Wildlife trafficking remains one of the greatest threats to the survival of various species and the balance of the ecosystems in which they operate. Currently, this practice is considered the third largest illegal activity in the world (behind the trafficking of arms and drugs alone), displacing more than $1 billion each year.
In Brazil, although it has been banned since the 1960s by the Wildlife Protection Act 5197, wildlife hunting is still responsible for eliminating more than 38 million native species from their natural habitats each year. And the worst thing is that out of every 10 Brazilian wild animals caught to offer them alive on the illegal market, only one can survive in captivity.
- This new article by Animal Expert aims to help raise awareness about the terrible impacts of this illegal activity in Brazil and around the world.
- And for starters.
- There’s nothing better than understanding what wild animals are and why they are so important to ecosystem balance.
- Read on to learn more!.
The concept of wild animals encompasses all species of the animal kingdom that are born and develop their life cycle in natural ecosystems, such as jungles or oceans, for example. These animals are the indigenous fauna of a country or region, performing certain functions within the food chain and its ecosystem to ensure the balance between species of all the kingdoms that inhabit it, preventing the appearance of pests, superpopulations and other environmental imbalances.
Wild animals can be classified into native or exotic, always taking as reference the native fauna of a certain country or region. When an animal is part of the native wildlife of a place, it is considered native. However, when its natural habitat is not found in native ecosystems of the same place, the species is called exotic. If we look at Brazilian wildlife, the mane wolf and the jaguar would be some examples of wild animals native to Brazil, while a lion or a grizzly bear could be mentioned as exotic wild animals, because their natural habitat is not found in any of the Brazilians. Ecosystems.
Unlike wild animals, domestic animals are those that are used to living with humans and whose life cycle develops adequately outside natural ecosystems, in places that have been modified by human intervention. In addition, these species have developed a relationship of dependence and mutual contribution with humans. While they depend on the human being for certain basic needs (such as food, heating and housing), their creation also offers benefits to humans (business, food, transportation, etc.).
However, not all species that live in captivity or are used to being close to humans can be considered domestic animals. To give just one example: think of wild animals that are saved from illegal captivity and, for some reason, can no longer return to nature. This does not mean that this species has ceased to be wild and has become domestic, but that some individuals have been prevented from living in their natural habitat and must remain in controlled environments to survive.
In this sense, it is essential to understand that the domestication process goes beyond an occasional or intentional change in the habitat of an animal. The animals that are now domesticated have undergone a long and complex transformation, which includes not only the environment around them, but also their habits, their behavior and even the genetic structure and morphology that characterize their species.
These changes, in part, occur naturally because of the need to adapt to a new environment and lifestyle, but they are also often motivated or even induced by the human beings the same, in order to obtain benefits derived from physical, sensory and cognitive characteristics. of different animals.
If we think of dogs, for example, it is not difficult to see that differences with wolves or wild dogs (such as dingo, for example), go beyond the habitat in which each species develops its life cycle. Although these species are genetically related, we notice clear differences in the appearance, behavior and functioning of each organism. It is also perceived that the human being has carried out a series of interventions in the development and reproduction of dogs to highlight certain desirable characteristics, such as hunting and protection instincts, giving rise to different breeds of dogs with particular aesthetic and behavioral features.
Something similar has happened with other pets, such as horses, cows and oxen, pigs, cats, etc. And it is worth remembering that not all pets are necessarily pets, that is, they are not always created for the purpose of company and protect humans. Beings. For many years, the food industry, fashion, agriculture, livestock and many other economic activities have depended directly and indirectly on the rearing of domestic animals. Not to mention sporting and entertainment events that use animals, such as horse riding or dog beauty contests, for example.
It would be impossible to provide a complete list of wild animals in a single article, as there must still be many unknown species, whose existence has not been officially recorded by science. On the other hand, there are also several endangered wild animals, whose existence can no longer be observed in their natural habitat.
