What is wildlife crime?

 

Wildlife crime can be divided into three broad types:

 

The illegal trade in endangered animals

The UK Government is a Party to CITES (the Convention on International Trade of Endangered Species). This regulates the trade of over 33,000 species: to protect those that are threatened by extinction or might become so in the near future.

 

Dartford warbler (a Schedule 1 species) - Paul Roberts

Crimes involving native species

In the UK, many species and habitats are protected from harm or disturbance or trade by a range of legislation. This includes disturbing/harming protected species such as bats or great crested newts or disturbing nesting birds or collecting eggs.

 

Cruelty to and persecution of wildlife species

There is specific UK legislation to protect particular species such as badger or deer, but there is also legislation that makes it an offence to cause wild mammals unnecessary suffering by certain acts.

 

Find out what the Partnership for Action Against Wildlife Crime does to help