THE UNREGULATED AND INFORMAL TRADE IN WILDLIFE: IMPLICATIONS FOR BIODIVERSITY AND HEALTH William B. Karesh Kristine Smith Marianne Asmüssen OIE Global Conference on Wildlife: Animal Health and Biodiversity Preparing for the Future 23 25 February 2011 1
A multi billion dollar trade industry in animal and plant products Encompasses a range of items from live animals to wildlife products Global & regional components Largely unsustainable Global Wildlife Trade D. Collins/WCS
World Parrot Trust
Disease Emergence & Wildlife Trade Crowded stressful conditions Immune compromised animals Mixing of different species from various locations around the world Close contact between humans/domestic animals/wildlife M. Gilbert/WCS
Rate of Globalization is increasing and with it, the spread of disease Global Aviation Network Hufnagel, L. et al. (2004) PNAS
Emerging Infectious Diseases 26% of human deaths are caused by infectious disease globally Over 70% of emerging zoonoses arise from interactions with wildlife
SIV/HIV AIDS HIV 1 is derived from the exposure to SIV strain of chimpanzees, likely from consumption of bushmeat. HIV 2, so far only in west Africa, is derived from the SIV strain found in sooty mangabeys. 35 different species of African nonhuman primates harbor lentivirus infections.
Multiple Ebola Virus Transmission Events and Rapid Decline of Central African Wildlife LeRoy, et al., SCIENCE, Jan. 16, 2004
SARS Coronavirus Near pandemic (2002 2003): 8,096 known cases and 774 deaths (case fatality rate of 9.6%); Within weeks spread from China to 37 countries around the world. Human infections associated with trade of civet cats, origin traced back to bats. Low to zero prevalence in wild farm civets but 80% prevalence in wild market civets.
12,500 Km 2000 Km Guangzhou 3200 Km 4900 Km Trade data courtesy WCS
Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza HPAI human outbreaks associated with animal strains (1918 H1N1 Spanish flu, 1957 H2N2 Asian flu, 1968 H3N2 Hong Kong flu) Majority of spread of HPAI H5N1 has occurred through domestic poultry trade HPAI H5N1 virus has been isolated from two mountain hawk eagles illegally imported to Belgium from Thailand; from passerines shipped from east Asia to the UK; and in market wildlife from Hong Kong to Pakistan
Monkeypox Shipment of animals from Ghana to Texas on April 9, 2003 as probable introduction into the US, containing approx. 800 small mammals of nine species 72 persons affected in US outbreak, no deaths 10% fatality rate in Africa Animal human and human human tx http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/monkeypox
In 1975, U.S. FDA banned the trade of small turtles. This has prevented an estimated 100,000 cases of salmonellosis each year in children. Salmonella 50% salmonella positive rate in markets in Indonesia A. Yang/WCS
Wildlife Trade: Major Threat to Biodiversity
Control of Wildlife Trade 175 Countries 5,108 animal species and 28,977 plant species
Control of Wildlife Trade 175 Countries 87% report illegal trade
Estimates of Illegal Wildlife Trade ANNUAL ILLEGAL TRADE IMPORT FIGURES US$ 20 billion
Estimates of Illegal Wildlife Trade ANNUAL ILLEGAL TRADE IMPORT FIGURES US$ 20 billion
How many individual animals are involved in Illegal wildlife trade? LITERATURE WWW.CITES.ORG ~2,300 ~4,400
How many individual animals are involved in Illegal wildlife trade? Data quality None Low Medium High
How many individual animals are involved in Illegal wildlife trade? 13 million
How many individual animals are involved in Illegal wildlife trade? 69% 23% 8%
What is the effect of Illegal Wildlife Trade on wild populations? AVERAGE DECREASE OF POPULATION SIZE OF 60 70%
How big of a problem is IWT globally? ~87%
Patterns of legal and illegal trade between the US and South America 1994 2006 ~120,000 Records
Which taxonomic classes are targeted? <1% <1%
Which taxonomic classes are targeted? HIGH VOLUME LOW VOLUME $ $
Which taxonomic classes are targeted?
Which taxonomic classes are targeted?
Which taxonomic classes are targeted?
Which taxonomic classes are targeted? ALL TAXONOMIC CLASSES
What is happening in Venezuela?
What is happening in Venezuela? DATA BASES ROAD SURVEYS PET STORES AND LOCAL MARKETS RESTAURANTS INTERNET
Increasing Threat Markets Roads
Domestic illegal trade is at least as important as international trade.
What is happening in the United States?
United States Role in Wildlife Trade The United States is one of the largest consumers of wildlife products (USFWS). The importation of wildlife into the U.S. increased 62% within a decade from 1992 2003, with declared shipments alone escalating from approximately 74,500 to nearly 120,000 per year. Between 2000 2004, U.S. records reflect imports > one billion individual animals and an additional 5 million kilograms of animals into the United States.
Challenges of wildlife import regulation Enormous quantity of legal and illegal imports Agencies with different mandates (US Example): CDC regulates taxa deemed of risk to public health USDA taxa deemed of risk to agricultural industry USFWS CITES or injurious species Record keeping challenges No international database for wildlife trade Species identification of wildlife products is difficult Additional agency support is needed
Wildlife Trade in Asia
Global numbers 1 10 million (390 spp) Venezuela
How many individual animals are involved in illegal wildlife trade? 1 10 million 13 million
Wildlife Population declines Hunting Brown headed Spider Monkey Pet Trade Roti Island snake necked turtle
Invasive alien species
Disease Risks & Wildlife Trade Affecting native wildlife Affecting domestic animals Affecting humans Affecting legal trade, business, and economic development M. Gilbert/WCS
Networks with Hubs control points and with it, the spread of disease Global Aviation Network Hufnagel, L. et al. (2004) PNAS
Networks with Hubs control points
Health Surveillance of Wildlife & Products Identify pathogens moving via trade in wildlife & wildlife products to evaluate health risks to humans, livestock and wildlife Inform regulating agencies of the health risks associated with wildlife trade practices to guide regulations, enforcement and best practices.
International Union for the Conservation of Nature IUCN Over 400 Wildlife Health Experts around the World Represent U.N. Environmental Programme Wildlife Disease reference group for WHO (OMS) outbreak response efforts
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Developing a Targeted Surveillance Strategy along high risk disease transmission interfaces Hunting Markets/trade Wildlife/livestock conflict Extraction Land use change Water availability Global transportation
Working Group on Wildlife Diseases Founded in 1993 Reports to OIE Scientific Commission Integrate wildlife health concerns with OIE mandate Link to broader wildlife community Assist with Wildlife Focal Point efforts Advise on Health Code, Standards and Reporting
Working Group on Wildlife Diseases Wildlife Issues Trade Issues
CHAPTER 5.10 MODEL VETERINARY CERTIFICATES FOR INTERNATIONAL TRADE IN LIVE ANIMALS, HATCHING EGGS AND PRODUCTS OF ANIMAL ORIGIN
CHAPTER 5.6 BORDER POSTS AND QUARANTINE STATIONS IN THE IMPORTING COUNTRY The presence of disease or infection in imported animals in a quarantine station does not affect the animal health status of the country or zone.
THE UNREGULATED AND INFORMAL TRADE IN WILDLIFE: IMPLICATIONS FOR BIODIVERSITY AND HEALTH William B. Karesh Kristine Smith Marianna Asmüssen OIE Global Conference on Wildlife: Animal Health and Biodiversity Preparing for the Future 23 25 February 2011 58