Wildlife crime profound threat to nations, says report
A tiger cub rescued from smugglers in Thailand en route to China
The global illegal trade in wildlife
is worth $19bn (£12bn) a year and is threatening the stability of some
governments according to new research.
Carried out for conservation group WWF, a report highlights a "new wave" of
organised wildlife crime by armed groups operating across borders.
It says funds from trafficking are being used to finance civil conflicts.
The study comes as Malaysian officials captured about 20 tonnes of ivory in one of the
biggest seizures ever made.
“The bloody ivory trade has reached new heights of destruction and depravity in 2012”
Will Travers Born Free Foundation
According to Jim Leape, WWF International director
general, the report underlines the fact that wildlife crime has escalated
drastically over the past decade and now posed a greater threat than
ever.
Armed by ivory
A tiger testicle, described by
the WWF as of dubious authenticity, on sale in Bangkok
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