Are you traveling this holiday season? 
Learn how to travel with wildlife in mind with WTA’s I Travel for Wildlife campaign! “I Travel for Wildlife” is a collaboration of AZA-accredited zoos and aquariums, airports, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and state wildlife agencies, to educate the public about wildlife trafficking and reduce demand for illegally-traded wildlife and wildlife products that might be encountered while traveling. Sign the pledge and sign up for texts to receive seven days of tips of how to be a conscious traveler and avoid wildlife products. Learn more atitravelforwildlife.org. The Southern California Confiscations Network launches! 
In late October, the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, in partnership with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, launched the Southern California Wildlife Confiscations Network, a first-of-its-kind partnership in the global fight against wildlife trafficking. The Network manages a hotline that serves as a central point of contact for law enforcement needing assistance when a trafficked animal is discovered. At its launch, the Network had 18 partner facilities in the region that will provide a pool of placement options and expertise to assist wildlife law enforcement. Focused for now on seizures at ports of entry in Southern California and the U.S. Southern border, the goal is to take the Wildlife Confiscations Network nationwide in 2024. There were dozens of media stories about the launch, including the local news channels. Reuters, LA Times, USA Today, and so many others provided excellent coverage of the wildlife trafficking crisis that is taking place at U.S. ports and borders and the critical role that the Network will play in providing care and wellbeing for those victims. Learn more about the Network. The More You Know About Exotic Pet Ownership… VisitNotAPet.net 
Wildlife Trafficking highlighted in the October Issue ofConnect magazine Caring for Confiscated Wildlife Providing a Coordinated Response to Save Victims of Wildlife Trafficking. Read the story. 
Caring for Confiscated Wildlife Providing a Coordinated Response to Save Victims of Wildlife Trafficking. Read the story. From Backyards to Black Markets AZA’s Saving Animals From Extinction (SAFE) North American Songbird program (NAS), established in 2019, took notice of the increasing number of confiscations and the active investigation into the trade by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. In an effort to reduce threats to North American songbirds and sustain wild populations, the SAFE NAS program developed a strategy encompassing seven key actions. Among these, to address North American songbird trafficking. Read the story. 
Toss the Tusk The Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ Wildlife Trafficking Alliance has teamed up with the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) to organize a series of Toss the Tusk ivory surrender events at AZA-accredited facilities in 2023. The hope is that these events will encourage people to engage in conserving elephants by surrendering any ivory, or other endangered animal products in their possession, and learning about the illegal wildlife trade. Read the story. 
