Bearing all Down Under: the role of Australasian countries in the illegal bear trade
Phillip Cassey
A * , Lalita Gomez B , Sarah Heinrich A B , Pablo García-Díaz C , Sarah Stoner D and Chris R. Shepherd B
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A Invasion Science & Wildlife Ecology Lab, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA 5005, Australia.
B Monitor Conservation Research Society (Monitor), Big Lake Ranch, BC V0L 1G0, Canada.
C School of Biological Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, AB24 2TZ, UK.
D Wildlife Justice Commission, Johan de Wittlaan 7, The Hague 2517 JR, The Netherlands.
Pacific Conservation Biology 28(6) 472-480 https://doi.org/10.1071/PC21057
Submitted: 27 August 2021 Accepted: 5 October 2021 Published: 4 November 2021
© 2022 The Author(s) (or their employer(s)). Published by CSIRO Publishing
Abstract
Context: Illegal wildlife trade (IWT) is a leading concern for conservation and biosecurity agencies globally, and involves multiple source, transit, and destination countries smuggling species on a transnational scale. The contribution of non-range countries for driving demand in IWT is often overlooked.
Aims: We analysed the dynamics (source, type and quantity) of bear seizures in Australia and New Zealand to gain a deeper understanding of the IWT, and to raise awareness among enforcement agencies for mitigating the international smuggling of bear parts and derivatives, and reducing the global threat to bears from illegal exploitation.
Methods: We collated biosecurity and conservation enforcement agency records of CITES seizures from Australia and New Zealand. All of the seizures were declared for ‘personal use’.
Key results: We report on 781 seizures of bear parts and derivatives in Australia and New Zealand from 33 countries over the past decade. The majority of seizures were medicinal (gall bladder and bile) products, but also included a range of body parts, hunting trophies and meat. China was the source of the greatest number of seizures, however, 32 additional source and transit countries/territories (from Asia, Europe, Americas, Middle East and Africa) were also involved in the seizures of bear parts and their derivatives.
Conclusions: The widespread trade of bears is an example of the far-reaching consequences commercial use can have on threatened species. Australia and New Zealand have no native bear species, and yet are frequently involved in wildlife seizures, and illegal bear trade continues to be an enforcement issue.
Implications: IWT has a detrimental impact on the conservation of bears. Conservation research in non-range countries needs to be conducted to determine the demand and threats from IWT, and to increase collaborative strategies to counter transnational smuggling.
Keywords: biosecurity seizures, CITES, Family: Ursidae, smuggling, threatened species, traditional medicine, trophy hunting, wildlife trade.
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