Just to give you an idea, Brazilian wildlife includes about 10 to 15% of the world’s existing biodiversity. In the vast territory of Brazil, it is estimated that more than 11,000 species of mammals, birds, reptiles and fish live, and about 30 million species of insects. Imagine, then, how many wild animals inhabit the world, in different ecosystems and climates …
These are some of the most endangered wildlife species, which could literally disappear in the coming years:
Examples of endangered Brazilian wild animals
The term “trafficking” is used to describe illegal business activities. In the case of wildlife trafficking, we are talking about the illegal purchase and sale of various species that are cruelly hunted and taken out of their natural habitat to be offered alive as exotic or slaughtered animals for the production of collectibles and products of high commercial value (clothing, shoes, carpets, ornaments, objects, etc.).
Wildlife trafficking has devastated native wildlife not only in Brazil, but around the world. According to the? Planet Alive? 2016 (The Living Planet Report 2016), which is organized every two years by the Zoological Society of London (ZSL) in partnership with the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), the biodiversity of our planet has decreased by almost 58% since the 1970s.
Unfortunately, wildlife trafficking in Brazil is one of the most alarming cases, with an estimated 70% of internationally trafficked species coming from Brazilian ecosystems, mainly from the North, Northeast and Midwest regions. Today, more than 38 million Brazilian wild animals are illegally hunted each year. For this reason, traffic and habitat loss are considered the main threats to the survival of Brazilian wildlife today.
“On the other side of the coin” are countries that import wildlife, i.e. those that buy animals or products derived from them, which are illegally offered by trafficking. According to the National Wildlife Trafficking Report, conducted by the National Wildlife Trafficking Network (RENCTAS), do some of the countries that consume the most? this illicit activity are: United States, Germany, Holland, Belgium, France, England, Switzerland, among others.
Before proceeding, we must make a brief observation: not all captive-bred exotic species participate in the illegal market. In several countries, the creation of certain wild animals in captivity for marketing purposes is permitted and regulated by law. However, establishments engaged in this activity must be registered and enabled for its operation, in addition to complying with a number of legal requirements and hygiene and safety standards.
In these cases, the commercial transaction must be carried out in a completely transparent manner and the buyer receives an invoice with all the details of the establishment and the animal purchased to certify its legal origin. In addition, these animals must be delivered to the new owner with a definitive identification, which usually consists of a microchip implanted under the skin.
With everything we’ve seen so far, you’ve probably understood that wild animals perform specific functions in their natural habitat, allowing the different ecosystems of our planet to remain in balance. When an animal’s population becomes extinct or drastically decreases, there is an environmental imbalance that harms all other species and natural resources in that environment, also affecting humans (directly or indirectly).
In addition to the impacts of environmental imbalances, wild animal hunting can also have a negative impact on productive activities and human health. The eradication of some animals (or their drastic decline) tends to promote the proliferation of other species, which can eventually become harmful pests for livestock and/or transmit diseases to humans and other animals.
This is an easy-to-understand logical question: when we eliminate the predator, we allow several dams to multiply uncontrollably, generating overpopulation. When we remove birds and amphibians, for example, we open the door to thousands of species of insects to reproduce freely, without the natural control of a predator. These insects will quickly migrate to productive fields and cities in search of food, which can damage the harvest and be a vector of many diseases, such as dengue.
On the other hand, the introduction of exotic species into the territory of a country can also threaten the balance of native wildlife, especially when the animal? controlled captivity and can breed in native ecosystems, competing with native species by territory and food. In addition, these animals can be carriers of zoonoses (pathologies that can be transmitted between humans and other species), thus becoming a public and environmental health problem.
It is therefore essential not only that there are laws prohibiting illegal hunting and trafficking in wild animals, but also that public policies to raise awareness of the dangers of this illicit activity and campaigns to encourage trafficking complaints are promoted. These initiatives should be combined with more effective enforcement strategies to ensure law enforcement and tougher sanctions for those who commit this crime and endanger the environment and well-being of countless species, including humans.
In addition, each of us can work together to eradicate wildlife trafficking. As? First, do not ignore its existence and inform the relevant authorities. Second, never buy exotic animals on the Internet, private sellers or establishments that do not have a valid operating license. And finally, with the awareness that there are many animals waiting for the opportunity to have a family and a home full of love. So instead of spending too much and risk funding illegal activities, encourage yourself to seek animal shelter and adopt a best friend!
If you would like to read articles similar to What Wild Animals Are, we recommend that you visit our What You Need to Know section.