Illegal trade in wild animal parts, an occasional derivative of the illegal pet trade, is also a conservation issue.
Like the illegal pet trade, illegal trade in wildlife parts is damaging to wild animals. Much of this industry is fueled by the traditional Asian medicine and food market; demand for tiger bones, shark fins, and bear bile causes the depletion of wild populations of these species. Animal parts are also used for cosmetic purposes: animal skins used in rugs or clothing, jewelry made from the shells of sea turtles, and decorative products made of elephant ivory or rhinoceros horns are a few examples. Generally, trade in animal parts is considered to be illegal if the species in question is endangered.
International agreements, including CITES (Convention on International Trade of Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora), provide legal barriers to the trade of live animals and their parts between countries, but the illegal industry still exists, and is a large problem. TRAFFIC, a joint program of the World Wildlife Fund and the World Conservation Union (IUCN), monitors the wildlife trade and is a valuable source of information on this topic.
You Can Help
You may not be intentionally supporting the trade in wildlife parts, but use caution the next time you take a trip. International travelers are often targeted by souvenir peddlers looking to make easy money. Be sure to ask where any souvenir item came from, and don't purchase anything made with animal parts. If you're suspicious, don’t take a chance! You could face fines or jail time upon your return to the United States, depending on what you’ve bought! Go to
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