiles
  • Buyers beware when shopping 
  • The threat of wildlife trade
  • Shop carefully
  • Wildlife trade of exotic birds 
  • Illegal logging
  • Tiger evolution ends
  • Rhino in the wild
  • Tigers in the wild
  • Birds in the wild
  • Caught in the cactus conundrum

TRAFFIC North America Newsletter 

TRAFFIC provides a free semi-annual newsletter for enforcement agencies and others interested in wildlife trade. The newsletter highlights enforcement actions and investigations throughout North America and keeps officials informed of the latest trends and latest directives from the CITES Secretariat. Read past issues of the newsletter

TRAFFIC reports on wildlife trade

  • Trading Tails: Linkages between Russian Salmon Fisheries and East Asian Markets  (PDF, 1.8MB) November 2007 - This study is a component of a larger project to conserve Russian salmon. The study describes in detail the trade of Russian salmon through East Asian markets, identifying means to spur demand for legally sourced products and discouraging Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing in the Russian Federation.
  • The Great Salmon Run: Competition Between Wild and Farmed Salmon November 2007 - This report examines economic and policy issues related to wild and farmed salmon in North America, reflecting on important policy debates ranging from environmental protection to trade. 
  • Conservation of Spiny Dogfish: A Role for CITES (PDF, 628KB) November 2006 - This report examines the characteristics of the fisheries for trade in spiny dogfish and, based on those characteristics, assesses the issues surrounding the implementation of an Appendix II listing in CITES to provide conservation of the species.
  • Tackling the Ivories (PDF, 1MB) September 2004 - A study of both legal and illegal ivory markets in the United States. It is the first comprehensive review of the U.S. ivory market since the global ban on commercial trade was imposed in 1989.
  • Collection, Trade, and Regulation of Reptiles and Amphibians of the Chihuahuan Desert Ecoregion (PDF, 1.4MB) August 2004 - This study by TRAFFIC found that the demand for reptiles and amphibians including horned lizards, false corals, other snakes and lizards, turtles and frogs is prevalent. Although Mexico prohibits almost all exportation of reptiles and amphibians, these species are sold in pet markets and shops, at intersections of roads, or from the side of the highway in Mexico.
  •  Caviar and Conservation (PDF, 1.49MB) May 2003 - This technical report on the status of North American sturgeon and paddlefish found that with the Caspian Sea fisheries near collapse, the global caviar market was turning its attention to North American fisheries, which alone cannot supply world demand.
  • Ancient Traditions... New Alternatives (PDF, 2.34MB) February 2003 - This publication provides an overview of the threats to wildlife from Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). The popularity of some TCM cures has helped drive certain animal species - including tigers and rhinos - close to extinction.
  • Prickly Trade Part 1 - U.S. cactus trade (PDF, 822KB) and Part 2 - Mexican cactus trade (PDF, 335KB) January 2003  - A two-part technical report on the commercial trade of Chihuahuan Desert cactus shows that demand for wild cactus and other rare plants by landscapers and plant collectors may soon surpass supply.
  • Trawling in the Mist: Industrial Fisheries in the Russian Part of the Bering Sea  (PDF, 1.6MB)  August 2001 - This report presents the findings of a study on industrial fisheries in the Russian part of the Bering Sea region, with a focus on activities off the Kamchatka Peninsula. Strategies and recommendations are made to address unsustainable and illegal harvest and trade of the marine resources.
  • Mahogany Matters (PDF, 1.20MB) October 2000 - This technical report on the mahogany trade in Latin America focuses on big-leaf mahogany. The most traded and coveted of the three American mahogany species, much of the trade in the luxury timber has been done unsustainably and illegally.

Snapshots

The TRAFFIC North America Fisheries Snapshot series utilizes scientific data to link economic and conservation concerns when emerging data has suggested that commercial fishing pressure may threaten the viability of the fishery.

Wildlife trade - frequently asked questions

Learn more about CITES, IUCN, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and others we work with in the fight against illegal wildlife trade