ABSTRACT
Fast-emerging zoonotic diseases which sometimes become a global pandemic not only negatively impact human health and global economy but can also imperil diplomatic relations between countries. Increase in habitat destruction, human encroachment into protected areas, legal wildlife trade and illegal trafficking of wildlife products are documented all over the world and are primary reasons for pathogen spillover to human hosts. Human activities in the wild have not only led to reckless destruction of the world’s biodiversity but have also presented a potential pathway for transboundary disease movement. From avian influenza of birds; hanta and Lassa viruses from rodents; Marburg, SARS-CoV, Nipah and probably Ebola from bats; HIV-1, yellow fever from primates; to Sin Nombre virus from mice deer – the list is ever increasing for recent zoonotic disease spread in human population. Wildlife trade, which is largely fueled by a lucrative market for wildlife products used in food, medicine and decoration, has been proven to have an epidemiologically significant role in disease transmission. The wet markets known for bushmeat trade can easily become an epicenter for various epidemics. Influencing human behavior change to diminish demand for wildlife products and improving regulatory framework are necessary to shrink wildlife trade in order to decrease the risk of future pandemics and outbreaks. This chapter discusses human interference in the wildlife arena and analyzes the existing international legal framework for regulating transboundary wildlife trade.
