Poachers decimate species populations
Poaching—the illegal hunting or capture of wildlife—is a vicious threat to biodiversity and endangers the survival of countless species. Poaching is a billion-dollar industry with countless victims:
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- Hunters and traffickers kill endangered animals as trophies, for body parts to be sold on the black market, or for use in traditional medicine.
- Poachers capture and sell wild and rare animals in the illegal pet trade.
- Illegal loggers exploit timber-tree species.
- Traffickers harvest rare flowers for illegal sale to collectors and for use in cosmetics.
- Species loss affects entire ecosystems and harms Indigenous Peoples and local communities who rely on the rainforest for homes, jobs, and culture.
