Trading in wild animals, also known as trafficking in wild animals, encompasses both legal and illegal trade of individual species of wild animals, parts of their bodies and derivative products.
The trafficking of animals is the second most important cause of the loss of biodiversity in the world, after the destruction of habitat. It has a great impact on the population of species, many of which are currently on the brink of extinction. The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of wild fauna and flora (CITES), which regulates and controls the legal trafficking of wild animals, was signed in 1975. It lists 3,000 to 3,500 animal species which are regulated and member countries must enforce these regulations.
Animals are traded in order to be used as companions, for entertainment (circuses, zoos, tourist attractions, etc.) and to be consumed. Animal parts (skin, fur, bones, tusks, etc.) are also used for medical purposes, clothing, cosmetics or decoration.
In this section, besides learning what trafficking in animals involves, we will also see the consequences of co-existence with these types of animals or the risk that this may bring to the native species of the area.
At European level
At the state level
In Catalonia