The WWF (formerly known as the World Wildlife Fund) has estimated that animal and wildlife trafficking to be worth between $15 billion and $25 billion a year.

Source: Adrian Levy and Cathy Scott-Clark, “Poaching for Bin Laden,” Guardian, May 5, 2007, (accessed: May 7, 2007).

Additional $20 Billion sources:

Alan Campana, “Animal Investigators: Solving Wildlife Crimes and Saving Endangered Species,” Wilson Center, May 20, 2009.

In addition, an editorial in Voice of America News, which provides the “views of the US Government,” states that wildlife trafficking is a $20 Billion market.  Voice of America News, “Fighting Wildlife Trafficking,” Editorial, September 15, 2009.

According to WWF Investigators, a bottle of “tiger-bone wine” sold in Western China on the border of Burma/Myanmar sold in 2008 for $88.

The wine is believed to give the drinker increase health.

Source:  AFP, “Myanmar a gateway for wildlife trade to China: report,” Google News, March 16, 2010.

According to environmental groups, up to 73 million sharks are believed to be killed each year. The sharks are killed primarily for its fins to be used in soups, with most of the trade heading to China.

Source:  Associated Press, “Shark protection plan defeated,” MSNBC, March 16, 2010.

According to international organizations, between 2006 and 2009 around 1,500 Rhino Horns were illegally traded.

Source:  Robyn Dixon, “Surge in rhino poaching devastates African populations,” Los Angeles Times, March 16, 2010.

In 2009, 122 rhinos were killed by poachers in South Africa.

Source:  Robyn Dixon, “Surge in rhino poaching devastates African populations,” Los Angeles Times, March 16, 2010.

An estimated 3,000 tons of wildlife meat is consumed and exported into China from Vietnam each year.

Source:  “Over 2 tons of wildlife and animal bones seized,” VietNam Net, March 11, 2010.

More than 8 percent of the world’s population of elephants are being killed each year due to poaching, according to a conservation biologist at the University of Washington.

Source:  Sandi Doughton, “Sale of elephant tusk stockpiles may encourage poaching, experts worry,” Seattle Times, March 11, 2010.

During February 2010, Italian officials in Rome seized 30,000 wildlife products while searching through the luggage of more than 3,000 passengers.

Source:  AFP, “World cops target traditional healers over smuggled wildlife,” Google News, March 5, 2010.

In 2010, there were only 50 tigers believed to be roaming in the wild versus 5,000 tigers raised in tiger farms in China.

Source:  Patrick Winn, “Can Vladimir Putin save the world’s tigers?,” GlobalPost, February 24, 2010.

An official with China’s wildlife conservation agency stated to the Wall Street Journal that the global ban on tiger bones and parts created losses of $337 Million to the ancient medicine industry in the country.

Source:  Shai Oster, “China’s Tiger Farms Spark a Standoff,” Wall Street Journal, February 12, 2010.