Donate

Fighting the illegal wildlife trade

The illegal wildlife trade is the fourth biggest illegal activity worldwide, behind only arms, drugs and human trafficking, and is often run by the same criminal syndicates. It's worth around $23 billion a year, and leaves a trail of destruction  which is wiping out species and destroying people's lives. 

  • 10
    For every baby chimp that becomes a victim of illegal trade, 10 chimps are killed in the process.
  • 55
    African elephants are poached every day.
  • 1,000,000
    Pangolins poached in the last decade.
  • Ending wildlife crime

    We're working across the world stop the illegal wildlife trade, and by doing so we are helping make an impact for people and wildlife. Through pioneering border detection in epicentre of illegal wildlife networks, establishing anti-poaching patrols and working closely with governments. Together we can make a difference.

    Fighting the illegal wildlife trade

      Black rhino, hooked up lip can be seen which is main difference with white rhino
      Reducing poaching to secure the future of this iconic animal

      Black rhino

      How we are we recovering black rhino populations in Kenya?

      ZSL conservationist looking out with binoculars across Mongolian steppe plains
      Fighting illegal wildlife trade in Mongolia

      Illegal wildlife trade in Mongolia

      We have pioneered infrastructure to prevent the illegal wildlife trade across Mongolia, by establishing a new ecological police department and providing cutting-edge border control training.

      Baby pangolin on grass close-up
      Rescuing wildlife

      Baby pangolin rescued from poachers

      A rescued young Sunda pangolin takes his first tentative steps after being released back into the wild.

      Pangolin standing in a savannah habitat
      Pangolin conservation

      Pangolin conservation

      Pangolins are the most illegally trafficked mammals in the world, and some species are on the brink of extinction.

      White rhino on grassy background
      Do your bit for wildlife

      7 things you can do to help prevent the Illegal Wildlife Trade

      Together we can make real change happen. Even you can help protect pangolins, tigers, sharks and millions of other iconic species from the threat of illegal wildlife trade, in 7 easy ways.

      A circular species of cactus, the Barrel Cactus which is endemic to east-central Mexico. It rare and endangered in the wild.
      Surprising scale of the illegal wildlife trade

      Illegal wildlife trade impacting plants, fungi & insects

      Infamously associated with the killing of some of the most charismatic animals on earth for their horns and tusks, in fact illegal wildlife trade is a much wider problem, affecting all parts of the tree of life.

      ZSL anti-poaching patrol in Dja reserve Cameroon
      Protecting a UNESCO World Heritage Site

      Dja conservation complex

      Empowering local people to protect their home and the wildlife they live alongside.

      A bouy in the ocean with sensors being used to detect illegal fishing vessels
      Detecting illegal fishing vessels

      Detecting Illegal Fishing Vessels

      ZSL and partners used underwater acoustics to detect illegal fishing in Marine Protected Areas (MPAs).

      Taxidermy at ZSL
      Our taxidermy collection

      ZSL Biobank

      We have built an huge collection of frozen, wet, and dry biological specimens, over several decades.

      Kate Humble at the ZSL gala 2018
      Beating illegal wildlife trade

      Raising over £340,000 to tackle illegal wildlife trade

      Raising over £340,000 to tackle illegal wildlife trade at London Zoo, for ZSL's global conservation work.