Opportunities to Engage: Wildlife

With initial funding from Google.org, WWF created the Wildlife Crime Technology Project (WCTP) in 2013, providing a platform to innovate and test new technologies, many of which have the potential to change the course of the global fight against wildlife crime. As a result of this early investment, WWF went on to partner with Teledyne FLIR and Cisco Systems to support WWF and our partner’s work in Africa to reduce poaching and help communities benefit from conservation.

The world’s most endangered species are under threat from an unsuspecting source—the Internet. Advances in technology and connectivity across the world, combined with rising buying power and demand for illegal wildlife products, have increased the ease of exchange from poacher to consumer. The Coalition to End Wildlife Trafficking Online brings together some of the world’s biggest e-commerce, technology, and social media companies from across the world in partnership with wildlife experts at WWF, TRAFFIC, and IFAW for an industry-wide approach to reduce wildlife trafficking online. Currently comprised of 47 participating companies, the Coalition has removed or blocked over 11.6 million listings for endangered species and associated products from their online platforms to date.

Wildlabs.net is an online platform created by WWF and Flora & Fauna International, in partnership with several leading conservation organizations, to bring together engineers, conservationists, students, NGOs, and technology experts from around the world to connect, learn, and engage in advancing the field of conservation technology.

The USAID Reducing Opportunities for Unlawful Transport of Endangered Species (ROUTES) Partnership brings together transport and logistics companies, government agencies, development groups, law enforcement, conservation organizations, academia and donors to disrupt wildlife trafficking by reducing the use of legal transportation supply chains and forms a key element of the concerted international response to addressing wildlife poaching and associated criminal activities worldwide.

WWF and the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) signed a memorandum of understanding to find new ways for the travel industry to halt illegal wildlife trade. More than 100 WTTC members have signed onto a declaration to tackle wildlife crime and educate customers and employees about the issue.

WWF is working to change the buying behavior of Chinese tourists during the biggest travel periods of the year. We are hosting events that promote alternative, sustainable souvenirs in popular destinations and working to dissuade potential buyers via social media in real time as they travel around active elephant ivory markets in Thailand, Vietnam, and other parts of Southeast Asia. And we are basing our approach on extensive research into elephant ivory consumers’ motivations and behavior change insights to ensure success. We continue to engage with partners like international airports, airlines, hotel chains, online travel agents, tourism authorities & associations, and influencers & celebrities.