Wildlife Markets in South China

China is one of the largest consumers of wild animals for food and traditional Chinese medicine in the world. A large volume of illegal trade has been recorded in the primary cities, such as Hong Kong and Guangzhou, but the wildlife markets in secondary Chinese cities have not been investigated. This study was carried out in 7 cities in Guangdong and Guangxi provinces. Wildlife trade data were collected using semi-structured interview, observation, and market survey. The study documented the selling of 97 animal species, >7,000 individuals. The most frequently used animal groups by quantity were reptiles (51%), followed by birds (21%) and mammals (10%). Of the reported species, 23% were threatened, including 1 species critically endangered and 12 species endangered. In this study, there were 19 species observed that are recognized by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES). The results show that the animals originated not only from south China but also Indochina and Southeast Asia. Our survey also verified that Guangzhou and Hong Kong are not the only wildlife markets in South China. A large volume of illegal trade also is occurring in secondary cities in South China.