Poaching & illegal wildlife trade
Show poaching the red card!
Our penchant for the exotic, our greed for game meat, hides, horns and teeth has driven many species to extinction. Poaching and illegal wildlife trade have long been one of the greatest threats to biodiversity.
How you can help stop poaching and illegal wildlife trade
- Avoid holiday souvenirs made from endangered animal or plant species. Buying such products encourages local people to continue hunting wild animals or illegally gathering plants.
- Species that are subject to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) must not brought home, or only with a valid CITES permit.
- These include corals, giant clams, conch shells, crocodile and snakeskin products, wild animal skins, ivory and tortoise shell products, traditional Asian medicine products, orchids, cacti and live animals such as parrots or chameleons.
The global trade in endangered animal and plant species is governed by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), which was adopted in Washington DC in 1973. The endangered species are listed in three different categories, which are subject to different levels of trade restrictions.
CITES – Appendix I: commercial trade prohibited
CITES – Appendix II: severe trade restrictions
CITES – Appendix III: regionally applicable trade restrictions or bans
A valid CITES permit is required for exporting and importing species that are subject to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora.
- Are you interested in advocating for endangered species? Then inform your friends and acquaintances about the problem.
- Contact your elected politicians about stricter species protection guidelines, better implementation of laws and increased controls.
- Support species conservation projects that fight against poaching and advocate for protected areas with well-equipped rangers. For these projects, we work together with the local community and try to develop alternative employment opportunities for the people living there.
- You can find more information about the species conservation projects we support here.