Ending Peru’s devastating illegal wildlife trade

In a ground-breaking research project, World Animal Protection has partnered with local organisations in Peru to gather the evidence needed to encourage both consumers and vendors to move away from the trade, reducing demand for wildlife products and ensuring a humane and sustainable future for all.

Funded by the UK Government through the Illegal Wildlife Trade Challenge Fund, the study focused on Iquitos, the main area for IWT in the north-eastern part of Peru. Here, hundreds of iconic Amazon species – including primates, jaguars, sloths and parrots – are sold illegally at markets like Belén, which serves a population of 400,000 people.

World Animal Protection’s Head of Wildlife Research and Project Lead, Dr Neil D’Cruze said there was an urgent need for action:

The ongoing illegal wildlife trade at the market poses a significant threat to the conservation of the Amazon’s unique fauna, exacerbated by the cruel animal welfare conditions that heighten the risk of zoonotic disease outbreaks, such as COVID-19, SARS and avian flu.

Researchers undertook year-long surveys of IWT activity at Belén and the nearby Modelo Market. They found:

• More than 4,300 records of wildlife openly and illegally traded
• At least 71 unique species on sale, with 27% recorded classified as threatened or near threatened with extinction, in accordance with the IUCN Red List
• Several different jaguar products on display, including a drum, wallets and jewellery

Consumer attitudes to IWT

Working with our local partners Peruvian Amazon Research Institute (IIAP) and Peruvian Society for Environmental Law (SPDA), we conducted a national online survey of more than 2,000 urban consumers, and a local face-to-face survey of more than 250 Belén Market shoppers.

Of the urban Peruvians surveyed at the national level, 77.4% said they had purchased, owned or consumed at least one product derived from Amazonian wildlife. But when made aware of the impact of the trade on conservation, animal welfare, zoonotic disease and illegality, said they were less likely to purchase these items in future.

Giving wildlife vendors a voice

We also conducted surveys and workshops with vendors at Belén Market, and local government representatives. These aimed to understand the challenges facing vendors, and what support they needed to move away from selling wildlife products.

Wildlife vendors initially appeared more reluctant than others to acknowledge the problems caused by IWT at Belén Market. However, once they had discussed the potential for livelihood alternatives at the workshop, they were more open to policies aimed at reducing or banning sales of such products, and expressed interest in further workshops and training. In the post-workshop survey, 64% said they were either ‘interested’ or ‘very interested’ in selling non-animal products.

Giving vendors a voice and involving them in finding solutions to the challenges affecting them is vital in changing attitudes to IWT and ending this harmful practice.

Engaging the private sector and media

As part of the project, World Animal Protection engaged with local businesses to encourage them to sign an IWT ‘zero tolerance’ pledge. To date, 10 organisations have committed to the Regional Management of Forestry and Wildlife Development of Loreto’s (GERFOR) flagship Cuida tu Fauna (Care for Fauna) campaign. The initiative also secured local and national government support, increasing its influence and sustainability, with efforts under way to promote it in other regions in Peru.

An awareness raising workshop with 16 regional journalists also helped to highlight the crucial role of the media in helping to communicate the problems related to IWT.

Next steps

This project’s findings will be invaluable in the fight to end IWT in Peru and beyond. They will inform the design of behaviour change campaigns to reduce the demand for wildlife products in Belén, helping to facilitate a transition towards humane, sustainable and legal livelihoods.

Crucially, the impacts of this project have the potential to be far-reaching. Its innovative approach can be replicated in other urban markets in Peru and elsewhere, having a sustained impact into the future.

Neil added:

By engaging with consumers and vendors, we hope to build a future where the market thrives as a model of conservation and wildlife-friendly commerce. Working together, we hope to build resilience, prosperity, and harmony between people and wildlife in the Amazon region and beyond.