O pet trade It is a criminal activity that causes significant damage to the planet’s fauna and flora.
According to the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP), this illegal practice is considered one of the most profitable and harmful businesses in the world.
The illegal hunting of animals aims to meet the demand for various art and fashion items, as well as furs and exotic foods.
Below is more information about the world’s most trafficked animal and the impact this harmful practice is having on the planet’s biodiversity.
The most traded animal in the world
Among the species traded, the pangolin stands out and is considered to be the animal that suffers the most from trade in the world. The illegal trade in these scaly mammals has reached alarming proportions. It is estimated that up to a million pangolins have been commercially caught in recent years.
In 2019, 10 tons of pangolins used in alternative medicines were seized in a single Chinese city.
Although occasionally confused with reptiles, the pangolin is a nocturnal mammal that can protect itself by curling up into a ball and using its scales as a defense mechanism against predators.
Unfortunately, all eight pangolin species found in Africa and Asia are critically endangered, with some listed as Critically Endangered according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List.
The Effects of Poaching
Pangolin populations in Africa have declined by about 40% over the past 45 years due to eating their scales and hunting for their meat.
In Asia, the situation is even more serious, with estimates of population declines of some Philippine, Chinese, and Malaysian pangolins by up to 80%.
In addition to illegal hunting, deforestation and destruction of natural habitats also contribute to the decline in pangolin populations. Deforestation and deforestation for various purposes further exacerbates the biodiversity crisis.
Wildlife trafficking: The fourth most lucrative crime in the world
Wildlife trafficking is considered one of the most lucrative crimes in the world, ranking fourth in the rankings, just behind arms, drugs and human trafficking.
This is an activity that requires urgent action and international coordination to protect the planet’s fauna and flora.