Primate Wildlife Trade & Exotic Pet Trade

The illegal wildlife trade is another obstacle we must overcome to prevent the extinction of many of our primate species and other animals in the wild.

It is unfortunately a harsh reality that the only place many of these animals will survive in the not too distant future is in sanctuaries and zoos.

Every year millions of animals are killed for bushmeat, in animal laboratories and through habitat destruction, but many more die as a result of the wildlife trade.

It is estimated almost 30,000 wild caught primates are sold into the international market each with at least 25% of these being illegal.

A report by the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) estimates that the global industry is worth $6 billion per year. Interpol suggests this figure is second only to drugs as a world wide black-market.

Wildlife trade can be divided into two categories -

• The trade in live wildlife for the stocking of private or public game farms and hunting ranches, zoos and safari parks and the exotic pet trade.
  
  
• The trade of wildlife parts and products, including fur, exotic leathers, feathers, ornamental products (ivory, sea turtle shells and snail shells), food (bushmeat, bar paws, fish etc) and parts for traditional medicine (bear gall bladders, deer antlers).

As wildlife trade has become more lucrative, the wildlife rich yet cash poor nations have been unable to control the wildlife trade.
The methods used to capture and kill the animals for wildlife trade are almost always inhumane, especially when done on a large commercial scale. The animals are trapped, snared and sometimes even bludgeoned to death and then the body parts are often removed before the animal is dead.

A large percentage of those captured for live trade experience severe injury and approximately half will die. Those that survive are subjected to psychological and physical trauma and have to adapt to a captive environment, very often being mistreated or living in appalling conditions.

Baby primates are popular and poachers willingly kill the mother to get to her young. Baby primates are cute, adult primates can have the strength to kill a man. It is estimated 10 chimpanzees die for each baby that is captured successfully and smuggled out of the country.

Unless the demand is eliminated, the trade in primates will continue to flourish, bringing ever closer the day of extinction. The IUCN/CSS's 2006 Top 25 Most Endangered Primates lists which primates are considered critically endangered around the world.

(Source livescience.com)

What You Can Do

Sign the Global People's Pledge For Wildlife Petition
Make a personal pledging to never knowingly purchase or consume endangered species products. ACAP and WildAid are working with governments, media, celebrities, non-profits, communities, and corporate leaders of the world to create a comprehensive and coordinated effort to stop the illegal wildlife trade for good, and to educate and engage consumers (who drives the demand and therefore the illegal trade). They are seeking 25 million signatures worldwide by 2008 to urge our leaders to work together to preserve our world's wildlife and habitats.

We must fight against the spirit of unconscious cruelty with which we treat the animals.
Animals suffer as much as we do.
True humanity does not allow us to impose such sufferings on them.
It is our duty to make the whole world recognize it.
Until we extend our circle of compassion to all living things, humanity will not find peace.
~Albert Schweitzer, The Philosophy of Civilization~

Save The Primates is dedicated to supporting quality of life for chimps, apes, gorillas and other primates.
We are currently supporting The Chimfunshi Wildlife Sanctuary Project
Help Us help the chimps...