WWF Supports New Legislation to Address Wildlife Crime

In response to today’s introduction of the Wildlife Trafficking Enforcement Act by Senators Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) and Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), World Wildlife Fund (WWF) released the following statement from Senior Vice President for Wildlife Conservation Ginette Hemley:

“By introducing the Wildlife Trafficking Enforcement Act, Senators Feinstein and Graham have sent a clear signal that Congressional leaders on both sides of the aisle recognize that wildlife crime is a serious crime.

“Wildlife trafficking has become a crime with low risk and high reward. The bill brings enforcement to the forefront by stiffening penalties against wildlife traffickers. WWF strongly supports measures in the bill that will provide federal law enforcement with additional tools to protect some of the planet’s most threatened wildlife from criminals who traffic in them.

”We look forward to working with Congress to ensure those same tools can be applied to the wide range of species threatened by organized crime and illegal wildlife trade.”