The Illegally Traded Elephant in the Room: Species Terrorism & Combating Illegal Wildlife Trade

Abstract

The illegal wildlife trade has been a dilemma for decades and remains prevalent globally – international intervention is required now. While most countries participate in the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (“CITES”), not all countries have the same approaches to combating the illegal wildlife trade. Unique approaches can be beneficial because each illegally traded species requires a different response, and countries with limited resources can also participate. However, the lack of a unified response hinders the global fight against the illegal wildlife trade. While traditional methods to combat crime, such as passing laws, are an excellent place to start, they are meaningless without effective enforcement and prosecution. Due to the complexity of the illegal wildlife trade, the lack of understanding severely hinders the ability to effectively combat it. This comment begins with reasons why the illegal wildlife trade is critical to confront. This comment continues with illustrating what CITES is, CITES’s shortcomings, and other international organizations that aid in the fight against illegal wildlife trade. This comment then details the potential approaches to decrease the demand for