In 2019, the illegal wildlife trade reached staggering levels. Pangolin scales and ivory were being trafficked in massive quantities from Africa to Asia, exposing a network of crime syndicates operating at an industrial scale. The sheer volume of these shipments marked a disturbing milestone, one that revealed the global reach of these illegal activities. But then, in an unexpected turn, the COVID-19 pandemic caused a sharp and sustained decline in these trades. And, remarkably, that disruption is holding. The disruption was sudden and remarkably, it appears to be holding. In addition to the effects of the pandemic, recent intelligence suggests that important law enforcement efforts, fluctuations in price dynamics and changing market demands could be contributing to a substantial reduction in the illegal trade of both pangolin scales and ivory compared to the pre-COVID years. This report presents an updated analysis of ivory and pangolin scale trafficking trends over the past decade, comparing the pre-pandemic period from 2015-2019 with the post-pandemic period from 2020-2024. It is based on reported seizure data, open-source research, and criminal intelligence and investigation findings from the Wildlife Justice Commission (WJC).

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