Value of the Illegal Wildlife Trade

According to a 2012 report by the WWF, the illegal wildlife trade is worth $19 Billion a year.

The WWF previously estimated that animal and wildlife trafficking to be worth between $15 billion and $25 billion a year.

$19 Billion Source:  Matt McGarth, “Wildlife crime profound threat to nations, says report,” BBC News, December 12, 2012.

$20 Billion sources:

Adrian Levy and Cathy Scott-Clark, “Poaching for Bin Laden,” Guardian, May 5, 2007, (accessed: May 7, 2007).

Alan Campana, “Animal Investigators: Solving Wildlife Crimes and Saving Endangered Species,” Wilson Center, May 20, 2009.

In addition, an editorial in Voice of America News, which provides the “views of the US Government,” states that wildlife trafficking is a $20 Billion market.  Voice of America News, “Fighting Wildlife Trafficking,” Editorial, September 15, 2009.