College of Science and Engineering, Flinders University, Adelaide, Australia.
Emerg Top Life Sci. 2021 Sep 24;5(3):487-494. doi: 10.1042/ETLS20200288.
Wildlife crime is on a massive scale by whatever metric is used. The illegal trade in wildlife and related products is leading to the decline and extinction of many iconic species from rhino to tigers. Almost all countries are signatures to CITES and therefore should enforce national legislation if alleged infringements of trade of wildlife occur. No country is immune from this illegal trade although countries like Australia have their own specific wildlife crimes. Australia is home to many reptilian, amphibian and avian species that are highly prized, predominantly as pets. Collection of protected species from the wild is illegal in all jurisdictions yet policing remote areas of the outback, where so much of the native endemic fauna and flora lives, is nearly impossible. The illegal international trade in these species is highlighted by two case studies provided in this review. A further case highlights the issues of each of the six states of Australia having separate legislation, which is compounded when wildlife crime can be inter-state crime. Australia is one of the few countries having an institute, based at the Australian Museum, with an accredited wildlife forensic science laboratory and therefore the capability to undertake forensic testing of seized samples. One way to reduce wildlife crime may be by educating those who buy illegally seized products that there is a direct connection between the dead animal from which it came and the devasting effect this purchase has on the environment.
从任何衡量标准来看，野生动物犯罪都是大规模的。野生动物及其相关产品的非法贸易导致许多标志性物种（从犀牛到老虎）的数量减少和灭绝。几乎所有国家都是《濒危野生动植物种国际贸易公约》的签署国，因此，如果发生涉嫌违反野生动物贸易的行为，就应该执行国家立法。虽然澳大利亚等国存在自己特定的野生动物犯罪，但没有一个国家能免受这种非法贸易的影响。澳大利亚是许多爬行动物、两栖动物和鸟类的家园，这些动物因其作为宠物而备受珍视。在所有司法管辖区，从野外采集受保护物种都是非法的，但在澳大利亚内陆的偏远地区，大量的本地特有动植物栖息在那里，对这些地区进行监管几乎是不可能的。本综述提供了两个案例研究，突出了这些物种的非法国际交易问题。另一个案例则突出了澳大利亚六个州各自立法的问题，而当野生动物犯罪可能成为州际犯罪时，问题就更加复杂了。澳大利亚是少数几个拥有一个研究所的国家之一，该研究所设在澳大利亚博物馆，拥有一个经认证的野生动物法证科学实验室，因此有能力对缴获的样本进行法医检测。减少野生动物犯罪的一种方法可能是教育那些购买非法缴获产品的人，让他们认识到，他们所购买的动物与它来自的已死亡动物之间存在直接联系，而这种购买行为对环境造成了毁灭性的影响。
