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International Trade in Animals and Animal Parts

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The Palgrave International Handbook of Animal Abuse Studies

Abstract

This chapter explores the abuse inflicted upon wildlife smuggled to fill the demand for the illegal wildlife trade (IWT), and the abuse that is inherent in the legal wildlife trade. It begins with an overview of the extent of both trades, focusing on the key regions of the world where these occur. The next section identifies the routine abuse, suffering and death experienced by animal victims within these trades. The authors argue that being captured, smuggled, possibly dying, or living a life in pain and/or confinement are all forms of animal abuse. Consequently, there is not a single case of wildlife trade where an animal does not suffer in some fashion. The chapter then explores the motivations for engaging in the wildlife trade, using two criminological theories to help explain offender’s behaviour in the illegal trade. This is followed by an evaluation of current responses to illegal wildlife trade, with a particular focus on the official UK response. The current response is limited, partly due to existing loopholes in regulations and limitations in the political, enforcement and judicial responses but also, and perhaps more importantly, by our inability to reduce demand and prevent the killing/capture in the first place.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    The EFFACE project contained four case study locations—UK, Norway, Brazil, Columbia—where qualitative data was collected by means of 28 semi-structured expert interviews (UK: 11, Norway: 12 and five offenders) and five observations (UK: 4, Norway 1) and documentary analysis on 46 customs confiscation reports. Professor Ragnhild Sollund, co-researcher on the EFFACE project, compiled the data from Norway and South America.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centre for Criminology, University of South Wales, Pontypridd, United Kingdom

    Jennifer Maher

  2. Northumbria University, Newcastle, United Kingdom

    Tanya Wyatt

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  1. Jennifer Maher
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  2. Tanya Wyatt
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Correspondence to Jennifer Maher .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Centre for Criminology, University of South Wales , Pontypridd, United Kingdom

    Jennifer Maher

  2. Centre for Criminology, University of South Wales , Pontypridd, United Kingdom

    Harriet Pierpoint

  3. Criminology Department, University of Southern Maine, Portland, Maine, USA

    Piers Beirne

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Maher, J., Wyatt, T. (2017). International Trade in Animals and Animal Parts. In: Maher, J., Pierpoint, H., Beirne, P. (eds) The Palgrave International Handbook of Animal Abuse Studies. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-137-43183-7_11

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-137-43183-7_11

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