Serious wildlife crime is organised and transnational, is fuelled by corruption, and has a devastating impact on wildlife, local communities, national economies, security, public health and entire ecosystems. The source of the coronavirus pandemic appears to be wild animals sold in a market, potentially originating in a bat and transmitting to humans via a pangolin.
Despite the severe impacts of such crimes, existing wildlife trade bans (both international and national) are not adequately enforced and we do not have a global agreement on wildlife crime.
Transformative changes are needed to enhance wildlife laws and their enforcement and ultimately to End Wildlife Crime.