A Comparative Analysis of Wildlife Trafficking in Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom

Outline

Purpose

Methodology

Findings Australia NZ UK

Discussion

Purpose

This study adopts a comparative approach incorporating illegal trade data obtained from the Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) online trade database.

This will further understanding of the geographic differences, which can then inform efforts to improve policy intervention and prevention strategies.

Methodology

CITES-listed species

Incidents not totals (individual specimens or weight)

Reported to the Secretariat

Methodology

1975-2010

All 178 countries

The source ‘I’ for illegal

Whilst the illegal wildlife was probably confiscated or seized, the CITES data does not give this kind of information

The intention is to gain insight into the species targeted and geographic patterns as well as the type of products that are being smuggled

Findings

Allig

ator

s

Asia

n/Af

rican

Ele

phan

ts

Big

Cats

Croco

dile

s

Gecko

s

Hoodi

a

Mar

ine

Mam

mal

s

Queen

Con

ch

Smal

l Cat

s

Torto

ises

0

20

40

60

Australia Illegal CITES Imports by Species 1988-2010

Genus/Species

Nu

mb

er

of

Incid

en

ts

Findings

Africa

n Bus

h El

epha

nt

Amer

ican

Ginse

ng

Birdwin

g But

terfl

ies

Boa C

onst

ricto

rs

Costu

s

Cycad

Larg

e Po

lyp

Ston

y Cor

al

Mon

itor L

izard

s

Orchi

ds

Parrot

s

Pyth

on

Reef B

uild

ing

Coral

s

Right

Wha

le

Seah

orse

s

Star

Cor

als

Tige

r

Tree

Fer

ns0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

400

Australia Illegal CITES Exports by Species 1982-2010

Genus/Species

Nu

mb

er

of

Incid

en

ts

Findings

Aust

ria

Czech

Rep

ublic

Japa

n

Nethe

rland

s

Norway

Sing

apor

e

Sout

h Af

rica

Switz

erla

nd

Unkno

wn

0

200

400

600

800

Destination of Australian Illegal CITES Exports 1982-2010

Country

Nu

mb

er

of

Incid

en

ts

Findings

China

Hong

Kong

Mal

aysia

New C

aled

onia

Papu

a New

Gui

nea

Sout

h Af

rica

Thai

land UK US

Viet

nam

0

20

40

60

80

Origin of Australian Illegal CITES Imports 1988-2010

Country

Nu

mb

er

of

Incid

en

ts

Findings

Afric

an B

ush

Elep

hant

Bear

s

Boa

Const

ricto

rs

Costu

s

Giant

Cla

m

Mar

ine

Mam

mal

s

Orchi

ds

Queen

Con

ch

Sea

Turtl

esTi

ger

0

400

800

1200

New Zealand Illegal CITES Imports 1989-2010

Genus/Species

Nu

mb

er

of

Incid

en

ts

Findings

Afric

an B

ush

Elep

hant

Boat

Orc

hids

Cactu

s

Croco

dile

s

Mar

ine

Mam

mal

s

New Z

eala

nd T

ree

Fern

Orchi

ds

Sea

Turtl

es

Sper

m W

hale

Ston

y Cor

al

Tree

Fer

n0

10

20

30

New Zealand Illegal CITES Exports 1983-2010

Genus/Species

Nu

mb

er

of

Incid

en

ts

Findings

Aust

ralia

Aust

ria

China

Germ

any

Indo

nesia

New Z

eala

nd

Norway

Portu

gal

Russia

Sing

apor

e

Solo

mon

Isla

nds

Spai

n

Swed

en UK

Unkno

wn US

0

40

80

120

Destination of New Zealand Illegal CITES Exports 1983-2010

Country

Nu

mb

er

of

Incid

en

ts

Findings

Aust

ralia

China Fi

ji

Hong

Kong

Japa

n

Mal

aysia

Sam

oa

Sout

h Af

rica

Thai

land

Unkno

w

Vanu

atu

Zim

babw

e0

200

400

600

800

1000

Origin of New Zealand Illegal CITES Imports 1989-2010

Country

Nu

mb

er

of

Incid

en

ts

Findings

Afric

an B

ush

Elep

hant

Asia

n/Af

rican

Ele

phan

t

Cobra

s

Croco

dile

s

Leop

ard

Orchi

ds

Pyth

ons

Ston

y Cor

al

Torto

ises

0

100

200

300

UK Illegal CITES Imports by Species 1980-2010

Genus/Species

Nu

mb

er

of

Incid

en

ts

Findings

Africa

n Bus

h El

epha

nt

Asian

Elep

hant

Bear

Caim

an

Corco

dile

s

Dabbl

ing

Ducks

Giant

Cla

m

Hoodi

a

Mar

ine

Mam

mal

s

Orchi

ds

Pyth

on

Sea

Turtl

es

Snow

drop

s

Ston

y Cor

al

Tegu

s Liza

rds

Tige

r

Wal

rus

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

160

UK Illegal CITES Exports 1982-2010

Genus/Species

Nu

mb

er

of

Incid

en

ts

Findings

Angu

illa

Bahr

ain

Canad

a

China

Czech

Rep

ublic

Isra

el

Japa

n

Kuwai

t

Mon

tser

rat

New Z

eala

nd

Pola

nd

Sout

h Af

rica

Thai

land UK

020406080

100120140

Destination of UK Illegal CITES Exports 1982-2010

Country

Nu

mb

er

of

Incid

en

ts

Findings

Austra

lia

Brazil

China

Fran

ce

Guyan

aIn

dia

Keny

a

Mal

aysia

Niger

ia

Russia

Sout

h Afri

ca

Tanz

ania

UAE

Unkno

wn

Zimba

bwe

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

Origin of UK Illegal CITES Imports 1980-2010

Country

Nu

mb

er

of

Incid

en

ts

Findings

Australia New Zealand UK0

2000

4000

6000

8000

10000

Illegal CITES Imports and Exports 1980-2010

ImportsExports

Country

Nu

mb

er

of

Incid

en

ts

Discussion

Not possible to determine if the trends witnessed are due to increased or decreased enforcements efforts, an increase or decrease in illegal activity or some combination

It does highlight the following:

Discussion

Australia Essentially no export of live wildlife CITES permits for imports too Harsh penalties

NZ Controlled imports and exports Relatively harsh penalties

UK Controlled imports and exports Moderate penalties

Further Studies

NZ has the highest imports Because WEG detects more or if more is occurring?

Australia’s success

Convictions and the use of the range of penalties

Trade of marine species and corals

‘Unknown’ importer and exporter

Overseas territories as a means of laundering or smuggling