Jaguar Trafficking in Latin America Persists via Bone Paste and Pet Trade

· Investigations · Peru

An investigation by the Wildlife Justice Commission has found that jaguar trafficking in Latin America persists as an opportunistic, small-scale trade across seven countries. The WJC documented specific international connections involving Peru and Suriname. The trade reportedly continues through channels including bone paste and the smuggling of live animals as pets. The findings highlight a persistent enforcement gap: even as large-scale organized wildlife crime draws attention, smaller, fragmented networks keep moving jaguar parts and animals across borders. The report names Peru and Suriname as key links, offering investigators a concrete map of where the trade flows and where intervention could be targeted.

Why it matters：Fragmented wildlife trafficking networks are notoriously hard to disrupt, and the WJC's mapping of Peru and Suriname links gives enforcement agencies concrete targets in a trade that feeds organized crime.

Key points

  • The Wildlife Justice Commission conducted the investigation.
  • The trade persists across seven countries, including documented links to Peru and Suriname.
  • Channels include bone paste and pet smuggling of live animals.

Sources (original reporting)

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