A new report has revealed a concerning rise in wildlife poaching and trafficking across 18 Hispanic American countries, posing a significant threat to the region’s biodiversity. The study, titled Wildlife Crime in Hispanic America: An Analysis of Seizures and Poaching Incidents (2017-2022), commissioned by the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW), documents nearly 2,000 poaching incidents involving over 100,000 animals.

Between 2017 and 2022, the region saw a marked increase in wildlife crime. The number of reported incidents grew from 257 cases in 2017 to 431 cases in 2022, highlighting an alarming upward trend. The report covers 18 countries, including Mexico, Colombia, Argentina, Peru, and Bolivia, which reported the highest rates of poaching and trafficking. Mexico alone accounted for 27.9% of all incidents, with 45% of the total animals seized or poached.

The report details 1,945 incidents of wildlife trafficking and poaching, involving over 690 different species. These include endangered animals such as jaguars, pumas, and monkeys, as well as reptiles like freshwater turtles, caimans, and poison dart frogs. Surprisingly, 92.5% of the seized animals were live creatures, primarily destined for the pet trade, which has surged in popularity, notably through social media platforms. Reptiles were the most commonly trafficked, accounting for 59% of the seizures, followed by birds (27.5%), amphibians (9.5%), and mammals (4%).

Wildlife crime in Hispanic America is viewed as a lucrative, low-risk activity. Law enforcement efforts, often reactive rather than proactive, are seen as insufficient in curbing the growing issue. The region’s weaker wildlife protection laws, combined with limited enforcement capacity, have allowed organized crime syndicates—many already involved in drug trafficking, human trafficking, and arms smuggling—to diversify into the illicit wildlife trade. Mexican criminal groups, for example, are reportedly exchanging wildlife products with Chinese traders in return for fentanyl and methamphetamine, which are then smuggled overseas.

The report also highlights cross-border trafficking, with wildlife being smuggled through countries with less stringent laws. European traffickers, in particular, are reportedly targeting non-CITES-listed species due to weak penalties for smuggling such animals within the EU. While most of the trafficked wildlife remains within regional markets, 2.6% of seizures were found to be destined for markets in the United States, Europe, and Asia, where rare and endangered species are in high demand.

The consequences of this escalating illegal wildlife trade are dire. Many of the trafficked species are listed as Endangered or Critically Endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), and their populations face an extremely high risk of extinction. Furthermore, the exploitation of these animals increases the potential for zoonotic diseases—such as COVID-19 and Ebola—to spill over from animals to humans, posing a global health threat.

Polen Cisneros, IFAW’s Wildlife Crime Program Manager, called for urgent action to address both domestic and international drivers of wildlife crime. “This study paints an alarming picture for wildlife in the region,” Cisneros said. “The illegal exploitation of these wild animals is rampant, and immediate, coordinated efforts are needed to protect the region’s biodiversity.”

In response, IFAW has recommended intensified efforts to combat wildlife poaching and trafficking, including recognizing these activities as serious crimes and addressing the role of online platforms in facilitating illegal wildlife trade. The organization also advocates for more effective sanctions and penalties, in line with the Lima Declaration on Illegal Wildlife Trade, to deter criminals and reduce wildlife exploitation across the region.