The illegal wildlife trade is a multibillion-dollar black market — one of the largest criminal industries in the world. It operates across multiple continents, with significant trafficking routes between Africa, Asia, Europe, North America and Latin America.
Despite being protected by national laws and international accords, wild cats are prime targets for poachers, traffickers and criminal networks, driven by the demand for live animals or derivative products, including furs, teeth, claws and bones. Wild cats both big and small are sought after for use in traditional medicine and divination, ceremonial regalia, curios, status symbols, or to be sold as pets.
Wildlife crime has far-reaching consequences. It affects biodiversity, ecosystems, economies, and human well-being. When we work to prevent wildlife crime, we:
Protect biodiversity. Wild cats are essential to maintaining ecosystem balance. Ensuring the protection of wild cats today leads to a healthier, more resilient planet for future generations.
Prevent extinction and preserve cultural heritage. Many wild cat species already face extinction due to poaching and wildlife trafficking. If we don’t act now, we could lose some of the world’s most iconic and ecologically important animals forever.
Support local communities. Wildlife crime doesn't just harm animals; it also disrupts the livelihoods of local communities that depend on healthy ecosystems for agriculture, sustainable resources, and employment. By supporting efforts to counter wildlife crime, we help preserve these valuable resources for future generations and create economic opportunities in harmony with conservation.
Counter organized crime. Wildlife trafficking may be linked to larger criminal networks, including organized crime syndicates that fund other illegal activities such as arms trafficking, drug smuggling and human trafficking. By countering wildlife crime, we are also tackling broader issues of governance, global security corruption and the safety of local communities.
Countering wildlife crime contributes to a healthier planet, preserves the legacy of wild cats and other species, and promotes sustainable practices that benefit all.
Panthera’s counter wildlife crime work lies at the nexus of information, intervention and innovation. We combine research and monitoring with evidence-based approaches to develop and implement interventions based on proven techniques. By covering multiple angles, we bridge the gap between knowledge and action.
Our interdisciplinary counter wildlife crime team works closely with our species- and regional-based conservation program staff, along with key partners, including government agencies and NGOs, to ensure our work is effective at different geographical scales. As part of our work, we support governments around the globe to help enforce laws, prosecute criminals, and build a safer world for cats and the communities living with them.
Through crime research and analysis, we look to understand the scale, nature and impact of specific wildlife crime threats and identify options to address them. We synthesize information from a wide variety of sources to develop comprehensive products including threat assessments and problem profiles. These materials are shared with key decision-makers to drive the development and implementation of a range of effective and coordinated wildlife crime interventions. Panthera analysts also play a vital role in evaluating the impact of interventions to guide adaptive management.
We provide resourcing and technical support, including training and mentoring, to help Panthera staff and partner organisations detect and prevent poaching and other environmental crimes. As part of a coalition of global conservation organizations, we support the development of a well-resourced, professional and highly capable ranger network, empowering them to serve as effective wildlife guardians.
We also develop innovative tactics to tackle emerging threats and leverage technology to enhance data management and analytics, law enforcement monitoring and enforcement and prevention capabilities, including Earth Ranger, SMART, and technical sensors.
We provide support to law enforcement agencies, prosecutors and civil society around the globe to aid in their counter wildlife crime efforts. By facilitating collaboration and coordination at local, national and transnational scales, and promoting data-led insights, we build capacity to shape effective wildlife crime interventions and policies.
Our approach emphasizes using the widest array of tools and interventions available, including those focusing on crime prevention and addressing the root causes of illicit activity.
We partner with communities to understand the socio-economic drivers of poaching and illegal wildlife trade and co-develop sustainable solutions. Our approach includes promoting alternative livelihoods, wildlife credits, and conservation education, while mitigating human-wildlife conflict and reducing demand for wildlife products.
Our Furs for Life program provides high-quality, culturally appropriate synthetic skins modeled after wild cats to replace real ones in traditional ceremonies. This reduces poaching and helps protect wild cats.
Panthera’s training guides are science-driven tools designed to combat one of the greatest threats to wild cats—trafficking. Developed as a practical reference, these guides equip users with critical knowledge to support conservation efforts. While they serve an educational purpose, their core function is to provide actionable insights for those on the front lines of protecting felids.
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© Sebastian Kennerknecht
