wildlife trafficking
Commercial trade in animals requiring a permit under Denmark's Animal Welfare Act
Wildlife trafficking, in legal and criminal terms, means the commercial purchase, sale and trade of animals — an activity that in Denmark requires a permit from the authorities. The concept therefore does not cover private keeping of animals, but the organised, commercial trade in animals as a business. Under Danish law the area is regulated by the Animal Welfare Act (dyrevelfærdsloven), whose § 30 requires anyone who commercially trades in or breeds animals to obtain prior authorisation from the ministry or the Danish Veterinary and Food Administration (Fødevarestyrelsen). Trading without such a permit constitutes a breach of the act and can give rise to criminal liability.
When the term appears in true crime coverage — as in the case of Bhagavan 'Doc' Antle — 'illegal wildlife trafficking' typically covers trade in animals that either takes place without the required permit, in breach of import rules, or under conditions that violate animal welfare legislation. International cases often involve exotic and endangered species, which may additionally trigger liability under international law such as the CITES convention.
Illegal wildlife trafficking is treated in law as a business-related offence and in practice often occurs in combination with other forms of financial crime, including laundering of the proceeds of the illegal trade. It is this connection that gives the term its relevance in the true crime genre.
