Wildlife releases are usually joyous events. Uplifting scenes of animals cautiously nosing the air as they take their first tentative steps into freedom warm our hearts. However, new research suggests the wild can be a “death trap,” especially if the released individuals lack the essential skills to find food and integrate with wild populations, or […]
Tag: illegal wildlife trade
People Are Using TikTok to Sell Endangered Animals to Eat
Critically endangered animals are being advertised for sale as bushmeat on TikTok, a new study finds. The work, published recently in Nature Conservation, underscores the growing role social media plays in the global illegal wildlife trade. Bushmeat—meat sourced from wild animals—is commonly eaten in many African and some Asian countries. Though some people hunt for […]
Cuddling capybaras and ogling otters: the problem with animal cafes in Asia
The second floor of an unassuming office building in central Bangkok is a strange place to encounter the world’s largest rodent. Yet here, inside a small enclosure with a shallow pool, three capybaras are at the disposal of dozens of paying customers – all clamouring for a selfie. As people eagerly thrust leafy snacks toward […]
It’s ‘whack-a-mole’: Alarming rise in pet trade fuels wildlife trafficking into California
In October, a U.S. Customs and Border Protection officer at California’s Otay Mesa border crossing noticed an odd bulge inside a man’s pants. Jesse Agus Martinez, a U.S. citizen who lives in Tijuana, repeatedly claimed the bump was “pirrin,” a Spanish word for penis. His history of smuggling birds into the U.S. prompted further examination, […]
Wildlife traffickers moving ‘dirty money’ within web of organized crime, researcher finds
The illegal wildlife trade is deeply connected to other forms of organized crime, including arms dealing, drug trafficking and human smuggling, a new study has found. Michelle Anagnostou led the research as part of her PhD at the University of Waterloo (UW). She said she was struck to discover, while doing the research, the big […]
New study reveals how illegal wildlife trade intersects with organized crime in Canada
When most people hear terms like poaching, wildlife trafficking or illegal wildlife trade, they probably think of threatened species such as elephants, rhinos, tigers or sharks. Geographically, wildlife crime may feel like a problem confined to southern Africa or southeast and East Asia. Of course, these species have long been heavily trafficked, and those regions […]
Nearly 20,000 animals seized in global wildlife trafficking crackdown
Big cats, birds, primates and pangolins were among the nearly 20,000 threatened or protected animals rescued in a recent global operation against wildlife and forestry traffickers. Led by Interpol and the World Customs Organization (WCO), the campaign, called Operation Thunder 2024, involved police, customs, border patrol, forestry and wildlife officials from 138 countries and regions. […]
Illegal Wildlife Trade Sparks Massive Global Rescue of Endangered Animals
The illegal wildlife trade is once again in the spotlight after a major international crackdown that saved thousands of at-risk creatures from traffickers. Teams of police, customs agents, and border officials united to track down suspects, shutting down hidden networks that profit from endangered species and put critical ecosystems at risk. According to an article […]