Wildlife trade

The wildlife trade poses a major threat to wild animals across the globe. The trade puts a price tag on species, leading to unsustainable population declines and causing undue pain and distress to animals killed for their body parts or smuggled long distances for the pet trade. The illegal wildlife trade is now one of the most lucrative illicit markets in the world.

Exploited and endangered

Some species are increasingly at risk as they continue to be used and sold, either alive or for their parts. Populations are devastated and the methods used to capture, transport and kill animals can cause tremendous suffering.

David Keith Jones/

Animals are not trophies

In the U.S. alone, trophy hunters kill more than 100,000 native carnivores every year. Take action to stop this cruel and unnecessary practice.

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A closer look at the wildlife trade

Humane World for Animals

Killed for their parts.

Wildlife trophies

Wildlife parts sold in the trade include skins, leathers, teeth, bones, trophies, live animals and more.

iStock.com

Birds are often exploited in the commercial enterprises, like the pet trade, and so it is a big win that the U.S. just granted federal protections for birds used in commerce for the first time under the Animal Welfare Act.

Exotic pets

Live animals in the trade may be used as exotic pets, stock for game farms, zoo animals and biomedical research subjects.

Legal versus illegal

The line between legal and illegal wildlife trade is blurred, as poachers and traffickers often try to pass off illegal wildlife products as legal. In addition, consumers may unknowingly break the law by bringing wildlife products across borders without proper permits.

Living rhino suffering with horn removed

Paul Hilton UTTAM SAIKIA/Paul Hilton Photography

To prevent poachers from taking rhino horns, leaving the animals deformed and suffering like this, rhinos are sometimes preemptively dehorned (a pain-free process akin to trimming one’s fingernails).

Medicine and the wildlife trade

Tiger bones and rhino horn are often bought for medicinal purposes, but they have no scientifically proven medicinal value.

Photo of a little girl with an elephant at a zoo

Famveld/iStock.com

Fake sanctuaries

Wildlife traders sometimes breed animals in captivity, kill them and sell their parts. These facilities are sometimes disguised as sanctuaries.

Cut up wildlife on scale in Indonesia wet market

Dog Meat Free Indonesia

Crime and wildlife trade

The illegal wildlife trade is linked with organized criminal syndicates involved in arms, drugs and human trafficking.

HSI

Targeting endangered species

Endangered species are highly valued in the wildlife trade because of their rarity, leading to overexploitation and black market trade, and pushing these species further toward extinction.

The latest

We're fighting the wildlife trade to keep animals safe in their natural habitat. Learn about some of our latest actions to protect all animals from this cruelty.

For the first time, birds receive protection under the Animal Welfare Act

In a monumental step forward for birds who are often exploited in the pet trade, exhibitions and breeding, the U.S. Department of Agriculture has just enacted federal protections for birds used in commerce.

Breaking: Major wins for sharks and other wild animals in key legislative package

Update 12/23/22: President Biden has signed the National Defense Authorization Act into law, which removes the U.S. from the cruel shark fin trade and helps to combat wildlife trafficking.

Undercover sting busts black-market ring of snake traffickers in Florida

Forest cobra, inland taipan, bushmaster, rhinoceros viper, African bush viper, Gaboon viper, green mamba, eyelash viper, puff adder and several species of spitting cobra and saw-scaled vipers: These are the types of venomous snakes police in Florida have seized from a black-market ring of traffickers in the past two years, as part of a multistate wildlife law enforcement sting, Operation Viper.

Environmental Crime Directive given more teeth to protect wildlife

BRUSSELS— Today, the European Parliament approved the revised Environment Crime Directive, strengthening the EU's approach to addressing environmental crime. This decision, endorsing the compromise agreement reached between the Council of the European Union and the European Commission in November 2023, marks a significant step towards better protecting wildlife and habitats.

Survivors of illegal wildlife trafficking spread their wings in Guatemalan nature preserve

PETEN, Guatemala—A group of 41 parrots of different species (Amazona autumnalis and Amazona alfibrons), iconic in the Latin American region, were released in the Mayan Biosphere Reserve after they were rescued and confiscated from illegal wildlife trafficking.

Sign in Killed, Sold, and Approaching Extinction

A new undercover HSUS investigation reveals a thriving market for giraffe parts across the United States. Giraffes have been facing what experts have dubbed a “silent extinction."

Indian Pangolin, one of the most traffic/smuggled wildlife species for its scales

Vicky_Chauhan/iStock.com

All-Animals Magazine

The US must take prompt action to save pangolins

Pangolins are hurtling toward extinction due to human action. Human inaction may be their final death knell. The U.S. government could change that trajectory.

Take action

Join Humane World in our fight against the wildlife trade.

Don’t Buy Wild

The No. 1 way you can protect wildlife is by harnessing the power of your pocketbook. When you support animal-friendly services and avoid those that exploit animals, you are making a difference. Be a compassionate traveler and consumer—keep your choices from harming animals.