Illicit Trade in Wildlife & the Economics of Agricultural & Wildlife Smuggling

Global trade in illegal wildlife is a growing illicit economy, estimated to be worth at least $5 billion and potentially in excess of $20 billion annually. Some of the most lucrative illicit wildlife commodities include tiger parts, caviar, elephant ivory, rhino horn, and exotic birds and reptiles. Demand for illegally obtained wildlife is ubiquitous, and some suspect that illicit demand may be growing. This book provides an overview of illegal wildlife crime with a focus on determining funding levels for U.S. wildlife trade inspection and investigation; evaluating the effectiveness of U.S. foreign aid to combat the wildlife trade; using trade sanctions to penalise foreign countries with weak enforcement of wildlife laws; incorporating wildlife trade provisions into free trade agreements; and addressing the domestic and international demand for illegal wildlife through public awareness campaigns and non-governmental organisation partnerships.