Chapter 6. The Latest Frontier: Exotic Consumerism: Illegal Trade in Live Animals - UNEP Frontiers 2016 Report: Emerging Issues of Environmental Concern

Great apes and other live animals comprise a highly pro$table and symbolic aspect of the US$23 billion illegal wildlife trade--the fourth most lucrative black market after drugs, people and arms smuggling – and the live trade relies heavily on corrupt o#cials and steely couriers to sustain the tra#c. Commonly known as the “pet trade,” this criminal network is able to supply cheetahs to the United Arab Emirates, bonobos to Armenia, macaws to the Czech Republic, and chimpanzees to China. Although data on the scale and scope of the live illegal wildlife trade is limited, it is clearly big business that attracts drug cartels, arms suppliers, counterfeit organizations, and a host of other illegal networks.