Abstract:

Uncontrolled trade in wildlife may lead to extinction or endangerment of wildlife resources. Theoretical analysis on the characteristics and impacting factors on wildlife trade will improve the management of wildlife trade. We analyzed the features of wildlife trade, excluding timber and ocean fishery trades, from the view points of biological, sociological, economic and culture aspects. Comparing with other trade, the trade in wildlife is characterized by its traditional, regional, directional, seasonal, dispersive, substitutable, positive feedback and supplemental features. We pointed out that biological factors such as population size, possibility of acquirement, body size, periodic fluctuation in population size, endurance to harvest, sub-stitutability all influence trade of wildlife. Sociological factors such as policy, law enforcement, social psy-chology, income and hunting technique, at the same time, culture and traditional customs also affect the form and range of trade in wildlife. It provides theory basis for the management in wildlife trade to study the bio-logical, sociological, economic and culture influences on wildlife trade.