Giant pandas, Sumatran rhinoceroses, tigers, and Tibetan antelopes made the World Wildlife Fund’s list of the 10 most-wanted species this year, animals that are endangered because of the multi-billion-dollar illegal wildlife trade. Despite international efforts to combat trade in endangered species, WWF says business is booming, with some $2 billion to $3 billion in sales each year. Many species are killed to make delicacies, luxury products, and traditional medicines, and some are captured alive to be sold as exotic pets. The minke whale is the most heavily hunted of the at-risk species, sought by the Japanese for its meat, according to WWF. The group is calling for better enforcement of wildlife trafficking rules.
