Illegal Wildlife Trade in Mexico Sees Steady Rise Mexico News Daily
go to original June 10, 2017

The smuggling of endangered wildlife, both dead and alive, is a billion dollar global business, second only in size to the illegal arms and drug trades. American border control continues to see an incessant attempt at bringing hundreds of species into the United States every year - each attempt more creative than the next. (Al Jazeera English)

Illegal wildlife trade is a growing global problem that is also on the rise in Mexico.

While Mexico was previously considered only as a transit country for animal contraband on its way to lucrative markets in the United States, Asia and Europe, demand for Mexican species has grown in recent years.

One example is the totoaba, a fish that is native to the Gulf of Mexico, whose swim bladder can fetch prices on the black market of up to US $60,000 per kilogram, although more conservative estimates place the price between $8,000 and $25,000.

Illegal fishing of the species is detrimental to other marine creatures such as the vaquita porpoise.

Other Mexican species in demand include bighorn sheep, birds such as parrots and macaws as well as reptiles and feline species, says Joel González Moreno of the federal environmental agency, Profepa.

González says that jaguars are the most expensive animal, selling for 40,000 to 70,000 pesos (US $2,200 – 3,850) followed by golden eagles, which go for up to 50,000 pesos; red macaws, 30,000 to 40,000; pumas 20,000 to 30,000; and yellow-headed parrots, 15,000 to 20,000.

The United Nations Environment Program says that illegal wildlife trade could be worth as much as US $23 billion per year.

Read the rest at Mexico News Daily

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