For years, Born Free USA has worked to stop illegal wildlife trafficking in West Africa. We partner with governments in the region to provide training and resources to law enforcement officials on the front lines of this important fight.
Recently, law enforcement officials in Benin trained by Born Free USA seized a record number of freshwater turtles – 876! The animals were discovered hidden in plastic bags at the back of a vehicle traveling from Nigeria. Tragically, due to the appalling conditions in which they were kept and transported, only 626 turtles survived.
A team of Born Free USA wildlife crime experts were already on the ground and were called in to help save the survivors, collect crucial evidence for the investigation, and ultimately support the safe return of the turtles to their natural habitat working alongside local communities.
Benin’s Wildlife Law Enforcement Task Force Took Action
The seizure was carried out by Benin’s Wildlife Law Enforcement Task Force (WLETF), a newly established unit dedicated to combating illegal wildlife trafficking. Benin’s WLETF was one of the first task forces established in West Africa. These national task forces bring together several law enforcement agencies and work together at national and regional levels to combat wildlife crime. As implementing partner for the Bureau for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL), Born Free USA has supported Benin with the establishment, training, and mentoring of its WLETF.
The Race was on to Get the Turtles Back to the Wild
The stress and poor conditions of the trafficking experience had already claimed the lives of 250 turtles. The remaining 626 turtles needed to be returned to the wild as soon as possible before they too succumbed to their ordeal.
Handling and housing living animals seized from traffickers is always a challenge for law enforcement. It is not always possible to immediately return an animal to the wild and, even when it is possible, there are often added expenses associated with transporting the animals back to their habitats. In the case of the turtles, $2,000 was urgently needed for their transport.
Born Free USA’s community of generous animal lovers snapped into action, helping us raise the needed funds within two days!
Getting the Turtles Back Home
We are thrilled to report that all 626 surviving turtles are being released back into their habitats in Benin and Nigeria! Rather than lives in captivity – assuming they survived the journey to their ultimate destinations at all – these animals can now enjoy the lives they were meant to live: in the wild, with others of their own species, free to live according to their natural behaviors, instincts, and life cycle.
You Can Help!
Our fundraiser to save the turtles has ended, but you can support our work to end wildlife crime in West Africa by making a donation or adopting a wildlife species. Your gift will support ongoing training and enforcement work in the region.
Keep Wildlife in the Wild,
Alice
Dear Reader,
We are a nonprofit committed to wildlife conservation, welfare, and rescue. Making resources free and widely distributed, like our news items, is an important part of our mission. If you found this article helpful, enjoyable, or enlightening, please donate to help keep these resources available, and Keep Wildlife In The Wild.
Thank You,
The Born Free USA Team
