Bird Market © TRAFFIC
The team carried out 37 market surveys, both online and at physical markets across Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan, between autumn 2024 and summer 2025, together with visits to breeding facilities.
The findings highlight Central Asia’s prominence in the global trade of live animals.
Without coordinated and sustained action, the live animal trade in this region will continue to threaten biodiversity and livelihoods.
Summary of findings:
TRAFFIC recommends that strengthening legal frameworks, improving enforcement and ensuring full traceability of traded live animals are essential steps towards fostering a legal, transparent and sustainable trade system in the Central Asia region.