WIS News 10 - Columbia, South Carolina | Wildlife expert fights U.S. black market animal trade

Wildlife expert fights U.S. black market animal trade

UNDATED (NBC) - The black market wildlife trade is conservatively a $20 billion dollar a year industry. And it's not something that just happens overseas, it's happening right here in the United States.

As part of a special two-hour documentary called "100 Heartbeats" airing this Sunday on MSNBC, wildlife expert Jeff Corwin traveled the world profiling endangered species and took a closer look at what is happening on the black market.

Second only to the illegal trade of narcotics and arms is the black market wildlife trade. Conservatively, it is a $20 billion a year industry. And if you don't think the black market trade in wildlife is thriving here in the united states. Think again.

In a Colorado warehouse supervised by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, body parts of endangered species line the walls.

Once roaming freely in their respective lands, now they serve as a sad reminder of the thriving U.S. black market.

While the ivory from elephants can sell for thousands of dollars, often times endangered species are killed for little or no profit. It is one of the many grim realities conservationists face everyday.

"This is why Rhinos are being slaughtered in Africa: for this horn," said Corwin. "Its made out of Keratin. It's like your fingernails. Some people believe it has a medicinal value. It's also used for daggers. But unfortunately it's driving this creature to extinction."

But there is hope. Each year the U.S. seizes more than $10 million worth of illegally imported wildlife at international airports nationwide. Those that get caught face up to 20 years in prison. It's a big price to pay, but one lawmakers hope will prevent illegal trading from happening here.

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