A new briefing from WWF and TRAFFIC finds distressing evidence of documented snaring cases involving a minimum of 387 big cats (tigers, leopards, snow leopards, and Asiatic lions) across seven Asian countries between 2012-2021, with a majority of cases documented outside protected areas.

This report is the fifth iteration of TRAFFIC longstanding worldwide monitoring of the illegal trade in tigers Panthera tigris, almost 23 years of seizure data from January 2000 to June 2022.

In late 2020, WWF commissioned GlobeScan to conduct research to build upon previous consumer analysis to generate up-to-date insights about ivory consumption and consumer perceptions toward the ivory ban after its implementation (Dec. 31, 2017). This study follows previous research conducted by GlobeScan in 2017, 2018, and 2019 on both the pre-and post-domestic ivory ban in Mainland China.

The Identification Guide for Ivory and Ivory Substitutes is an updated and expanded tool to help law enforcement officers, forensic scientists, online technology company enforcement staff and wildlife trade management authorities distinguish between types of ivories and their substitutes. This Guide includes detailed procedures, visual aids, and instructions for recognizing ivory products, particularly those that have undergone heavy alterations such as carving and painting.

The single most obvious thread that runs through the survey completed by patrol rangers at nearly 500 sites in 28 countries is that rangers are facing excessive safety and health risks that could be significantly reduced with the appropriate interventions.

WWF has conducted the largest consumer survey about ivory trade in China—2,000 people in 15 cities—for three consecutive years with GlobeScan, providing the best available assessment measuring changes in attitudes, purchasing and ban awareness over time.

Poaching and the illegal trade of tiger parts are continuing to threaten wild tiger populations. TRAFFIC’s latest report on the illegal trade in tiger parts analyzes data over a 19 year period from 2000 to 2018, providing details and statistics on trends and the urgent threats facing wild tigers.

The importance of biodiversity below the forest canopy is often underappreciated, and yet it is a crucial component of healthy functioning forest ecosystems. Below the Canopy: Plotting Global Trends in Forest Wildlife Populations is the first-ever global assessment of forest-dwelling wildlife populations and highlights the multitude of threats forest-living species are facing.

Japan is a country with one of the world’s largest ivory markets and flourishing domestic trade. Although Japan has taken some steps in amending its legal framework around the ivory trade, the domestic markets still remain open and are thus contributing to the illegal domestic ivory trade. This report analyzes best practices related to the commercial ivory trade in six international jurisdictions to ultimately provide a guide for how Japan can improve its legal and regulatory measures on this issue.

This report provides the first analysis of trends in supply and demand for elephant ivory products in China’s markets since the new legislative changes. 

This study was intended to provide a rapid assessment of caviar trade globally. The international trade in caviar was reviewed through analysis of CITES trade data and analysis of caviar seizure data.

A summary  of the largest-ever ivory consumer survey, which identifies target consumer groups, products and drivers of elephant ivory consumption that need to be addressed as a priority to ensure that China’s recent ivory ban is effective.  

This report presents the results from an extensive and comprehensive research study conducted among consumers in
Mainland China between June to November 2017 on the topic of reducing demand for ivory.

A TRAFFIC report has exposed a disturbing new shift in the illegal trade of African rhino horn. Highly adaptive, transnational criminal networks operating in Southern Africa have begun processing rhino horn locally to evade detection by enforcement agencies and supply ready-made products to seemingly insatiable consumers in China and Vietnam.

Following China’s announcement late last year of a domestic ivory trade ban by the end of 2017, TRAFFIC and WWF surveys have found that the number of ivory items offered for sale—in both legal and illegal ivory markets in China—has declined alongside falling ivory prices.

A new trade study led by TRAFFIC, with support from WWF and the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW), has established a baseline for the status of the US elephant ivory market around the time that a series of changes to federal regulations were imposed by the US Fish and Wildlife Service. 

This annual update covers the second year of the Wildlife Crime Initiative from July 2015-June 2016. 

The current elephant poaching crisis costs African countries around $25 million annually in lost tourism revenue, according to a new study published in the journal Nature Communications. Comparing this lost revenue with the cost of halting declines in elephant populations due to poaching, the study determines that investment in elephant conservation is economically favorable across the majority of African elephants’ range.

This rapid assessment by TRAFFIC of domestic ivory markets in the U.S. finds that state bans seem to be having an impact on reducing the open availability of elephant ivory in formerly significant urban markets.

WWF and TRAFFIC believe that an elephant ivory trade ban in China is feasible and could be effective in contributing to a reduction in current threats to African elephants. Such an ambitious and achievable act could garner positive exposure for China's responsible action on a critical wildlife conservation issue and become a positive influence on other countries' efforts to tackle the illicit elephant ivory trade. 

Since CoP16, international momentum has been building against wildlife crime, with a raft of global declarations and commitments to tackle poaching and wildlife trafficking. This report outlines WWF's stance on African elephant issues at CoP17.