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Illegal Wildlife Trade

The illegal wildlife trade is one of the biggest threats to endangered, threatened and vulnerable species worldwide. Driven by organised crime, it generates billions each year through the exploitation of animals.

Tackling the illegal trade is at the heart of everything we do. From intercepting dancing bears being traded across borders in India, to preventing the poaching of bear cubs in Armenia and dismantling markets that sell slow lorises as pets, we’re working to stop the trade at its source.

Because rescuing animals isn’t enough. We have to tackle the problem at its root.

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    SLOW LORIS RESCUED

    More than 600 rescued slow lorises have been released back into protected forests.

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    REDUCTION IN SLOW LORIS TRADE

    Reduced illegal trade in slow lorises by 90% over 10 years.

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    Dancing Bears Rescued

    Over 620 dancing bears were rescued from horrific pain ending a centuries old cruel tradition.

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    Captive Armenian bears rescued

    Over 50 brown bears rescued from barren cages and given sanctuary.

How we fight wildlife crime

We work alongside local partners to:
Intercept and care for captive, injured or confiscated wildlife. Intercept and care for captive, injured or confiscated wildlife.
Nurse traumatised animals back to health and return them to protected natural habitats whenever possible. Nurse traumatised animals back to health and return them to protected natural habitats whenever possible.
Teach local populations about animal welfare and provide sustainable alternative livelihoods. Teach local populations about animal welfare and provide sustainable alternative livelihoods.
Enforce and improve legal protections that penalise wildlife traffickers and shut down open illicit markets. Enforce and improve legal protections that penalise wildlife traffickers and shut down open illicit markets.

related PROJECTS

Slow Loris looking at camera

Slow Loris

The slow loris in Indonesia is in serious danger of extinction and the greatest threats to its survival are habitat loss and the illegal trade in wildlife.

Costa Rica Wildlife Rescue

From tiny, vulnerable howler monkeys to endangered sea turtles, every life we save matters.