Asia
Wild life trade is the second largest form of black market commerce, and there are some places where wildlife trade is particularly threatening, called "wildlife trade hotspots". Some of these hotspots are located in Asian countries such as China and Southeast Asia. Also, wild life is taken from Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos and Indonesia to China, known as the largest source of demand, where these animals are used for food, decoration and medical purposes.
These awful businesses always have consequences and benefits to the people that work on it. In Southeast Asia this is a major development problem that brings consequences such as draining forests of biodiversity, increasing inequality, exacerbating the problems of trafficking, and making good governance more difficult. In addition, this industry is specially killing endangered species that are vital for the development of habitats, and in exchange of that they get as a benefit from $8 to $10 billion dollars per year.
The top animals of illegal trafficking are caviar, rhino, exotic birds, tiger, elephant and reptiles. Also this business is constantly growing because of benefactors such as village hunters, wildlife experts, criminal business men, corrupt government officials or consumers willing to pay for the contraband.
“In Asia, where analysts claim that a substantial portion — possibly the largest in the world — of the global trade of illegal wildlife takes place, demand is driven by the need for specific animal parts to practice traditional Asian medicine, for human consumption, and as symbols of wealth. Demand for illegal wildlife is reportedly increasing in Southeast Asia due in part to the region’s economic boom and resulting affluence.”
Numerous factors explain the persistence of the international black market in wildlife. Observers suggest that one such factor is the high profits associated with wildlife trafficking. Driven by a demand of wildlife products that exceeds what the market can legally supply, the value of illegal wildlife products continues increasing, as consumers are willing to pay greater amounts.
These awful businesses always have consequences and benefits to the people that work on it. In Southeast Asia this is a major development problem that brings consequences such as draining forests of biodiversity, increasing inequality, exacerbating the problems of trafficking, and making good governance more difficult. In addition, this industry is specially killing endangered species that are vital for the development of habitats, and in exchange of that they get as a benefit from $8 to $10 billion dollars per year.
The top animals of illegal trafficking are caviar, rhino, exotic birds, tiger, elephant and reptiles. Also this business is constantly growing because of benefactors such as village hunters, wildlife experts, criminal business men, corrupt government officials or consumers willing to pay for the contraband.
“In Asia, where analysts claim that a substantial portion — possibly the largest in the world — of the global trade of illegal wildlife takes place, demand is driven by the need for specific animal parts to practice traditional Asian medicine, for human consumption, and as symbols of wealth. Demand for illegal wildlife is reportedly increasing in Southeast Asia due in part to the region’s economic boom and resulting affluence.”
Numerous factors explain the persistence of the international black market in wildlife. Observers suggest that one such factor is the high profits associated with wildlife trafficking. Driven by a demand of wildlife products that exceeds what the market can legally supply, the value of illegal wildlife products continues increasing, as consumers are willing to pay greater amounts.
In the next chart are showed the prices that make this business the most wanted:
![Picture](/uploads/5/0/1/7/5017871/2655737.png?400)
Consequently this hotspot has been the principal producer of endangered species extinction, motivated by the high demand of China, principally produced by the request of special parts of the animal’s bodies for medical purposes.
Bibliography
www.traffic.org/cites-cop-papers/traffic_pub_cop13_14.pdf
http://muse.jhu.edu/login?uri=/journals/sais_review/v026/26.1deeks.pdf
http://www.traffic.org/trade/
http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/119034994/abstract?CRETRY=1&SRETRY=0
http://fpc.state.gov/documents/organization/110404.pdf
http://hubpages.com/hub/List-of-Top-10-Endangered-Species-in-Asia
http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2010/01/asian-wildlife/christy-texthttp://ligimo.files.wordpress.com/2008/06/group_umwelt.jpg
http://edant.clarin.com/diario/2007/02/08/um/fotos/tigres.jpg
Chart of the illegaly traded wild life compiled from U.S Government agencies, international organizations, Non Governamental organizations and media Sources.
http://muse.jhu.edu/login?uri=/journals/sais_review/v026/26.1deeks.pdf
http://www.traffic.org/trade/
http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/119034994/abstract?CRETRY=1&SRETRY=0
http://fpc.state.gov/documents/organization/110404.pdf
http://hubpages.com/hub/List-of-Top-10-Endangered-Species-in-Asia
http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2010/01/asian-wildlife/christy-texthttp://ligimo.files.wordpress.com/2008/06/group_umwelt.jpg
http://edant.clarin.com/diario/2007/02/08/um/fotos/tigres.jpg
Chart of the illegaly traded wild life compiled from U.S Government agencies, international organizations, Non Governamental organizations and media Sources.
Catalina Mejia, Manuela Zuluaga, Cynthia Daniela 12°.
Editors: Maria Andrea Ramirez 12.