COVID-19 and Wildlife Trade

Ginette Hemley Jan Vertefeuille

Ginette Hemley, Senior Vice President, Wildlife ConservationJan Vertefeuille, Senior Advisor, Advocacy, Wildlife Conservation May, 2020

The COVID-19 pandemic has made clear the connections between zoonotic diseases and high-risk wildlife trade—and consequently, the devastating impacts this trade can have on human health and economies. Recognition of these threats—both present and future—requires us to address the dangers posed by illegal, unregulated and high-risk wildlife markets.