Commercial wildlife markets play one of the biggest roles in emerging zoonotic diseases, like covid-19. This is because they involve capturing, handling and butchering a huge variety of wild animals in confined and stressful conditions, compromising their welfare and spreading diseases.
Hunting wild animals for the commercial wildlife trade for food and other uses is a major driver of biodiversity loss. The cost of covid-19 to the global economy is estimated to be as much as £8trn ($10trn), many times the estimated £237bn-£316bn ($300bn-$400bn) that would be required to effectively fund nature protection.
Born Free will continue to call for a ban of commercial wildlife markets, while recognising the obstacles and challenges ahead of us, as we strive to rebuild a better world for people and nature.
Join us in calling for the World Health Organisation to recommend a global ban on wildlife markets by sending a pre-written email to the Secretary General.
TAKE ACTION WILDLIFE & CORONAVIRUS
UPDATE DIRECT TO YOUR INBOX
Sign up to get the latest Born Free news about our work and how you can help, delivered straight to your inbox.