Transcript A Comparative Analysis of Wildlife Trafficking in

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
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
Genus/Species
Tortoises
Snakes
Small Cats
Seahorses
Queen Conch
Orchids
Marine…
Lady Slipper…
Hoodia
Giant Clams
Geckos
Deer
Crocodiles
Costus
Big Cats
Bears
Asian/Africa…
Asian Ginseng
Alligators
Number of Incidents
Findings
Australia Illegal CITES Imports by Species
1988-2010
Findings
Australia Illegal CITES Exports by Species 1982-2010
400
Number of Incidents
350
300
250
200
150
100
50
0
Genus/Species
Country
US
Unknown
UK
Switzerland
Spain
South Africa
Slovenia
Singapore
Poland
Norway
New Zealand
Netherlands
Malta
Japan
Germany
Czech Republic
Belgium
Austria
Number of Incidents
Findings
Destination of Australian Illegal CITES Exports
1982-2010
800
700
600
500
400
300
200
100
0
90
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
Country
Vietnam
Vanuatu
US
Unknown
UK
UAE
Thailand
Taiwan
South Africa
Singapore
Papua New…
New Zealand
New Caledonia
Mexico
Malaysia
Indonesia
Hong Kong
France
China
Number of Incidents
Findings
Origin of Australian Illegal CITES Imports
1988-2010
Number of Incidents
1400
1200
1000
800
600
400
200
0
African Bush…
American Ginseng
Bears
Black Corals
Boa Constrictors
Cactus
Costus
Crocodiles
Giant Clam
Leopard
Marine Mammals
Musk Deer
Orchids
Primates
Queen Conch
Saiga
Sea Turtles
Stony Corals
Tiger
Tortoise
Findings
New Zealand Illegal CITES Imports 1989-2010
Genus/Species
Findings
Number of Incidents
New Zealand Illegal CITES Exports 1983-2010
30
25
20
15
10
5
0
Genus/Species
Findings
Number of Incidents
Destination of New Zealand Illegal CITES
Exports 1983-2010
140
120
100
80
60
40
20
0
Country
Number of Incidents
1000
900
800
700
600
500
400
300
200
100
0
Australia
Canada
China
Cook Islands
Fiji
French Polynesia
Hong Kong
Indonesia
Japan
Korea
Malaysia
Papua New…
Samoa
Singapore
South Africa
Taiwan
Thailand
Tonga
Unknow
US
Vanuatu
Vietnam
Zimbabwe
Findings
Origin of New Zealand Illegal CITES Imports
1989-2010
Country
Number of Incidents
350
300
250
200
150
100
50
0
Genus/Species
Tortoises
Tiger
Stony Coral
Queen Conch
Pythons
Parrots
Orchids
Monitor Lizards
Leopard
Giant Clam
Crocodiles
Costus
Cobras
Bear
Asian/African…
American Ginseng
African Bush…
Findings
UK Illegal CITES Imports by Species 1980-2010
African Bush Elephant
Alligator
Asian Elephant
Asian/African Elephants
Bear
Cactus
Caiman
Cobra
Corcodiles
Cyclamen
Dabbling Ducks
European Sturgeon
Giant Clam
Hawksbill Sea Turtle
Hoodia
Leopard
Marine Mammals
Monitor Lizards
Orchids
Parrots
Python
Queen Conch
Sea Turtles
Siberian Weasel
Snowdrops
Sperm Whale
Stony Coral
Sturgeon
Tegus Lizards
Tibetan Antelope
Tiger
Tortoises
Walrus
Number of Incidents
Findings
UK Illegal CITES Exports 1982-2010
160
140
120
100
80
60
40
20
0
Genus/Species
Anguilla
Australia
Bahrain
Brazil
Canada
Cayman Islands
China
Croatia
Czech Republic
India
Israel
Italy
Japan
Korea
Kuwait
Malta
Montserrat
Morocco
New Zealand
Norway
Poland
Slovenia
South Africa
Switzerland
Thailand
UAE
UK
US
Number of Incidents
Findings
Destination of UK Illegal CITES Exports 1982-2010
140
120
100
80
60
40
20
0
Country
Country
Zimbabwe
US
Unknown
UK
UAE
Thailand
Tanzania
Switzerland
South Africa
Singapore
Russia
Pakistan
Nigeria
Morocco
Malaysia
Madagascar
Kenya
Indonesia
India
Hong Kong
Guyana
Ghana
France
Egypt
China
Canada
Brazil
Barbados
Australia
Number of Incidents
Findings
Origin of UK Illegal CITES Imports 1980-2010
700
600
500
400
300
200
100
0
Findings
Illegal CITES Imports and Exports 1980-2010
Number of Incidents
10000
8000
6000
Imports
4000
Exports
2000
0
Australia
New Zealand
Country
UK
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