The illegal trade

Illegal and unsustainable trade is pushing some species to the edge of extinction, and for many it is the main reason that they are endangered. Like any other, the trade in endangered species works on the basis of supply and demand and very often the consumer demand for endangered species products comes from wealthy countries like the UK. So, as long as consumers here continue to buy, poachers in other countries will kill wildlife and criminals will continue to make money.

Because endangered species are rare, the supply is limited, so they command the highest prices and provide the biggest profits for the criminals, increasing the risk of poaching from the wild and population numbers declining even further. This cycle will continue for as long as consumers continue to buy, but we, in London, can help to stop the trade by simply not buying any products made from endangered species.