Illegal Trade in Wildlife is one of many threats to species, which include habitat loss due to land transformation for agriculture and development, human-wildlife conflict caused by animals and humans being pushed closer together as wild ranges disappear, climate change and overconsumption or unsustainable use.
At the heart of illegal trade is the unsustainable demand for wildlife and wildlife products, which in turn motivates both opportunistic poaching and harvesting and organized crime. These species and many others need your help.
Large, swift and gentle, the snow leopard is a member of the big cat family found high in the Central and South Asian mountains.
The mako is the fastest shark reaching up to 74 kilometers per hour and landing the name “peregrine falcon of the sea.”
Penguins are birds that cannot fly but they can reach up to 15 miles per hour underwater. They have flippers for wings and are excellent divers.
Thresher sharks are easily recognizable by their “weaponised” caudal fin, which can be as long as their body, up to 20 feet (6 meters).
Corals form remarkably diverse communities called coral reefs, which provide the reef complexity and habitat for many fish species, and thus help productivity of reef ecosystems.
Sperm whales are easily recognized: they have massive heads and prominent rounded foreheads. Their heads hold large quantities of a substance called spermaceti, which gives them their name.
The giant manta ray has the largest brain of all the world’s fish, but they filter-feed on some of smallest organisms in the oceans.
Seahorses are fish. They live in water, breath through gills and have a swim bladder. In contrast to most other fish, seahorses are monogamous and some species mate for life.
Dugongs are more closely related to elephants than to whales and dolphins. They have long been associated with myths, and early sightings have led to legends of mermaids and sirens.
Polar bears are charismatic marine mammals and the world’s largest species of bear – they weigh up to 1,300 pounds and can be up to 9 feet long.
Sea turtles are slow on land but quick and agile in the water. This animal strikes a balance between embarking on adventures and maintaining a comfortable pace.
Clever, sensible and built for camouflage, the sawfish, also known as a carpenter shark, is actually part of the ray family.
Incomparably powerful and confident, the jaguar is the most elusive of the big cats and is difficult to spot in the forest.
Lions are known for being strong, ferocious and commanding. But behind the fierce façade, these big cats are social animals that live in tight units called prides where sisters look after, and will even nurse, one another’s cubs.
Tigers are self sufficient, courageous predators that know what they want and know how to get it. This makes them quite formidable in competition.
Rhinos prefer to roam the world on their own and jump from even-tempered to volatile. They're also stubborn to a fault.
The elusive, shy and tiny Vaquita is a rare species of porpoise endemic (meaning that it exists no where else on planet earth) to the northern part of the Gulf of California (Sea of Cortez).
Sun bears depend heavily on forests, and deforestation in Southeast Asia is quickly destroying their habitat.
As an adaptation, they are kept insulated in the harsh conditions of the Tibetan plateau by a warm wool coat.
The striking blue Hyacinth Macaw are known for being vibrant, lively, and incredibly social within their flocks.
Elephants are intelligent, emotional creatures. Herd leaders are often chosen not for their dominance but rather for their intelligence and problem solving skills.
Helmeted hornbills are known for their loyalty. They choose one mate for life and are fiercely protective of their family and homes.
Orangutans are called the ‘people of the forest’. They love their alone time, and are known to forge strong bonds of friendship.