The wild animals trader in the state of São Paulo: Myths and truths about its socioeconomic context

The trafficking of wild animals is one of the biggest causes of loss of biodiversity in the world. This descriptive article, using the hypothetical-deductive method, identified the regulations on the subject and the socioeconomic characteristics of wild animal traders in the state of São Paulo in 2018 and 2019. After analyzing 5,005 cases, the traders were identified as male, white, married, native, aged between fifty and 59 years old, with adequate income to pay the fine, with complete elementary education and educated, which opposes empirical findings present in the world literature, enabling the break of consolidated paradigms.

Keywords:
Wild animals; socioeconomic characteristics; illegal animal trade; environmental law; animal trader