US enforcement agents monitor the Rio Grande River, the border between U.S. and Mexico, for evidence of illegal wildlife trade. Over a fourth of the illicit wildlife products caught at American ports between 2005 and 2014 are traced back to Latin America.
In an ongoing battle against the illegal wildlife trade, a significant portion of the nearly 50,000 seized shipments over the past decade originated from Latin America, according to recent data.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) has been at the forefront of the fight, overseeing enforcement of wildlife laws along most of the U.S.-Mexico border. The main entry points for smuggled wildlife are border cities like El Paso, Texas, San Diego, California, Nogales, Arizona, and Laredo, Texas.
Smugglers have been found transporting live animals, such as parrots, reptiles, and small monkeys, across the southern U.S. border with Latin America. The top confiscated live animals are reptiles, parrots, and small monkeys from various South American countries and Mexico.
The Lacey Act, passed in 1900, plays a crucial role in this fight. This legislation prohibits the trade of illegally sourced wildlife, fish, and plants, and allows the U.S. to enforce the wildlife laws of the country of origin.
The USFWS is partnering with the U.S. Wildlife Trafficking Alliance to provide travelers and travel industry leaders with educational resources to combat the illegal wildlife trade. This collaboration aims to raise awareness and equip individuals with the knowledge to help prevent the trade of illegal wildlife products.
Sen. Chris Coons (D-Delaware) is among those leading the charge. He co-sponsored the END Wildlife Trafficking Act in the Senate and is hopeful that President Trump and his team will continue the fight against wildlife trafficking. The Eliminate, Neutralize, and Disrupt (END) Wildlife Trafficking Act was passed by Congress in 2016 to combat wildlife trafficking and poaching globally.
Offenders found guilty under this act would be charged with a misdemeanor and subject to a maximum fine of $25,000, or three times the value of the smuggled item, whichever's greater.
Many of the popular animals and wildlife items coming legally into the U.S. from Latin America are classified as CITES Appendix II species, which require a permit from the country of export. However, concern has been raised over proposed budget cuts across federal agencies that could have "crippling effects on our ability to fight wildlife crime," according to Bob Dreher, Defenders of Wildlife's senior vice president for conservation programs.
In response to this growing issue, several states have introduced legislation to combat wildlife trafficking. California is the only border state with multispecies legislation against wildlife trafficking, while Arizona is one of nine states that have already introduced similar legislation in 2017. Sen. Mimi Stewart (D-Albuquerque) has introduced the New Mexico Wildlife Trafficking Act to address wildlife trafficking in New Mexico.
The fight against wildlife trafficking is not just a U.S. effort. The U.S. government has addressed this issue by enforcing laws like the Lacey Act, conducting international cooperation, and supporting conservation and anti-trafficking programs. Many of the main countries producing illegal wildlife trade are often in Southeast Asia, Africa, and Latin America.
Bryan Arroyo, assistant director of the USFWS's International Affairs Program, states that governments and organisations are collaborating to combat wildlife trafficking. The National Wildlife Property Repository in Denver is where most of the confiscated animal products are sent, serving as a testament to the ongoing efforts to protect the world's wildlife.
The 2014 Living Planet Report by the World Wildlife Fund states that animal populations in Latin America have fallen by 83% since the 1970s. This stark statistic underscores the importance of the ongoing fight against wildlife trafficking and the need for continued collaboration and vigilance.
