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The Exploitation of Mammal Populations pp 266–291Cite as

Wildlife trade — a conserver or exploiter?

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Synopsis

A number of factors affect the potential sustainability of the international trade in mammal species. This chapter proposes and examines six major factors: the numbers of the target species being traded; the breeding potential of the species; trade demands related to the sex and size of the individual animal; the economic aspects of the trade; the source and nature of demand; and the socio-cultural aspects of the end market. Case studies of species listed in the Appendices of CITES (Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) are used to examine the effect of these factors on the trade’s sustainability, and broad effects of the trade on these species are extrapolated. The applicability of published guidelines and standards proposed to gauge sustainability of trade in mammal species are assessed, by applying them to the case studies and other species which have been impacted by trade. The potential benefits and detrimental effects of trade in mammal species are discussed and compared with the non-consumptive use of mammals for conservation, such as ecotourism. Tentative conclusions based on the case studies examined are drawn on the historic and potential role of wildlife trade in the conservation and exploitation of endangered and threatened mammal species. It is concluded that only small-scale international trade in valuable threatened wild mammals has any potential to be sustainable in the long term. Concomitantly this would have the most potential for maintaining good enforcement procedures and the implementation of high animal welfare standards.

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Authors
  1. David Bowles
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Universities Federation for Animal Welfare, 8 Hamilton Close South Mimms, Potters Bar Herts, EN6 3QD, UK

    Victoria J. Taylor (Development Officer) (Development Officer)

  2. Department of Biological Sciences, University of Durham, South Road, Durham City, DH1 3LE, UK

    Nigel Dunstone

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© 1996 Chapman & Hall

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Bowles, D. (1996). Wildlife trade — a conserver or exploiter?. In: Taylor, V.J., Dunstone, N. (eds) The Exploitation of Mammal Populations. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-1525-1_15

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-1525-1_15

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht

  • Print ISBN: 978-94-010-7182-6

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