The legal trade in endangered species is a complex and often controversial issue. While it aims to regulate and monitor the exchange of wildlife to ensure conservation and sustainable use, it inadvertently contributes to the decline of species already at risk.
The legal trade is one of the most lucrative trades in the world and yet legal loopholes, inadequate enforcement, under-resourcing; a trade system that is unfit-for-purpose and hasn’t been updated since the 70’s, makes it a key driver in the current extinction crisis. The increasing demand for exotic pets, medicines and luxury items fueling this trade are outlined in the IPCC 2019 Report https://www.ipcc.ch/2019/. However, For the Love of Wildlife has been instrumental in driving significant changes to address these challenges.
Wildlife doesn’t have the luxury of time.
One of our most significant achievements is our instrumental role in the Australian government’s decision to ban the importation of lion trophies and body parts in 2015. This historic move, made Australia the first country to implement such a ban, setting a precedent for other nations. Our relentless campaigning and strategic lobbying were critical in this victory.
Highlighting the ethical and conservation issues associated with the horrific and brutal industry of captive breeding and canned hunting, garnering public and political support for the ban. The publicity around this campaign also informed Australia’s volunteers who unwittingly are secuded by these unscrupulous operators, paying thousands of dollars a week to hand rear lion cubs being told they’re part of a conservation project. Shocked to discover they’re part of the supply chain for captive breeders, the cubs they raised sent to the death camps to be shot in a small enclosure by an unskilled hunter.
Our work exemplifies the power of grassroots activism in effecting change at national and international levels. We recognise that legal trade alone cannot ensure the survival of endangered species. It requires a holistic approach that includes habitat preservation, community engagement, and global cooperation.
Australia’s domestic trade elephant ivory and rhino horn, poses a significant threat to wildlife conservation and makes Australia complicit in the current poaching crisis. 30% of Africa’s savannah elephants have been killed in just seven years. Despite international regulations, domestic markets often provide loopholes that allow these products to continue circulating, exacerbating the decline of endangered species. For the Love of Wildlife has been instrumental in effecting a landmark change: the domestic trade ban on elephant ivory and rhino horn in Australia announced by Environment Minister Sussan Ley in 2019.
Whlst a ban was announced at CITES CoP 19 in Geneva by the Australian delegation, Australia’s states and territories are yet to enact a ban.
One would expect that the global pandemic which took hold in early 2020 would wake us up, responding to climate and biodiversity loss with global co-operation we’ve witnessed in finding a vaccine to combat Covid. As the world returns to normal, to “business as usual”, we continue to drive wildlife to extinction and destroy natural habitats as if there have been no reports published over the decades that scientifically prove we’re in a desperate crisis. And a man-made one at that! The level of urgency required to turn the tide on extinction and habitat loss is still not fully being addressed by governments, both in Australia and globally, to the extent that it desperately needs, continuing to be glacially slow despite the increase in catastrophic weather events and more and more shocking scientific reports.
Biodiversity loss affects our very survival; impacting food and water security, and the quality of the air we breathe.
The focus of our work continues to be on wildlife and the accelerated number of decreasing species. Progressing the development of the autonomous rover to mimic marsupials digging pits, a very real solution to counter habitat loss and land clearing, investing in regenerating vast amounts of degraded landscapes. Without halting biodiversity loss and targeting depleted areas we lack the capacity to not only reach net zero emissions, but counter the CO2 that’s already in the atmosphere.
With Indigenous partners, science, engineering and nature all coming together, automating micropitting offers multi-layered objectives so that ultimately nature can all thrive. A healthy environment helps us live healthier lives.
By fostering a greater understanding of the intrinsic value of wildlife and ecosystems, For the Love of Wildlife empowers individuals to take action against practices that drive the extinction of endangered species.
Patron, For the Love of Wildlife
Australia became the first country to ban the importation of lion trophies and body parts and now we are working to have more countries join us in this ban. This would not have been possible without Donalea Patman, Founder, For the Love of Wildlife.
Hon Greg Hunt MP
Minister for the Environment 2013 – 2016
Partners and Awards
Order of Australia Medal awarded to our Founding Director, Donalea Patman.