Zoo and Field Conservationists Call for Worldwide Action to Stop Illegal Killing of Wildlife
Denver, CO (PRWEB) July 25, 2013 -- Denver Zoo joins more than 200 other wildlife conservationists representing more than 40 zoos and wildlife programs in 36 countries to call on governments around the world to increase resources needed to combat the alarming rise in the illegal wildlife trade. Meeting in Des Moines, Iowa, earlier this month, zoo officials, scientists and wildlife experts at the 9th Zoos and Aquariums Committing to Conservation Conference (ZACC) agreed that urgent action is needed to combat the well-organized and heavily armed criminals who are draining the world's ecosystems of wildlife and threatening human populations.
“What we are seeing is unprecedented and seems to be gaining speed. The demand for bushmeat, exotic pets and illegal ivory is causing an extinction crisis. Animals are being killed and captured much faster than they can possibly reproduce. We must find a way to change the course of these criminal activities and protect animals before it’s too late,” says Denver Zoo Director of Conservation Biology Amy Levine.
On the heels of the U.S. government's recent announcement of $10 million to assist African countries with anti-poaching efforts to protect elephants, rhinos and other wildlife, the ZACC delegates urged all governments and international groups to launch sustained campaigns to stop the illegal killing of wildlife, including increased law enforcement with prompt and serious punishments for wildlife crime, more cooperation between governments to combat cross-border activity and campaigns to raise awareness among consumers about the illegal wildlife trade.
“Denver Zoo has worked with governments around the world since 1996 to support animal conservation in the field. At our most recent ZACC conference we spent a lot of time discussing how to work more collaboratively with all governments through our shared connections amongst zoos and field conservationists. However, we also need public support to encourage governments to see this as a priority and ensure the funding necessary to enforce the laws that protect these animals,” says Levine.
Illegal wildlife trade is devastating imperiled species on several continents including the world’s most iconic species such as big cats and great apes, sharks and rays, countless birds, turtles and other reptiles and lesser-known animals, such as pangolins and slow lorises. The trade is feeding demand for illegal traditional medicine, exotic pets, bushmeat and other wildlife products such as ivory. In parts of the world, poaching and overexploitation have created the "empty forests" phenomenon where even small species such as bats, birds, and rodents have been wiped out.
The illegal wildlife trade is an industry based on organized crime worth billions of dollars annually. In addition to decimating animal populations worldwide and robbing current and future generations of their irreplaceable natural heritage, the illegal wildlife trade has been linked to organized criminal activities such as the illicit drug trade, weapons proliferation and human trafficking. In many parts of the world, the illegal wildlife trade is generating money that funds terrorism.
Denver Zoo will continue to counter these efforts by leading and supporting global conservation programs including research and population monitoring programs focused largely on large carnivores in Botswana, a project aimed at preserving the Lake Titicaca frog in Peru and greater one-horned rhino conservation in Nepal. Since 1996, Denver Zoo has participated in 598 conservation projects in 62 countries on all seven continents. In addition, two Denver Zoo staff are currently conducting a wildlife trade needs assessment in Vietnam, a country that acts both as a key trade route to China and as a key consumer of illegal wildlife products. Working with partners in Vietnam, our staff hopes to clarify the most effective ways American zoos can contribute to this growing threat to wildlife populations around the world.
Reaching more than 2 million people annually, Denver Zoo inspires a love an appreciation for animals around the world and creates avenues for public support of conservation of endangered species.
Denver Zoo is proud to host more than 300 dedicated animal conservationists at the Zoos and Aquariums Committing to Conservation Conference in 2015.
About Denver Zoo: Denver Zoo is home to 3,600 animals representing more than 600 species and is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA). AZA accreditation assures the highest standards of animal care.
A leader in environmental action, Denver Zoo is dedicated to ensuring the safety of the environment in support of all species and is the first U.S. zoo to receive ISO 14001 certification for the entire facility and operations. This international certification ensures the zoo is attaining the highest environmental standards.
Since 1996, Denver Zoo has participated in 598 conservation projects in 62 countries on all seven continents. In 2012 alone, Denver Zoo participated in 98 projects in 18 countries and more than $1.5 million in funds was spent by the zoo in support of animal conservation in the field.
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Tiffany Barnhart:, Denver Zoo, http://www.denverzoo.org, (720) 337-1444, [email protected]
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