Rough trade: animal welfare in the global wildlife trade

Baker, S E and Cain, R and Kesteren, F van and Zommers, Z A and D’Cruze, N and Macdonald, D W

BioScience (2013) 63: 928–938

DOI: 10.1525/bio.2013.63.12.6

Abstract

Wildlife trade is a big and burgeoning business, but its welfare impacts have not been studied comprehensively. We review the animal welfare impacts of the wildlife trade as they were reported in the literature between 2006 and 2011. Rarely was the term welfare mentioned, evidence of welfare impact documented, or welfare improvement recommended. Literature focused on mammals and on animals killed on site, for luxury goods or food, and for traditional medicine. Welfare impacts may be underreported, particularly in international, illegal, and wild-caught trade and trade in reptiles. Greater attention should perhaps be paid to the welfare of animals traded alive and in larger numbers (e.g., birds, reptiles, amphibians) and to those-including mammals-potentially subject to greater impacts through live use (e.g., as pets). More evidence-based research is needed. Animal welfare should be integrated with wider issues; collaboration between conservationists and welfarists and the development of health and welfare levers to influence trade offer benefits to both people and wildlife.

Citation

Baker, S. E., Cain, R., Kesteren, F. van, Zommers, Z. A., D’Cruze, N., & Macdonald, D. W. (2013). Rough trade: animal welfare in the global wildlife trade. BioScience, 63(12), 928–938. https://doi.org/10.1525/bio.2013.63.12.6 [Indexed using CAB Thesaurus terms], animals, Chordata, eukaryotes, mammals, vertebrates, pet animals, pets, Pets and Companion Animals [LL070], literature reviews, Amphibia, animal health, Animal Health and Hygiene (General) [LL800], animal products, animal rights, animal welfare, Animal Welfare [LL810], Biological Resources (Animal) [PP710], birds, international trade, International Trade [EE600], Laws and Regulations [DD500], marketing, Marketing and Distribution [EE700], Natural Resource Economics [EE115], Non-food/Non-feed Animal Products [SS100], regulations, reptiles, rules, trade in animals, wild animals, wild birds, wildlife conservation, wildlife management, world, world markets, worldwide

Keywords

• [Indexed using CAB Thesaurus terms]
• animals
• Chordata
• eukaryotes
• mammals
• vertebrates
• pet animals
• pets
• Pets and Companion Animals [LL070]
• literature reviews
• Amphibia
• animal health
• Animal Health and Hygiene (General) [LL800]
• animal products
• animal rights
• animal welfare
• Animal Welfare [LL810]
• Biological Resources (Animal) [PP710]
• birds
• international trade
• International Trade [EE600]
• Laws and Regulations [DD500]
• marketing
• Marketing and Distribution [EE700]
• Natural Resource Economics [EE115]
• Non-food/Non-feed Animal Products [SS100]
• regulations
• reptiles
• rules
• trade in animals
• wild animals
• wild birds
• wildlife conservation
• wildlife management
• world
• world markets
• worldwide