“Inside the Dark World of Illegal Wildlife Trafficking: The Victims and Heroes Fighting Back”

In a small room in Torrance, CA, a criminal investigator is faced with a troubling discovery. Five open plastic tanks hold box turtles, native to eastern North America, that were recently seized at a nearby international mail facility in Los Angeles. These turtles were bound for Asia, part of the illegal wildlife trade that is estimated to be a multi-billion dollar enterprise.

The box turtles, numbering around forty, are not just evidence of a crime but also victims themselves. They are distressed, possibly sick, and far from their natural habitat. These turtles serve as an indicator species for their environment, meaning their well-being reflects the health of their ecosystem.

Wildlife trafficking is a significant global issue, impacting biodiversity, local economies, and ecosystem balance. Authorities are faced with the challenge of caring for confiscated animals and finding them suitable long-term care facilities. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Association for Zoos and Aquariums have launched a network to address this issue, with plans to expand the program to other regions.

The surge in wildlife trafficking highlights the urgent need for conservation efforts and stricter enforcement of laws to protect endangered species. The story of these box turtles sheds light on the larger problem of illegal wildlife trade and the importance of preserving biodiversity.

For more information on illegal wildlife trafficking and to view additional photos, visit climate correspondent Nate Rott’s full story. If you have any wildlife stories you’d like us to cover, please email us at [email protected]. You can listen to Short Wave on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Google Podcasts, and support NPR’s work by signing up for Short Wave+ at plus.npr.org/shortwave. This episode was produced by Berly McCoy, edited by Rebecca Ramirez, and fact-checked by Nate Root and Rachel Carlson, with audio engineering by Gilly Moon.