When humans capture wild animals from their natural habitats and sell them for consumption, they put all of us at risk for zoonotic spillover. In the case of COVID-19, evidence shows the virus likely jumped from bats to an intermediate species and eventually to humans. The fallout has been devastating with the loss of loved ones, extreme economic hardship, and tremendous suffering.

Together, we can ensure a pandemic like COVID-19 never happens again by ending the commercial trade and consumption of wildlife. 

Our work has already begun. In Vietnam, WildAid and our local NGO partner, CHANGE, have been working with the government on an intensive month-long effort to provide input that will inform permanent wildlife trade regulations and build broad public support for them. In China, we are building upon our existing campaigns and amplifying government regulations by adding new messaging about pangolins in possible connection with COVID-19. In Africa, we will soon release a short documentary film that highlights the hazards of urban bushmeat markets to both humans and wildlife.

Because this is a global crisis that requires global, urgent action, we have joined with the Pangolin Crisis Fund, Global Wildlife Conservation and the Wildlife Conservation Society to implement key conservation strategies, including reducing consumer demand, phasing out supply chains, active monitoring for pathogens, and developing new opportunities for local communities dependent on wildlife consumption.