.W.T.I

Wildlife Trade Investigation

Wildlife Trade involves the trade or exchanging of plants and animals, whether it be live wildlife or products derived from wildlife.

This form of trade has been around since the beginning of our existence. Wildlife plays a vital part in the human race, we derive our medicines from plants, our diet is based on wildlife, and our clothing is also derived from plants and animals. However the reasons for wildlife trade have altered through the centuries, with anthropogenic influences re-moulding the trade into something that goes beyond sustenance for life.

In todays society trading companies are taking advantage of the inceasing demand for exotic pets, such as geckos and parrots, and the demand for "delicacies" in restaurants. These are just a few examples of the major opportunities for businesses to make huge profits. The trade in wildlife has one of the largest financial profits in the world, along with the drug trade.

Due to the divided world, where third world countries suffer exteme poverty, the opportunity of economical benefits from wildlife trade is a passage to some form of financial security. However, it also encourages illegal trade, where financial profits can rocket, being unregulated and untaxed. Nevertheless, it is inevitable that those that seek some form of security for their families earn very little in comparison to those that are at the top of the business - the large international companies. This form of trade is unsustainable and does not support poorer countries, where individuals only seek opportunities to support their livelihood.

The increasing trade of wildlife is putting much pressure on biodiversity to the extent that it may push many species to the brink of exctinction. Here at the Kucinski Wildlife Foundation, we intend to educate the public about the problems involved with wildlife trade and what can be done to stop the trade from damaging ecosystens around the globe.

The KWF does not entirely disapprove of the trade in wildife. We understand that wildife trade plays a key role in human livelihoods, however we are concerned at the impact that the large scale market for wildlife has on both cultures and habitats around the world.