© Vickey Chauhan/shutterstock.comOverview
Illegal wildlife trade is reported to be one of the four largest transnational organised crimes—alongside trafficking of drugs, arms and ammunition, and humans. It involves the illegal sale and purchase of protected wild animals, plants and their derivatives for uses ranging from exotic pet trade and traditional medicines to food delicacies, luxury goods and fashion. This illicit trade poses a grave threat to biodiversity, undermines conservation efforts, fuels organised crime and pushes numerous species toward extinction. It also disrupts ecosystems and presents serious public health risks, as evidenced by zoonotic disease outbreaks linked to wildlife exploitation.
India is one of the world’s megadiverse countries, home to nearly 7%–8% of all recorded species. It is a source for illegally traded wildlife that meets growing demand in end-user markets, and a destination for timber, medicinal plants, and exotic species trafficked for illegal pet trade. High consumer demand, combined with weak enforcement, low conviction rates and high financial returns, has enabled wildlife crime to evolve into a sophisticated, transnational criminal network.
OUR WORK – WILDLIFE TRADE CONTROL
Research and conservation-focussed activities are central to the programme, with findings informing strategies and conservation plans to address key threats. The programme focusses on terrestrial landscapes as well as coastal and marine seascapes across India, encompassing protected areas, wildlife corridors, river systems and human-dominated landscapes. Through research, training and partnerships, the programme aims to strengthen systems that prevent illegal trade and support biodiversity conservation.
KEY PILLARS OF OUR WORK:
WWF-India supports efforts in this area by strengthening law enforcement in vulnerable landscapes and supporting state and Central agencies responsible for wildlife protection. It works closely with forest departments, police, customs and other enforcement agencies to enhance coordination, sensitisation and data sharing, thereby strengthening response to wildlife crime.
Research and trade assessments help identify trends, hotspots and emerging threats, enabling enforcement agencies to plan targeted interventions. The programme also promotes institutional and transboundary collaboration to address the cross-border nature of illegal wildlife trade and strengthen cooperation among enforcement and conservation stakeholders.
The programme addresses illegal trade in marine species by analysing trade patterns, identifying species in trade and assessing gaps in policy and enforcement. It works with relevant agencies and supports efforts to improve sustainability and traceability within legal trade frameworks.
By examining barriers to the effective implementation of existing regulations, the programme informs strategies to curb illegal marine trade. This work is complemented by engagement with enforcement agencies and other stakeholders to strengthen coordination and improve compliance with regulations governing marine species.
The programme conducts assessments of medicinal and aromatic plant trade to understand market dynamics, regulatory frameworks and compliance gaps. Research findings are shared with key stakeholders to inform policy decisions, strengthen enforcement and guide long-term planning. The programme also works to reinforce legal mechanisms governing medicinal plant trade and supports the development of sustainable, equitable and traceable practices for regulated species.
A core focus of the programme is strengthening the capacity of law enforcement agencies to combat illegal wildlife trade. This includes developing and institutionalising specialised training modules on wildlife species and their derivatives for personnel across forest departments, customs, police and other enforcement agencies.
The programme also provides platforms for knowledge exchange and experience-sharing, enhancing inter-agency coordination and operational effectiveness, including for wildlife law enforcement agencies across the borders. In parallel, it engages with key sectors such as e-commerce, social media and transport to ensure business practices support wildlife protection and comply with existing laws.
WWF-India supports the training of wildlife sniffer dogs deployed by forest departments and the Railway Protection Force across India. Launched in 2008 as a pioneering initiative with just two sniffer dogs, the programme has since trained 120 to date.
Beyond initial training, WWF-India provides ongoing support to the deployed sniffer dog squads through refresher training, on-site monitoring and operational assistance. The programme also focusses on institutionalising wildlife sniffer dog training within state forest departments and other enforcement agencies, building long-term capacity to detect and prevent illegal wildlife trade.
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