The illegal wildlife trafficking generates between 15 and 20 billion dollars annually. It is the fourth largest illegal trade in the world, and therefore, the consequences in broad sectors are devastating.
In the latest edition of the World Wildlife Crime Report by the United Nations (UN), causes and implications of crimes associated with this issue were disseminated at a global level.
Wildlife Trafficking: Health, Social, and Economic Consequences
Illegal wildlife trafficking.
The UN report includes a whole section on the health hazards posed by the illegal trade of wild animals.
“The disease risks associated with the wildlife trade have been periodically highlighted in recent decades by experts in the fields of human and animal health,” they state in the document.
Concerns are related to both the direct risks of disease transmission to people from animals, wild animal meat, and other products, as well as the threat to animal populations or ecosystems.
“For a long time, it had been predicted that the growing reach and volume of the wildlife trade as a component of the growing and increasingly interconnected global economy increased the risk of the emergence and spread of new diseases dangerous from animals to humans,” they affirm.
Therefore, efforts have been made to improve surveillance of disease cases related to wildlife trade. “The report highlights that illegal trade poses particular risks, in part because it is likely to evade control and health measures,” they indicate.
Key facts to understand the problem
Dismantling of a network of interprovincial wildlife trafficking
More than 100 species of birds, 20 of reptiles, and 15 of mammals in Argentina are affected by this trafficking, with around 20 species in threat categories.
Legal Wildlife Trade in Argentina
Wildlife trade is regulated and not prohibited. There are authorized wildlife breeding centers, controlled by environmental agencies. However, certain species are banned from trade and transit.
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