Karmactive Staff
A worldwide push to stop animal smuggling has led to the rescue of nearly 20,000 endangered animals. Police and customs officials from 138 countries worked together from November 11 to December 6, making this the biggest operation of its kind.
The rescue mission, called Operation Thunder 2024, found animals being smuggled for different reasons – some as exotic pets, others for food, and many for false medical treatments. Among those saved were 12,427 birds, 5,877 turtles, and 18 big cats, including eight baby tigers found at an illegal breeding center.
“Criminal groups are making money by stealing these animals from nature,” explains Valdecy Urquiza from INTERPOL, the international police organization. “When we take action against wildlife crime, we’re protecting our planet for future generations.”
The smugglers have gotten creative. They hide turtles in suitcases, pack birds into secret car compartments, and sell rare species through fake social media accounts. In one case, Indian officials found over 5,000 turtles stuffed in luggage. In Turkey, police rescued 6,500 songbirds being smuggled across the border.
This illegal trade is worth about $21 billion every year – money that could have supported local communities through legal tourism and conservation. The criminals also smuggle tree lumber, with Indonesia alone catching 134 tonnes of illegal timber headed to Asia.
To help catch these smugglers, wildlife experts collect DNA samples from rescued animals. This evidence helps identify species types and their origins, revealing new trafficking routes and emerging trends. The collection of DNA is crucial for supporting prosecutions.
Ian Saunders, who leads the World Customs Organization, points out a serious problem: “Operation Thunder continues to shed light on a crime that is often not a priority for enforcement actors. The illegal wildlife trade is still rapidly growing, highly lucrative and has devastating effects.”
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The operation shows both progress and challenges. While 365 smugglers were arrested, the trade continues to grow. Police found criminals using everything from social media to shipping containers to move animals and plants illegally. They also seized over 300 firearms, vehicles and poaching equipment.
What makes this operation different is how countries worked together. They shared information about wanted smugglers and worked across borders to track criminal networks. When officials in one country found suspicious shipments, they could quickly alert their colleagues in other countries.
These rescued animals are now in conservation centers, where experts check their health and try to return them to their natural homes when possible. The operation’s success shows that when countries work together, they can better protect endangered wildlife from smugglers who see animals only as products to sell.
