Amalia Klaynika (G8)

Science and Technology

Published Issue 3 2022-2023

Introduction

What do you picture when someone mentions the Amazon rainforest? Lots of people picture the amazing creatures that live there, and for good reason. There is an incredible variety of wildlife here, with a stunning variety of mammals, birds, insects, and amphibians that call the Amazon home. Sadly, these creatures are facing immediate danger, and this incredible habitat is in dire condition every day. Most people think of pollution and deforestation as the main problems, and though this is the case, trade, both legal and illegal, has a very big part in the destruction of the wildlife in the Amazon.

A Criminal Enterprise 

Most people are aware of the deforestation problem, however, the illegal wildlife trade is the 4th most profitable criminal enterprise in the world. People may think that illegal traders are just shady characters that do this as a second hobby, but the biggest traders are actually big criminal organizations. There are laws and regulations in countries where this is a problem, however, this remains an issue because these laws are often not enforced, and the penalties are not very harsh, so it’s fairly low-risk and high-profit. 

How It Works

The animals are transported under terrible conditions- crammed together with no sustenance, hardly breathing. They are transported in all sorts of types of transportation, and they are carried in all sorts of inhumane containers, like plastic bags and water bottles. Traders try very hard to keep the animals concealed, however, they do not care about keeping the animals safe. Sadly, up to 90% of the animals die in the process of being transported. 

Dense forests and rough terrain make prevention hard, and there is an alarming death rate for climate activists- 317 activists from 2012-2020 in Brazil were killed, proving that the illegal traders will go to great lengths to protect their trade. They often use big companies to support their franchises, and there are actually large companies that support these businesses. Some communities in China consider exotic animals as status symbols, and the animals are also used for medicinal purposes. 

Latin America and the Caribbean saw a 94% drop in wildlife over the past 48 years. The illegal wildlife trade is managed by huge criminal organizations, and they use large companies as covers for their shady business.