12. Wildlife Crimes and Legal Protection of Wildlife in China

The chapter focuses on crimes against wildlife as illustrated by ivory trade in China and its wildlife law in an attempt to identify some of the problems in the current legal protection regime for wildlife. It argues that wildlife crime is a serious crime, and transnational wildlife crime is a growing menace to the animal and human world and requires international actions. Despite the legal framework and laws at the international and domestic levels in many countries including China, African elephants, rhinos and other endangered wildlife are facing extinction due to the growing demand and trade for such animal products in Asia and the ineffective protection system. A fundamental change of attitude and conception in wildlife protection is required, that is, wildlife and animals in general need to be protected irrespective of their species and wildlife must not be seen as resources for human exploitation as illustrated by China’s ivory case. A more practical and immediate urgent measure is a comprehensive ban of all trade of ivory products in China and elsewhere. Wildlife are victims of human crimes and deserve our protection, and the definition of crimes against wildlife needs to be expanded to include harms done to them either legally or illegally in order to safeguard and enhance animal rights and interests in our increasingly globalized world.