In brief
The study, published in Science Advances, identifies 107,356 species in trade across plants, animals and fungi—more than double earlier estimates of roughly 50,000. Researchers highlight massive data gaps and call for standardized global reporting. Prof. Alice Hughes emphasizes that most traded species lack data on quantity and origin, underscoring the need for transparent monitoring.
MELBOURNE, Oct. 31 – A new study by the University of Melbourne shows that more than 107,356 species are used and traded worldwide, more than double the previous estimate of about 50,000 species, according to an Xinhua report.
The research, published in Science Advances, identified that 107,356 species are traded across plants, animals and fungi, underscoring how far the wildlife trade extends beyond the most high‑profile illegal species. The study argues that the real scale could be far greater because of major gaps in global monitoring data.
Lead researcher Professor Alice Hughes said the trade “extends far beyond the illegal trade of elephants, tigers and pangolins, encompassing timber, seafood, medicinal plants, pets, cut flowers, ornamental fish and fungi, most of which were legal.” She added that many of these species have little or no data on quantity, origin or population levels.
For most of these species we have little to no data. There is no data on quantity and origins, let alone the population level data to assess if trade poses a risk to species survival,
Hughes highlighted that the existing global biodiversity framework’s trade target only covers about 2–3 percent of traded species, missing the remaining 97 percent. The researchers called for standardized data collection and more comprehensive, transparent and globally coordinated reporting, suggesting that existing customs and animal‑health inspection processes could be adapted to improve monitoring.
