Several years ago, the El Paso Zoo and Botanical Gardens answered a global call for volunteers to help rescue more than 10,000 critically endangered Radiated Tortoises (Astrochelys radiata) that were discovered by local police in a non-descript private residence in Toliara, Madagascar. The floors of virtually every room in the house were covered with tortoises that had no access to food or water. Hundreds had died from dehydration and illness. Experts from the Turtle Survival Alliance (TSA) and several zoos and aquariums were dispatched with medical supplies to help administer medical care for the sick or injured tortoises and general animal care. With support from our El Paso Zoological Society Conservation Fund, we were able to send Zoo Keeper Luis Villanueva to be a part of the rescue mission. It was the first time in the history of the Zoo that we were able to send a zoo staff person to Africa to support a conservation effort and we hope that it won’t be the last.
Today the Zoo remains focused on saving endangered species. Most of our work is centered on the species living here at the Zoo since all of them are conservation ambassadors for those animals that survive in the wild. There are many reasons why so many species are endangered of extinction or have gone extinct with habitat loss being the number one problem. Illegal wildlife trafficking is also a big problem and to help prevent it the El Paso Zoo is a member of the Wildlife Trafficking Alliance (WTA). In supporting a united effort to fight the global epidemic of wildlife trafficking WTA continues to leverage a variety of industry sectors and AZA-accredited facilities, including their coordinated effort through AZA SAFE: Saving Animals From Extinction program.
2021 has been another challenging year for many. Our thoughts are with those around the world whose lives have been upended due to political and economic turmoil, climate change and natural disasters, and an unrelenting pandemic. Despite these global challenges, the work of AZA’s Wildlife Trafficking Alliance (WTA) continues.
Below are a few highlights from our collaborative efforts this year, and a look ahead to 2022:
Strategic Corporate Partnerships: WTA and eBay executed a special year-long partnership in 2021 that included a strategic series of events from early spring to fall. The event series educated consumers about wildlife trafficking, aimed at reducing the attempted purchase and sale of illegal wildlife products on the eBay platform, and raising money for WTA initiatives. Read more here.
We also teamed up with Rauch Industries, makers of the world-famous Christopher Radko ornaments, on a two-year partnership to combat wildlife trafficking with a tiger-themed Christmas ornament. Made from blown glass, “The Coolest Cats” holiday ornament features a hand-painted tiger and her cub. A percentage of the sales from this ornament will benefit WTA’s global initiatives to combat tiger trafficking.
Confiscations Network: Momentum continues on The Southern California Wildlife Confiscations Network, a pilot program to provide a cooperative and coordinated response for the care and welfare of wildlife confiscated from illegal trade. The network met twice in 2021 and is working toward full implementation of the program in 2022, followed by a plan to expand the program nationally.
Pandemic Response: AZA launched its Reduce the Risk initiative this year, which will help prevent future emergence and spread of zoonotic diseases by combating wildlife trade (both legal and illegal) that poses a risk to human and animal health. WTA plays a critical role in this initiative by building on existing efforts and developing new initiatives to spark further engagement and advocacy on this important issue. This will include a campaign that will launch in spring 2022 to raise awareness and change attitudes and behavior related to the exotic pet trade in the United States. The campaign will focus on the illegal trade of live wildlife as pets, and the risk of zoonotic disease emergence, spillover, and spread caused by the live pet trade.
Airport Exhibits: WTA and its AZA-accredited partners will develop wildlife trafficking exhibits in key airports to educate travelers about products they might encounter while traveling abroad. The pilot exhibit will launch next spring in the international terminal of the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport.
U.S. Policy: Several key pieces of legislation have been reintroduced in Congress that will be critical to moving our issues forward. We look forward to working with our partners over the coming months to garner support for passage of these bills. Visit the WTA Legislative Action Center to take action today!
Conservation Education 