Help Stop Illegal Wildlife Trafficking

Last quarter, the WRRT scoured the Cambodian province of Battambang, raiding restaurants, markets and roads in order to bring offenders to justice.

The operation concentrated on eight main target areas including one restaurant, four markets, two roadside areas, and one bridge. These particular locations were raided several times by the WRRT over the course of three days. As a result, 950 wild birds were seized including purple herons, cotton pygmy geese, yellow bitterns, painted storks and many, many more. Seventeen non-repeat offender contracts were issued during the operation. All offenders were given education sessions and information about illegal wildlife trading in order to prevent future offences. Traders also received warnings from the WRRT about the consequences of re-offending in the future.

Recently, the WRRT has placed special focus on conducting more sophisticated, intensive, and proactive investigations and operations. This operation was developed with a specific law enforcement plan, spanned an entire province, and included several target locations that were raided multiple times in a short period in order to undermine a trafficking network. It demonstrated the increasing success that the WRRT is experiencing with these more sophisticated and comprehensive operations. Because the WRRT has succeeded in disrupting the illegal wildlife trade in Cambodia by approximately 75%, those that are still trading have been driven even further underground and using even more sophisticated means to conduct their criminal enterprises. This means, that the WRRT must remain vigilant, and must constantly improve its techniques and approaches. Help the WRRTcontinue to dismantle trafficking networks and further deter the devastating illegal wildlife trade in Cambodia!

Last week we celebrated the first ever World Wildlife Day! Created by the United Nations to highlight the incredible animals with which we share our planet, this day also serves to remind us of the urgent need to protect them. In his message, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon asked citizens and governments to commit to help end illegal wildlife trafficking, stating that, “the environmental, economic and social consequences of wildlife crime are profound. Of particular concern are the implications of illicit trafficking for peace and security in a number of countries where organized crime, insurgency and terrorism are often closely linked.” Our wildlife is under ever more pressing threat, and wildlife crime is putting many of the world's species in immediate danger of extinction.

Since 2001, Wildlife Alliance has been working to halt this criminal trade. We partnered with the Cambodian government to create a special wildlife crime investigation and counter-trafficking unit known as the Wildlife Rapid Rescue Team (WRRT). This team travels throughout Cambodia conducting undercover operations, investigating trafficking networks, intercepting wildlife shipments and rescuing animals. The WRRT has rescued over 56,000 animals and confiscated 30 tons of wildlife products since 2001. In 2013 alone, the team conducted 640 operations, apprehended 189 traders, imposed $16,000 in fines, and rescued 2,616 animals from the wildlife trade. While the team has made remarkable advances in tearing down the trafficking network in Cambodia, the deterrents are not enough to put an end to wildlife crime. Recently, wildlife is increasingly being transported from Thailand into Cambodia and then onto Vietnam. To address this new trend, the WRRT initiated meetings with border authorities, including Customs officials and local police at well known wildlife trafficking points. The purpose of the meetings has been to strengthen ties and encourage authorities to work closely with the WRRT regarding the transnational trading of wildlife and wildlife parts. Increased cooperation with border and airport officials has already led to several successful arrests, and we hope to continue to build on these relationships in the upcoming year. It has become clear the illegal trade is becoming increasingly sophisticated, and the WRRT is utilizing all its resources to continue to work aggressively to end wildlife trafficking in Cambodia. We urge you to help us celebrate this inaugural event by supporting the rangers and law enforcement officials that devote their lives daily to protect our planet.