Wildlife Under Siege: The Demand For Exotic Pets Is Fueling Wildlife Trafficking In Latin American

A new report reveals that poaching and wildlife trafficking are on the rise across 18 countries, posing a major threat to biodiversity. The report, Wildlife Crime in Hispanic America: An analysis of seizures and poaching incidents (2017-2022) documents 1,945 reported incidents during this period, involving over 100,000 animals. The number of cases increased from 257 in 2017 to 431 in 2022.

Commissioned by IFAW, the study analyzed illegal wildlife trafficking in countries, including Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay, and Venezuela. Among these, Mexico, Colombia, Argentina, Peru, and Bolivia reported the highest rates of wildlife crime. Notably, Mexico accounted for 27.9% of all incidents and 45% of the total animals seized or poached.

The incidents involved at least 690 species, including turtles, caimans, frogs, parakeets, macaws, jaguars, pumas, and monkeys. Surprisingly, 92.5% of the seizures involved live animals, primarily for the pet trade, which has grown significantly, partly due to the influence of social media. Reptiles were the most common, making up 59% of cases, followed by birds (27.5%), amphibians (9.5%), and mammals (4%).

Wildlife crime is a lucrative, low-risk business in Hispanic America, with limited law enforcement actions that are mostly reactive. The report also noted that European traffickers often target non-CITES species, exploiting weak penalties for smuggling in the EU. Cross-border smuggling thrives as traffickers take advantage of weaker laws in neighboring countries.

Organized crime groups, traditionally involved in drug trafficking, human trafficking, and firearms, are now branching into wildlife crime. For example, Mexican gangs are reportedly trading wildlife with Chinese traders in exchange for fentanyl and methamphetamine. Some criminals also use exotic animals to launder money by purchasing them with illicit funds and reselling them.

“This study paints an alarming picture for wildlife in the region,” says Polen Cisneros, IFAW’s Wildlife Crime Program Manager. “While 1,945 incidents were recorded, this is just the tip of the iceberg, as many cases go unreported. Urgent coordinated action is needed to protect the region’s biodiversity.”

Most trafficked wildlife remains within domestic and regional markets, but 2.6% of seizures were destined for the United States, Europe, and Asia. These shipments often include rare or endemic species, many of which are endangered. The full scope of international wildlife trade remains unclear, as critical links in the trafficking chain are often not reported.

“The uptick in wildlife crime is deeply concerning,” Cisneros adds. “It indicates a potential escalation in poaching and trafficking, with significant animal suffering, high mortality rates, and the risk of zoonotic disease transmission, which could have global repercussions, as seen with COVID-19, SARS, MERS, Zika, and Ebola.”

The report highlights the need to address both domestic and international drivers of wildlife crime and improve law enforcement efforts. IFAW’s recommendations include treating wildlife poaching and trafficking as serious crimes, implementing effective sanctions for online wildlife crime, and strengthening global conservation efforts.

The report also introduces an interactive online dashboard, allowing users to explore the data compiled through this research.