Wildlife trafficking could return to pre-pandemic numbers

Posted by David Henning on 5 April 2023

As the world returns to post-covid normality, so do its trade routes and the unfortunate consequence of increased wildlife trafficking, experts say.

Pile of animal tusks for sale in the local shop in a market in Fenghuang Ancient Town, Hunan Province, China. Picture: Getty

‘It’s a very alarming trend to observe — that such a large quantity of ivory is being trafficked in one shipment,’ Ellen Tyra, an analyst with the wildlife crimes program at C4ADS, had to say about the seizure of 7 000 kg of ivory in Vietnam.

C4ADS is a US-based nonprofit that works to expose illicit trafficking networks, whose interactive Wildlife Seizure Dashboard, free to use on its website, tracks trends in wildlife seizures since 2013.

Myanmar wildlife market. Picture: Getaway Gallery

‘Over the last year, the world has gradually reopened, but we’re not quite back to how things were,’ Tyra told Mongabay. ‘The seizure data shows that we are in this pandemic adjusted phase … and we’re seeing some interesting trends.’

There has been a notable spike in ivory seizures. Picture: Screenshot from C4ADS.

One of these trends includes the increase in maritime sector seizures with the return of bulk shipments.

In the first three months of 2023, C4ADS recorded 68 seizures, including 7 872 kg of ivory.

C4ADS iterates that a change in seizures doesn’t necessarily indicate an increase or decrease in wildlife trafficking, but Tyra adds, given the industry’s opacity, it’s the next best thing.

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