stopping smugglers is the first step, rescuing animals is the next

We’re helping law enforcement take care of animals rescued from wildlife trafficking.

Problem

Around the world, animals are captured by wildlife traffickers, smuggled across international borders, and then sold as exotic pets, primarily for the European and North American markets. Law enforcement officials are cracking down on this kind of wildlife crime, detaining smugglers and rescuing animals.

But without established procedures, proper training, and the right equipment, law enforcement officials often don’t know how to handle these animals or where to send them. As a result, suffering animals unintentionally suffer even further. They go without treatment in unprepared and under-resourced facilities. And they are rarely returned to their original homes. 

Solution

Through our Live Animals Seized in Trade (LAST) project, we’re helping law enforcement officials implement the procedures and best practices that they need to properly care for rescued animals.

When an animal is rescued, we engage rescue centers, sanctuaries, and zoos to place the animal under their care. While the animal recovers, we work with wildlife authorities and the scientific community to identify the animal’s original habitat and determine whether it can safely and humanely return to life in the wild there.

In collaboration with agencies like IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature), we challenge current release guidelines and find innovative ways to return healthy animals back to the wild while also avoiding the risk to existing wild populations.