Criminal networks are using the global air transport system to traffic illegal wildlife, including endangered species and plants, with the illicit trade estimated to be worth over US$19 billion each year.

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) is partnering with the aviation industry to assist enforcement agencies in disrupting these trafficking operations, reaffirming the sector’s commitment to fighting wildlife crime on a global scale.

“The aviation sector has been an early mover in addressing illegal wildlife trade, aligning its efforts with broader environmental goals. Over the past 9-10 years, the industry has worked hard to reduce its impact and support wildlife conservation,” Daniela Stange, Corporate Sustainability Manager at IATA, stated.

“Certain species are often transported by air to expedite the trade of live animals, while others are shipped via maritime routes due to the nature of the trade.

“In terms of challenges, there are definitely some regions and routes that are more heavily trafficked than others. The problem here is that the criminal networks involved in wildlife trade are very sophisticated and when enforcement is increased on one route, traffickers quickly adapt and shift to a different one. This is why supporting auto-detection projects is so important. It aims to identify species likely to be smuggled and understand the techniques traffickers use,” Stange outlined.

However, while efforts have been made to tackle the illegal trade, detection of species, especially in freight, is also a significant hurdle—it’s much harder to detect illegal wildlife products in freight than in passenger baggage, which complicates efforts to curb the trade.

“Although the duty for capturing and prosecuting these criminals rests with national enforcement authorities, training for airline personnel and raising awareness among passengers and clients is also key. We need to ensure that everyone—from airlines to customers—understands the signs and how to report suspicious activity.”

Industry outlook

The United for Wildlife (UfW) Transport Taskforce is bringing together stakeholders from across the transport industry, from airlines to shipping lines, to address the role of transportation in the illegal wildlife trade. The initiative aims to identify and implement strategies to break the supply chain between traffickers and consumers of wildlife products.

Two things are critical here: monitoring and reporting. Proliferating biodiversity frameworks will help better track wildlife trafficking data, and smarter use of existing technologies will improve detection.

“The introduction of apps like Crime Stoppers has significantly increased the level of reporting. The fact that these reports can be anonymous helps encourage people to come forward. This has led to actual cases being detected, with reports passed on to law enforcement, which has led to tangible results in fighting wildlife trafficking,” Stange explained.

Collaborative force

IATA has bolstered its efforts to tackle wildlife trafficking by forming critical partnerships. One key initiative is a Memorandum of Understanding with the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), marking a strengthened commitment to combat illegal wildlife trade. Additionally, IATA played a central role in the Reducing Opportunities for Unlawful Transport of Endangered Species (ROUTES) Partnership, a USAID-led initiative.

“Collaboration is absolutely key, especially when it comes to sharing intelligence,” Stange expressed. “We work with industry stakeholders to identify and create awareness around good practices and share technological advancements across sectors, like the shipping industry and airlines, and supported pilot programs with various organizations and enforcement authorities to develop better screening techniques.”

“Since signing the MOU with CITES in 2015 and the United for Wildlife initiative in 2016, airlines have made illegal wildlife trafficking a part of their discussions. Airlines continue to be proactive in finding ways to raise awareness and use new techniques to prevent illegal wildlife trade.”