Preserve the Earth 2016: Stop Illegal Wildlife Trafficking
Many species are in dramatic decline due to poaching and illegal trade in live animals and their body parts. For example, elephants are poached for ivory—one is killed every 15 minutes— tigers for their skins and bones, rhinos for their horns and sharks for their fins.
With the loss of one species, entire ecosystems can falter, with dire consequences for other species, the environment and humans. Animals on almost every continent are threatened by poaching and illegal wildlife trade. The United States is working with many countries worldwide to end poaching and reduce demand for illegally traded wildlife.