How big is the animal-trafficking problem in Brazil?
The United Nations says that the illegal trade in animals is the third largest illicit activity in the world, trailing only arms and drugs. It estimates that illegal trade in wildlife to be worth about [US]$20 billion a year. Brazil is responsible for about 10% of this market. Were talking about [US]$2 billion just in Brazil. I was a little nave, which in fact was a good thing. If Id thought that Id be hassling people who earn $2 billion a year, maybe Id have given up. After the threats began, it dawned on me, but by then I was already committed. What sorts of threats did you receive? People aimed guns at my face. Armed people have tried to invade my home. Many phone calls. One time I had to hide in the bathroom of an airport because I was being pursued by people who were armed. Sometimes you feel like giving up. But you get over it. The more threats we receive, the more we know were getting to them. We use it as a thermometer to measure our progress. Police officers told us that the b
