An Overview of the Illegal Wildlife Trade Activities in South Africa

The illegal wildlife trade remains a significant threat to biodiversity in South Africa. The poaching of native species in the country has increased over the years, primarily driven by the demand for abalone, rhino horns, and pangolin scales. This study analysed TRAFFIC wildlife crime records between 1984 and 2025 to identify hotspots, trends in enforcement over time, and the most affected species. We found that provinces such as Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal have the highest diversity of species affected, while the Western Cape recorded the highest number of incidents, predominantly seizures. Seizure was the most common wildlife activity, followed by poaching and illegal harvesting, with fewer cases of smuggling, breeding, and prosecution. A total of 50 species across nine animal classes were impacted, with white rhinoceros (Ceratotherium simum (Burchell, 1817)), abalone (Haliotis midae (Linnaeus, 1758)), lion (Panthera leo (Linnaeus, 1758)), and ground pangolin (Smutsia temminckii (Smuts, 1832)) among the most frequently targeted. Correlation analysis revealed a strong positive relationship between seizures and arrests (Pearson’s r = 0.90, p = 0.001) across provinces. This indicates a substantial strengthening of law-enforcement activity across provinces, likely driven by enhanced detection or reporting, as reflected in a rising proportion of cases resulting in arrests. Species such as elephants and pangolins were associated with enforcement outcomes, particularly those involving horns, tusks, scales, and dead specimens. There is a need for targeted interventions in high-risk areas, and provinces must collaborate in combating the wildlife trade. Limitations in data completeness and species representation suggest the need for improved surveillance and reporting mechanisms to fully understand and combat illegal wildlife trade in South Africa.