Crime Gone Wild: The Dangers of the International Illegal Wildlife Trade

• Published in: Harvard international review Vol. 36; no. 4; pp. 60 - 63
• Main Author: XIE, KEVIN
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cambridge Harvard International Relations Council, Inc 22.06.2015; Harvard International Relations Council
• Subjects: Animal products; Animals; Biodiversity; Birds; Cartels; Cocaine; CRIME AND PUNISHMENT; Criminals; Drug related crimes; Drugs; Ecosystems; Elephants; Environmental aspects; Environmental crimes; Environmental economics; Environmental law; Environmental protection; Fur trade; International trade; Interpretation and construction; Ivory; Law enforcement; Laws, regulations and rules; National parks; Organized crime; Pets; Poaching; Reptiles & amphibians; Smuggling; Tourism; Trade legislation; Wild animal trade; Wildlife; Wildlife conservation; Wildlife policy; Wildlife smuggling; Wildlife trade; United States; Africa; Latin America
• ISSN: 0739-1854; 2374-6564

The worldwide war on drugs has increased the visibility of the trade in controlled substances such as marijuana, cocaine, and heroin. At the same time, however, there is a growing trade in substances such as elephant ivory, tiger bones, and the aforementioned rhino horns. The US estimates that the worldwide trade in illegal animal products is somewhere between US$7 billion to US$10 billion each year. This article will examine the illegal wildlife trade in two different regions: Latin America and Africa. It will reveal some of the specific risks that the criminal exploitation of wildlife brings to each region. The US has taken some steps to combat wildlife trafficking. Pres Barack Obama has signed an executive order to create a "broad based approach" to wildlife trafficking that will involve numerous US agencies. Furthermore, Obama pledged US$10 million to support capacity building for law enforcement agencies in Africa in order to allow them to better respond to wildlife trafficking.