CAWT partners seek to address the growing threats to wildlife from poaching and illegal trade, working individually and jointly toward achieving the Coalition's goals, with each partner acting where it can contribute most effectively. The CAWT organisation is not directly involved in any enforcement activities.

The Coalition Against Wildlife Trafficking (CAWT) aims to focus public and political attention and resources on ending the illegal trade in wildlife and wildlife products

Follow latest reports of wildlife trafficking    

Latest News from the CAWT Partnership  

Friday
Apr192013

Record illegal wildlife seizure results in guilty plea from Sydney school teacher

Australia, 19th April 2013—A Parramatta man has entered a guilty plea in the Parramatta Local Court to 24 charges of possessing illegal wildlife products made from endangered species.

The charges against the 43-year-old school teacher, John Kolettas, relate to the haul of illegal wildlife products found during a search of premises in Western Sydney. Mr Kolettas' home was targeted as part of an extensive criminal investigation called Operation Bonaparte.

Altogether, 61 illegal wildlife products made from 24 endangered species were found in Mr Kolettas' possession. Among the illegal products seized were 11 orangutan skulls and 25 other skulls of monkeys, lynx, bears and a tiger. Other illegal items included teeth and skins from protected species such as orangutans, lynx, otters, and a feather headdress from a bird of paradise.

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Friday
Dec142012

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton calls for global action on wildlife trafficking

On November 8 2012, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton hosted the event, Wildlife Trafficking and Conservation, A Call to Action at the U.S. Department of State.

The event brought together US Government officials and ambassadors from countries around the world, as well as leaders from international organisations, non-governmental conservation organisations and the private sector.

The event aimed to energise and strengthen the global commitment to combat the illegal trade in wildlife and promote conservation by placing it squarely on the foreign policy and security agenda.

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Friday
Dec142012

USAID makes new program announcements for wildlife trafficking

At the recent event, Wildlife Trafficking and Conservation, A Call to Action, hosted by the US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, USAID Deputy Administrator Donald Steinberg announced three new programs contributing to the global effort to combat wildlife trafficking.

First, USAID will enter into a partnership with the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and TRAFFIC titled Wildlife Trafficking Response, Assessment, and Priority Setting (Wildlife TRAPS). TRAPS will focus on addressing trans-regional wildlife trafficking.

Second, USAID will join the Global Partnership for Oceans (GPO), a World-Bank-led trilateral partnership with over 100 public, private, and civil society partners.

Finally, USAID will develop a Technology Challenge on Wildlife Trafficking, engaging the best and brightest scientists and entrepreneurs to use technological solutions to combat wildlife trafficking.

In addition, the US Department of State will contribute $100 000 USD towards regional wildlife enforcement networks, which builds on the more than $24 million that USAID has already committed to the effort to combat wildlife trafficking over the past five years.

Tuesday
Oct232012

Australia – new Chair of CAWT

Illegal wildlife trade has a devastating impact on some of our most vulnerable flora and fauna species. The Australian Government is taking a lead role in the global effort against illegal trade in wildlife, as the new Chair of the Coalition Against Wildlife Trafficking (CAWT).

Australia’s collaborative and intelligence led approach to combating wildlife crime, makes it well placed to take up the position of Chair of this unique government/non-government partnership.

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