Wildlife Smuggling

Traffickers are slaughtering some of the world's most beloved endangered or threatened animals for their body parts — including elephant tusks, tiger penises and bear gall bladders — to supply the booming black market in souvenirs, trophies and traditional Chinese medicine. Other animals are shot by African hunters to meet the burgeoning demand for “bushmeat,” both to feed the hungry in refugee camps and to satisfy the tastes of city dwellers. Thousands of other animals, including exotic birds and rare monkeys, are trapped to meet the growing demand for exotic pets. Using satellite phones, helicopters and the Internet, the increasingly sophisticated smugglers — often part of organized crime syndicates — generate up to $20 billion annually, making wildlife trafficking the world's third-most-lucrative illegal trade. Experts suggest two controversial solutions: banning all ivory trade and “farming” tigers and other exotic species to supply the seemingly insatiable demand for their body parts. While international conservation treaties have slowed the carnage, experts say tougher enforcement is needed before some of the Earth's last wild creatures disappear forever.