Pressures for illegal wildlife trade are driven by high prices in overseas markets. Prices for birds, for example, range from $1,500 for a sulfur-crested cockatoo to $50,000 for a glossy black cockatoo. Allegations have been made that light aircraft smuggle wildlife from northern Australia. The alleged flights are usually destined for Indonesia, Singapore, or Thailand where forged documents are often used to circumvent customs requirements. Stocks are then moved on to buyers in Europe, Japan, and the United States. The Convention for International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) is intended to achieve greater control over commercial wildlife trade. In addition, many countries have developed legislative controls over the import and export of wildlife in accordance with their obligations under CITES. Australia's Wildlife Protection Act of 1982 requires the Australian National Parks and Wildlife Service to coordinate intelligence and investigative activities of relevant agencies, provide scientific expertise and evidence, maintain an intelligence data base on wildlife trafficking, and educate the public about the Act's requirements. The extent of illegal wildlife trade in Australia is discussed in terms of the nature of the marketplace, regulatory principles, law enforcement responsibilities, prosecution and penalties, and official corruption. Future trends in detecting and controlling illegal wildlife imports and exports focus on the registration of legal imports, DNA profiling, uniform licensing systems, and environmentally sustainable development alternatives. 9 references