ABSTRACT
Statistics on the extent of the traffic in wildlife are, at best, unreliable. An international body, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) monitors the trade, and imposes restraints on the trade in certain animals designated for protection. Currently, trade is officially banned for about 675 species (identified as ‘Appendix I’ species), and regulated for at least 27,000 more (‘Appendix II’ species). CITES figures are the best available, but are known to be underestimates. Although CITES does make estimates of the scope of illegal trade, it is almost impossible to verify these figures; the information presented on this map refers to both legal and illegal trade, although it must be assumed that most illegal trade is not reported. The representation of CITES statistics on this map includes the secondary trade in processed animal products and the re-export traffic-thus some countries are identified as both major exporters and importers of the same animals.
