In 2009, the entire global wildlife trade was thought to be worth more than 320 billion
dollars. And despite conservation efforts by numerous organizations, illegal poaching
and animal smuggling is still incredibly lucrative. China, in particular has long been a major
trafficking source, but in recent years, the country has begun leading the effort to end
the practice. So we wanted to know, Can China End the Illegal Wildlife Trade?
Well, for decades, China has been one of the the largest consumers, and producers of smuggled
wildlife in the world. Goods such as ivory elephant tusks and rhino horns are harvested
in Africa, then shipped to Chinese traders. From there on they continue to Japan, South
Korea, the US, and Europe. This trade accounts for an estimated 2.5 billion dollars a year
in just the East Asia-Pacific region alone. And over the past few years, prices on illegal
wildlife have skyrocketed.
But in 2015, mounting international pressure led to China’s renewed efforts to end the
wildlife trade. During the symbolic destruction of nearly a ton of ivory, Chinese officials
announced a shutdown of the few legal ivory outlets still based in the country. Although
the ivory used in these legal sources comes from government stockpiles, the legal ivory
industry has been called a cover for the use of illegal ivory. This move to phase out all
production demonstrates an active attempt to stop poaching, rather than turning a blind
eye.
But China has also called on the United States to stop trafficking. The US is second-largest
market for illegal wildlife. Unlike the new rules in China, the US has been unsuccessful
in passing a national ban on ivory products, partially due to pressure from the National
Rifle Association. Ivory acquired before the international trading ban in 1989 is still
legal to use, and trophy hunters can ship ivory to the US as long as it isn’t resold.
China has also been proactive on the internet, working to shut down online forums where poachers
and traders would sell outlawed products like shark fin, rhino horns, and turtle shells.
In 2012, China confiscated more than 130,000 animals and animal products in a wide-scale
crackdown. But it’s not just the government. A number of companies specializing in Traditional
Chinese Medicine have pledged to stop using endangered plants and animals. These products
often rely on the use of rare, sometime illegal ingredients, but those extras can land a manufacturer
in jail for five or more years.
A recent survey found that 95% of Chinese respondents supported a ban on ivory trade,
and harsh punishments for those selling rhino horns. Clearly, public perception has shifted,
and after representing the face of illegal wildlife trafficking, China is now leading
the fight to end it. A Chinese international trade official was quoted by the Guardian
as saying, this move represents China’s commitment to building an “ecological civilization”.
But, even if China does manage to end their role in the wildlife trade, there are still
extremely active sources of animal poaching in Africa. Unless the sources can be blocked
outright, trade will likely continue.
To learn more about stopping the trafficking of wildlife check out RacingExtinction.com.
There's a ton of great info about what's at stake, and what we can do to end it. Thanks
for watching!