Wildlife trafficking has long posed an issue for authorities trying to wrangle a multi-billion-dollar illegal trade that often yields high profits for smugglers.

What has already been a growing problem in the U.S. has been exasperated by online sellers and social media, making these underground transactions even easier and resulting in millions of at-risk and endangered animals passing through the hands of traffickers each year.

After locating, intercepting and confiscating trafficked animals, wildlife law enforcement often find themselves faced with another challenge – finding a safe place to send them.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) announced a new initiative to combat this issue in Southern California, which is home to a hot illegal trade market.

The Wildlife Confiscations Network is a pilot program of AZA’s Wildlife Trafficking Alliance and will serve as a point of contact for rescuers looking to place wildlife in qualified, trusted facilities. Dedicated confiscations coordinators with the network will connect with authorities to determine the needs of animals and direct them to "fully vetted and permitted professional animal care facilities," such as qualifying zoos, aquariums, sanctuaries, rehabs and other proper care facilities.

“Wildlife trafficking is a serious crime that impacts imperiled species throughout the world,” said Martha Williams, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service director in a press statement. “When live wild animals and plants are seized at U.S. ports of entry, it is critical to provide the highest standard of care as quickly as possible. It is also essential to grant safe and appropriate housing for species that cannot be returned to their country of origin."

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More than 10,000 wildlife trafficking cases investigated in 2022

In 2022, partnering law enforcement investigated over 10,000 wildlife trafficking cases, collected over $11,000,000 in criminal penalties and worked with federal agencies to process over 160,000 shipments and size illegal ones, according to AZA. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service likewise confiscated more than 50,000 illegally transported animals between 2015 and 2019.

Now, enforcement agencies in the Southern California region will be able to make a single call to facilitate placement, a resource that is set to become available nation-wide next year.

Thanks to LAX serving as popular port for traffickers, the California-focused network will work with officials to lighten their logistical load, allowing investigators to focus on catching and stopping perpetrators. Popular area facilities including the LA and San Francisco zoos are likewise partnering with the program, having already taken in multiple confiscated animals in recent years.

“Many AZA-accredited zoos and aquariums already work closely with law enforcement agencies to provide critical support for the victims of the illegal wildlife trade,” said Dan Ashe, AZA president and chief executive officer in a press release. “We are pleased to formalize this work by establishing the Southern California Wildlife Confiscations Network pilot program to ensure the ongoing conservation of threatened species and the wellbeing of individual animals. We will take what we learn in this process and begin to build out the network nationwide.”

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