Illegal wildllife trade is the slaughter or smuggling of animals for commercial gain. Illegal wildlife trade is one of the primary threats to a large number of species. Since 1970, for instance, more than 90 percent of the world's wild Rhinos have disappeared due to slaughter.

Examples of illegal wildlife trade are:
- Ivory elephant tusks carved into products such as jewelry, figurines, and piano keys.
- Furs made from larger spotted cats, such as jaguars, snow leopards, and tigers, and from smaller cats, such as ocelots, and tiger cats.
- Coral from reefs fashioned into jewelry and decorative ornaments
- Turtle shells and similar ocean artifacts.
- Plants, such as many orchids, cacti, and cycads.