For Immediate Release: December 18, 2020
Contact: Emily Roberson, emilyr@plantsocieties.org, plantsocieties.org
Saguaro Cactus and Venus Flytrap Among 10 Species Threatened by the Wildlife & Plant Trade
New Report Calls for End to Wildlife Trafficking, Unsustainable Trade
Wildlife trafficking and unsustainable wildlife and plant trade is a multi-billion-dollar industry and a major threat to species in the U.S. and worldwide, according to a report released today by the Endangered Species Coalition. The report, Trafficked: 10 Species Threatened by the Wildlife Trade, highlights how legal and illegal wildlife and plant commerce is driving species decline, and in some cases, posing a threat to human health.
The report includes the Venus flytrap and the Saguaro cactus (representing the entire Cactus family). These species are threatened by overcollecting for commercial trade because they are popular with gardeners and other collectors. The species, like all others, are also threatened by habitat destruction.
Both species are important components of their respective ecosystems. Saguaros, for example, play a critical role the Sonoran desert by providing food and shelter to many other species. Bats, birds, and bees feed on its flowers, and its water reserves and fruit sustain scores of insects and mammals.
The Native Plant Conservation Campaign nominated these species for the report because they are both imperiled by trafficking and are in serious decline in the wild. “People should know that they can help protect plants by avoiding the purchase of wild collected specimens,” said Dr. Emily Roberson, director of the Native Plant Conservation Campaign. Roberson continued, “Use a reputable nursery or garden center; ask them to guarantee that the plants are grown from seed. Also, nursery-grown plants will be relatively uniform in size and potted in commercial soil, which should not contain weeds.”
Several of the species in the report are part of the global pet trade, such as the yellow-headed parrot and the Tokay gecko. Others are sought for food or medicinal properties, including the Scalloped hammerhead shark, pinto abalone and the pangolin – a scaly, armadillo-like creature, thought to be involved in the transmission of the novel coronavirus. Still others are coveted as “collectables,” including the Venus flytrap and the rufous hummingbird. The Diamondback terrapin of the U.S. Gulf Coast is trapped and traded for pets and food.
“Wildlife and plant trafficking and trade is a multi-billion-dollar industry that threatens fish, wildlife and plants as well as human communities,” said Leda Huta, executive director of the Endangered Species Coalition. “We need governments and leaders around the world to commit to ending wildlife and plant trade and trafficking, while developing alternative, sustainable economic opportunities for communities.”
10 Species Threatened by the Wildlife Trade:
Pinto abalone
Diamondback terrapin
Scalloped hammerhead shark
Pangolin
Rufous hummingbird
Saguaro cactus
Tiger
Tokay gecko
Venus flytrap
Yellow-headed parrot
The Wildlife Trade and Infectious Diseases
Scientists believe that the novel coronavirus now sweeping the planet, COVID-19, jumped from wildlife to humans, quite possibly via a pangolin – the most trafficked mammal in the world and one of the ten species featured in the report. Similarly, SARS, Ebola and HIV all likely originated from the exploitation of wildlife. In fact, the vast majority of new infectious diseases that have emerged in recent years are “zoonotic” diseases, and climate change is exacerbating the threat. In order to protect human health and prevent more pandemics, the report calls for new policies, enforcement, and a commitment to end wildlife trafficking and unsustainable wildlife trade. Some members of Congress have started work to address wildlife trafficking, including Senators John Cornyn and Cory Booker, who have crafted the bipartisan Preventing Future Pandemics Act of 2020. The bill would prohibit the sale of live wild animals for food – thought to be the cause of COVID-19 – but has yet to be heard in committee.
Endangered Species Coalition’s member groups nominated species for the report. A committee of distinguished scientists reviewed the nominations and chose the finalists. The full report, along with photos can be viewed and downloaded here: https://www.endangered.org/campaigns/annual-top-ten-report/trafficked. The Endangered Species Coalition produces a Top 10 report annually, focusing on a different theme each year. Previous years’ reports are also available on the Coalition’s website.
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