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Press Release

Wildlife Trafficking Task Force Releases First Annual Progress Report

For Immediate Release
Office of Public Affairs

The Presidential Task Force on Wildlife Trafficking released today, World Wildlife Day, its first Annual Progress Assessment.  The report details accomplishments of the Task Force in implementing the U.S. National Strategy for Combating Wildlife Trafficking, as well as future efforts in the fight against this pernicious trade.

Last year was a turning point in the global effort to counter wildlife trafficking.  Task Force agencies vigorously carried out the three main objectives of the National Strategy: strengthening enforcement, reducing demand and expanding international cooperation.  One multi-year initiative known as “Operation Crash” has led to prosecutions against more than 30 individuals and businesses in U.S. courts, leading to prison terms as long as 70 months and forfeitures as high as $4.5 million. 

“The Department of Justice is firmly committed to vigorously prosecuting illegal wildlife trafficking, one of my personal goals,” said Assistant Attorney General John C. Cruden of the Department of Justice’s Environment and Natural Resources Division.  “Each illegally-traded horn or tusk represents not simply an object but a dead animal.  We must take the profit out of wildlife trafficking to stop the criminals who are robbing from our children and grandchildren the great diversity of life on our planet.”

Task Force agencies last year trained more than 2,000 enforcement officials around the globe.  In countering demand, Task Force campaigns in 2015 reached tens of millions of people in the United States and major markets throughout Asia to dissuade consumers from buying illegal wildlife or wildlife products.  A major accomplishment in international cooperation was the September commitment by President Obama and Chinese President Xi Jinping to take timely and significant steps to halt the domestic commercial trade of ivory.

President Obama created the Task Force in 2013, bringing together 17 federal departments and offices in a whole-of-government approach to halt illegal activities that threaten the survival of elephants, rhinos and other iconic species.  The Task Force is co-chaired by the Secretaries of State and the Interior and the Attorney General and it is charged with implementing the national strategy issued by President Obama in 2014 and detailed in an implementation plan in 2015.

For a copy of the 2015 Progress Assessment, click here.

Updated August 11, 2016

Topics
Environment
Wildlife
Press Release Number: 16-247