Latin America is home to incredible biodiversity, yet the region is experiencing more rapid species decline than anywhere else on Earth. While illegal exploitation is a major driver of this decline, the issue has been historically underprioritized in Latin America compared to other regions. This study, conducted by the International Fund for Animal Welfare, sought to fill the knowledge gap by analyzing wildlife crime in 18 Spanish-speaking countries across the Americas. The report identifies trafficking hotspots, routes, methods, trends, and the species most at risk.

To conduct their analysis, the authors gathered data from open-source media reports on wildlife seizures and poaching incidents between January 2017 and December 2022. They also considered information from non-governmental organization reports and academic papers to provide more context. The authors caution that seizure data represents only a fraction of the actual volume of illegal trade, and not all incidents are reported to the media. Therefore, these findings should be considered an initial look into a much larger problem.

Key Findings

Over the six-year study period, the authors identified 1,945 seizures and poaching incidents involving a minimum of 102,577 individual animals.

The number of reported incidents increased significantly between 2017 and 2022. Mexico accounted for the highest number of incidents (28%) and individual animals (45%) by a wide margin. Colombia, Argentina, Peru, and Bolivia also reported high numbers of incidents and animals harmed. The authors note that this could reflect considerable levels of both law enforcement effort and wildlife crime.

While incidents occurred in physical locations such as street markets and pet shops, illegal online wildlife trade has reportedly grown exponentially in the region. However, traffickers appear to operate with near impunity, as most countries reported few, if any, seizures of animals who were sold online.

Hundreds Of Species Are Affected

The authors recorded at least 690 different species, including 328 bird, 174 mammal, 165 reptile, and 23 amphibian species.

Reptiles made up 59% of the animals involved, a figure skewed by two large seizures of mud and musk turtles in Mexico totaling over 29,000 individuals. Birds were the most frequently seized species group in most countries, including Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Paraguay, Uruguay, and Venezuela. Reptiles were the most seized in Colombia, Ecuador, Mexico, and Nicaragua. Amphibians were the most seized in Panama and Peru.

The illegal trade is pushing some species toward extinction. Of the 690 species identified, 40 are classified as endangered and 13 as critically endangered, meaning they face a high or extremely high risk of extinction in the wild. More than half (53%) of the species identified are protected only by domestic laws, not the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). This is disproportionately true for songbirds.

Live Animals Are Preferred

The vast majority (92.5%) of incidents concerned live animals. This trade is primarily driven by the demand for wild animals as pets, a practice known as “mascotismo” that’s deeply rooted in many Hispanic American cultures. However, the authors also emphasize that media reports are likely biased toward live animals as they’re easier for law enforcement to detect. Thus, an unknown number of animal parts and products are being missed, contributing to an underestimate of the scale of wildlife crime in the region.

The illegal wildlife trade is associated with immense animal suffering and high death rates. For example, officials in Argentina estimated that between 40 and 70% of songbirds captured for the trade die before reaching the point of sale. Animals are smuggled over long distances in cramped, dire conditions, often without food, water, or even oxygen. Passenger buses are an especially popular transport method in Hispanic America, where animals may be stashed away in the luggage hold in suitcases or cardboard boxes.

Enforcement Efforts Are Variable

Overall, the report finds that law enforcement efforts are primarily reactive and that wildlife crime remains a high-profit activity with a relatively low risk of consequences. On average, less than a third (27%) of incidents resulted in arrest, though this varied by country. Arrest rates were as low as 7% in Peru and as high as 51% in Guatemala. However, the authors note that arrest rates aren’t reflective of the effectiveness of criminal justice responses to wildlife crime in the region, as there’s no indication of whether the cases were actually prosecuted.

Opportunities For Action

The report demonstrates that wildlife poaching and trafficking are pervasive throughout Hispanic America, causing significant harm to both individual animals and entire species. The findings suggest that the illegal trade is largely sustained by domestic and regional demand for wild animals as pets. This highlights a crucial opportunity for advocates to develop and implement awareness campaigns aimed at reducing consumer demand for “mascotismo.”

Furthermore, the overwhelming number of live animals seized puts a spotlight on the need for adequate rescue, rehabilitation, and long-term care facilities. Advocates can play a role by supporting existing facilities or lobbying governments to ensure proper resources are in place to care for seized animals.

Finally, the fact that more than half of the trafficked species identified in the report aren’t protected by CITES is a major concern. This lack of international protection makes it difficult for authorities in destination countries to prosecute smugglers, as their actions may not be illegal under national laws. Advocates can urge governments to strengthen domestic laws and push for more at-risk species to be granted CITES protection to enable stronger enforcement and international cooperation.

This summary was drafted by a large language model (LLM) and closely edited by our Research Library Manager for clarity and accuracy. As per our AI policy, Faunalytics only uses LLMs to summarize very long reports (50+ pages) that are not appropriate to assign to volunteers, as well as studies that contain graphic descriptions of animal cruelty or animal industries. We remain committed to bringing you reliable data, which is why any AI-generated work will always be reviewed by a human.