Key facts about the illegal wildlife trade

A policeman arranges seized elephant tusks to be inspected at Makupa police station in Mombasa Credit: REUTERS/Joseph Okanga

Prince William is due to call on nations to take action over the trade in illegal animal parts in an important speech in Washington today.

According to the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), the world is dealing with an unprecedented spike in illegal wildlife trade, and Prince William is expected to warn "those who look the other way, or spend the illicit proceeds of these crimes, must be held to account."

Here are some more facts about the illegal wildlife trade:

  • 95% of the world's rhinos have been lost in the last 40 years with an estimated three rhinos poached each day.

  • Over 4,000 rhino horns were illegally exported from Africa in the last four years.

  • 22,000 African elephants were estimated to have been killed by poachers for their ivory in 2012.

  • Between 2000 and 2013, the parts of at least 1,537 tigers were seized in Asia - there are believed to be just 3,200 wild tigers left in the world.

  • In Garamba National Park in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, poachers have been known to use AK-47s and grenades to target elephants.

  • In China the wholesale price of ivory has reportedly risen from $5 (£3) to $2,100 (£1,346) per kg in the past 25 years.

The illegal wildlife trade is estimated to be worth between $5bn-$20bn (£3.2bn-£12.8bn) a year and is considered the fourth most lucrative global crime after drugs, human trafficking and arms deals, according to charitable group United for Wildlife.