Researchers report that the number of plant and animal species involved in global wildlife use and trade is more than double earlier estimates. The studies say over 100,000 species are used or traded worldwide, spanning activities such as illegal smuggling and legal commerce as ornaments and products for other industries.
Both outlets describe how the evidence indicates large gaps in current assessments. They point to missing or incomplete data on how wildlife is collected and traded, and suggest the true scale could be even larger than the revised figures. The Guardian also highlights how recent changes, including growth in online exotic pet sales, make wildlife trafficking and buying more accessible, potentially outpacing older estimates.
Phys.org emphasises the revised species count and the possibility that the real number remains higher due to the data gaps, framing the finding as both an update and a warning about uncertainty in global wildlife-trade measurement.
