Illegal Trade in Wildlife and Wildlife Products

by Renee Schaible Lewis

In an attempt to regulate international commerce in animal and plant species, in 1973, the United States and 84 other countries (participants currently number over 120) entered into the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, commonly known as CITES. Species are listed in one of three appendices - Appendix I contains flora and fauna that are in danger of extinction and which are, or may be, affected by international trade. Commercial trade of Appendix I species is generally not allowed and various criteria must be met before permits are issued for non-commercial trade. Commercial trade, if accompanied by the proper permits, is allowed for species listed on Appendix II - those which are threatened, but not currently endangered. Appendix III allows a country to specially designate native species for protection in accord with the rules established for Appendix II. [1]

Despite its good intentions, difficulty in the enforcement of its provisions has undermined CITES. Each member nation is responsible for its implementation, yet, few countries have taken any active measures towards enforcement. Although the United States has enacted extensive wildlife trade laws, it does not have adequate resources to police imports and exports. Miami, a major port of entry, has only five inspectors and examines a mere 3% of wildlife shipments.[2]

It is estimated that $300 million worth of illegal wildlife imports enters the United States each year, comprising a vast range of plants and animals, as well as products which contain endangered species as part of their ingredients.[1] Approximately 80 endangered, threatened, or protected animal and plant taxa have been found in Oriental medicines available in the United States.[3] Enforcement is even more difficult in Asian countries, such as Japan, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Singapore, which are the largest consumers of products made from illegally traded rhinoceros and tiger parts.

A tenet of traditional Oriental medicine is the belief that attributes of an animal can be gained by consuming preparations containing its body parts - tiger bone pills are prescribed for rheumatism; rhino horn and tiger penis are believed to increase virility. Cultural difficulties in eliminating trade in Oriental medicines containing endangered species were addressed at CITES' November 1994 biennial meeting. Qing Jian Hua, deputy director of China's Ministry of Forests, acknowledged the importance of preserving the tiger but stated that "there are two thousand years of history here. Culture changes slowly. Do you expect us to change overnight?" U. S. Interior Secretary Bruce Babbitt conceded that "fashions change more readily than culture" and that it may be "more difficult for an Asian government to ban the use of tiger bone medicines than it was for the American government to eliminate the market for leopard skin coats."[4]

Researchers are working on synthetic and traditional alternatives for the tiger and rhino body parts used in Oriental medicines and efforts are being made to educate consumers about conservation. However, according to Victoria Chen, a Taiwanese participant in undercover investigations of the tiger bone trade, the biggest obstacle to stopping the trade is "the middlemen making big money."[4] This was evident in a well-organized black bear poaching and smuggling business recently found operating out of Los Angeles. Bear hunts were advertised in Asian newspapers throughout California and Korea, with guides paid $800- $1,000 to find bears for the hunters. The bear gallbladders were then sold in Los Angeles and Korea for as much as $15,000 each. Wildlife officials report that Los Angeles is a major hub for distribution of bear gallbladders to Asian nations.[5]

Other economic factors influencing the trade are impoverished natives who can gain a windfall by poaching and the fact thatpossible extinction has in itself increased demand. Items such as elephant ivory are being stockpiled by unscrupulous persons as an "investment" on the assumption that elephants will become extinct.[6] Drawn by the huge profits, organized crime syndicates, such as the Yakuza in Japan and the South American drug cartels, are becoming increasingly involved in endangered species trafficking.[2] According to Interpol, the international police agency, the illegal wildlife trade is second only to narcotics smuggling, generating 5 billion dollars per year.[7]

Despite this bleak outlook, some positive developments have occurred. The United States has, for the first time, imposed trade sanctions against another country for allowing trade in endangered species. In April 1994, the Pelly Amendment (which subjects any nation diminishing the effectiveness of an international environmental treaty to trade sanctions) was invoked against Taiwan, a major hub of illegal trafficking. All imports of wildlife from Taiwan, valued at $20-25 million, are prohibited until further notice.[8] Congress has recently enacted the Rhinoceros and Tiger Conservation Act of 1994, which authorizes the expenditure of $10,000,000 per year for the next five years for law enforcement and other conservation measures. Also, persistent efforts by the United States and other nations have curtailed many smuggling operations and convicted their perpetrators.[6]

[1] Fitzgerald, Sarah. International Wildlife Trade: Whose Business Is It? Washington D.C.: World Wildlife Fund. 1989.

[2] Lemonick, Michael D. Animal Genocide, Mob Style. Environment Section, Time Magazine, November 14, 1994.

[3] Gaski, A.L. Prescription For Extinction: New Report Documents Endangered Species in Patented Oriental Medicines in Trade. Washington D.C.: World Wildlife Fund, TRAFFIC USA Newsletter, Volume 13, Number 2, August 1994.

[4] Jaffe, Mark and Zaneski, Cyril T. Prescription for Extinction: Booming Economics, Populations Fuel Demand for Animal Medicine. City & Life Section, Calgary Herald, Final Edition, December 3, 1994.

[5] Reed, Holly. Bear Bust in California. TRAFFIC USA Newsletter, Volume 13, Number 2, August 1994.

[6] Reisner, Marc. Game Wars: The Undercover Pursuit of Wildlife Poachers. New York: Penguin Books. 1991.

[7] Anonymous. Better Law Enforcement Still Needed to Crack Down on $5 Billion Illegal Trade in Wildlife. U.S. Newswire, November 18, 1994.

[8] Briscoe, David. U.S. to Taiwan: Spare tiger, rhino. San Francisco Examiner, Section D-12, Home Delivery Edition, April 12, 1994