Illegal Trade in Endangered Species: The Consumers

Major Consumers:

1. The United States (largest consumer due to being largest trader on planet)
1. Tiger products
2. Rhino horns
3. Whales (subsistence use only: reviewed regularly to ensure sustainability)
4. Birds
5. Butterflies
6. Snakes
7. Various collected species
2. China (second largest consumer: bigger than US in some areas)
1. Tiger products
2. Rhino
3. Whales (minor, unofficial imports from Japan)
3. Japan (major consumer, often dissident in CITES)
1. Tiger Products
2. Rhino horns
3. Ivory
4. Whales
5. Butterflies
6. Sea Turtles
7. Bluefin Tuna

Uses of species:

1. Tiger Products: Used in traditional Asian medicine
2. Rhino horns: Used in traditional Asian medicine, Middle-Eastern status symbol
3. Ivory: Decorative uses, Japanese status symbol
4. Whales: Traditional Japanese delicacy, historical food of some Native American tribes
5. Butterflies: Collections
6. Sea Turtles: Various crafted items, meat
7. Bluefin tuna: Not yet listed as endangered, but breeding grounds are being highly exploited for food: primarily by Japan
8. Birds, snakes, turtles, other rare species: Exotic pets, crafted items

Official Stance of Consumer states:

1. The United States:
1. Conservation: very active in using economic might to encourage negotiations head in the direction the US and US public want
2. Not afraid to act unilaterally if the need arises (through direct trade sanctions, etc). Ex. China and Tiger/Rhino products
3. Has domestic regulation and bans on many products
4. Whaling is authorized only to select Native American tribes which must demonstrate humane and sustainable use of the given population
5. Some individual citizens import protected species for collections, pets
2. China:
1. ‘Encouraged’ by US to enact many regulations
2. Often places human development over wildlife/ecological concerns

                                                     i.     Ex. Three Gorges Dam

3. Death penalty for killing a Panda
4. Traditional medicine has been hard to suppress
2. Japan:
1. Sustainable Use: Exploit all resources in a sustainable manner.

                                                     i.     Independent studies show that the Japanese are not necessarily sustainable in their use of all resources (Whales in particular)

2. Not afraid to take Reservations and exploit loopholes

                                                     i.     Sea Turtles

                                                      ii.     Whaling

1.     “Scientific killings” (but whaling is carried out as part of the fishing industry)

2.     Hunt in Southern Whale Sanctuary (strictly off limits to commercial whaling)

                                                        iii.     Government-licensed Ivory Craftsmen

3. Actively lobbies for trade of many regulated products
4. One in ten adult men is a serious butterfly collector
5. The Japanese are loath to give up any sovereign rights, or give up traditions

CITES

• CITES has brought attention to the issues and encouraged regulations and treaties

• Limited Enforcement capabilities

• Allows Reservations (this severely cripples ability to truly eradicate the problem)

• Need more action from individual states acting unilaterally to prevent trade (i.e. the US)

• Must have access to more powerful modes of enforcement and punishment

            • i.e. Sanctions of valuable resources

IWC

• Eliminated whaling in all but a few nations

• Many populations are showing signs of growth and improvement

• Shares many of the same problems as CITES, but has been more successful in

  executing its agenda