How to Thwart Illegal Animal Trafficking in Developing Nations
One of the biggest
problems faced by developing nations is the illegal trafficking of wild
animals. Why are they trafficked? Because of the large sums of money that can
be made by selling exotic creatures to wealthy individuals who want to show off
their lavish lifestyles. But where do these animals come from? From their
natural habitats, which must be destroyed in order to round them up, exposing
the remaining animals and plants to extinction. How can activities be designed
to thwart profitable illegal traffic in wild animals in developing nations or
3rd world countries? This article has some interesting suggestions that might
help prevent this environmental and animal cruelty crisis.
What
are the forms of illegal trafficking?
Illegal trafficking
of wild animals can take many forms. It can be as simple as killing an animal
for its meat, skin, or other parts. Other times, it will involve smuggling the
animal out of its country illegally, either for profit or for use as a pet
elsewhere. The trade has been facilitated by the globalization of
transportation and the internet, which has made it easier than ever before to
buy and sell animals from a distance.
Why
do people engage in this behavior?
Unfortunately, there
are a number of reasons why people engage in illegal animal trafficking. They
may be looking for work and know that selling animals will provide them with
the income they need to support their families, or they may not have a stable
economy, so this is the only way they can make money. They may also think that
it is just not right for foreigners to stop them from doing what they think is
their traditional livelihood. The truth is, many of these people don’t know any
better.
What's
Driving the Wildlife Trade?
The global wildlife
trade is the largest unregulated market, with an estimated annual value of $20
billion. This means that up to a quarter of all traded animals globally may be
illegally traded. Wild animals are exploited for a wide variety of purposes:
pets, food, novelties, and traditional medicines. Some species are killed for
use as trophies or for their body parts, such as ivory tusks or rhino horns.
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