LONDON, ENGLAND, February 18, 2002: More than a million imported items of endangered wildlife have been seized in Britain in the past five years, the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) revealed today in the first detailed analysis of the confiscated goods. The study shows that even the most commonly recognized endangered species are being smuggled into this country. In a typical week, British customs officers seize items of elephant ivory or skin, and tiger products — mainly used in traditional Chinese medicine — every other day. Also among the 570 items seized each day between 1996 and 2001 are rare orchids, cacti, shells, corals, and leopard and rhino products, as well as 1,000 frogs, 1,000 birds and even a live cheetah. However over the same period, the fines levied were equal to a mere US$0.14 for each item seized. Wildlife crime is estimated by Interpol to be worth more than $8 billion a year and, after drugs, is thought to be the most lucrative illegal trade in the world. The report, Traded Towards Extinction, says the trade is helping to destroy habitats and wipe out some of the world’s most endangered species — but not enough customs officers are available to stop it. Once the smugglers get past customs, it is not even an crime to sell some of the world’s most endangered species under current legislation. On average, the report says, only one prosecution is undertaken for every 130,000 items seized.
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