, CMY3702 Assignment 1 (COMPLETE ANSWERS) Semester 2 2025 – DUE
August 2025; 100% CORRECT AND TRUSTED SOLUTIONS
TABLE OF CONTENT
1. Introduction
2. Definition of Key Concepts
3. Factors Contributing to Illegal Wildlife Trade in South Africa
4. Case Study: The Illegal Trade of Rhinoceros Horns
5. Efforts to Combat Illegal Wildlife Trade
6. Conclusion
7. List of References
1. Introduction
South Africa is globally renowned for its extraordinary biodiversity,
encompassing a wide range of unique flora and fauna across various
ecosystems such as savannas, forests, wetlands, and coastal regions. The
country hosts approximately 10% of the world’s bird, fish, and plant
species and is home to iconic wildlife such as rhinoceroses, elephants,
lions, leopards, and pangolins. This remarkable natural heritage has
made South Africa a leader in conservation and eco-tourism. However,
this rich biodiversity has also become increasingly vulnerable to
exploitation, particularly through the illegal trade in endangered species.
The illegal wildlife trade—also referred to as wildlife trafficking—is a
multibillion-dollar global black market enterprise. It encompasses the
illicit capture, killing, and sale of protected species and their derivatives,
such as rhino horn, elephant ivory, pangolin scales, lion bones, and
exotic birds and reptiles. In South Africa, this trade not only undermines
conservation efforts but also threatens national security, disrupts
ecosystems, fosters corruption, and fuels organized crime syndicates that
exploit loopholes in legal and enforcement systems.
August 2025; 100% CORRECT AND TRUSTED SOLUTIONS
TABLE OF CONTENT
1. Introduction
2. Definition of Key Concepts
3. Factors Contributing to Illegal Wildlife Trade in South Africa
4. Case Study: The Illegal Trade of Rhinoceros Horns
5. Efforts to Combat Illegal Wildlife Trade
6. Conclusion
7. List of References
1. Introduction
South Africa is globally renowned for its extraordinary biodiversity,
encompassing a wide range of unique flora and fauna across various
ecosystems such as savannas, forests, wetlands, and coastal regions. The
country hosts approximately 10% of the world’s bird, fish, and plant
species and is home to iconic wildlife such as rhinoceroses, elephants,
lions, leopards, and pangolins. This remarkable natural heritage has
made South Africa a leader in conservation and eco-tourism. However,
this rich biodiversity has also become increasingly vulnerable to
exploitation, particularly through the illegal trade in endangered species.
The illegal wildlife trade—also referred to as wildlife trafficking—is a
multibillion-dollar global black market enterprise. It encompasses the
illicit capture, killing, and sale of protected species and their derivatives,
such as rhino horn, elephant ivory, pangolin scales, lion bones, and
exotic birds and reptiles. In South Africa, this trade not only undermines
conservation efforts but also threatens national security, disrupts
ecosystems, fosters corruption, and fuels organized crime syndicates that
exploit loopholes in legal and enforcement systems.
