CITES Species Identification Guides

West and Central African countries have recognized that the development of tools and resources facilitating the identification of CITES-protected species, including identification guides, is key to successful CITES enforcement. Born Free USA has therefore developed country-specific CITES species identification guides for the following nations:

Benin (French)

Chad (French)

Congo (French)

Gabon (French)

Gambia (English)

Ghana (English)

Guinea (French)

Guinea-Bissau (French)

Ivory Coast (French)

Liberia (English)

Togo (French)

Resources on International Conferences

CITES CoP18 (2019)

In August 2019, Born Free was at The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) Conference of Parties (CoP) 18 in Geneva, Switzerland.

CITES CoP19 (2022)

In November 2022, Born Free was at The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) Conference of Parties (CoP) 19 in Panama.

Resources on Trophy Hunting and Canned Hunting

Trophy Hunting: Busting the Myths and Exposing the Cruelty

This report, published by Born Free in July 2019, challenges many of the myths that persist about the supposed “benefits” of trophy hunting and exposes trophy hunting for what it truly is: a cruel practice that neither significantly benefits wildlife conservation efforts nor provides vast economic opportunities for local communities in the places where hunts take place.

The Trophy Hunting Debate

Trophy hunters claim that trophy hunting aids in wildlife conservation efforts, contributes greatly to national economies, and helps support local communities. These claims are deeply controversial. In truth, trophy hunting does little to nothing in terms of wildlife conservation, contributing to national economies, or supporting local communities.

Trophy Hunting Timeline

In 2014, the Obama Administration banned the import of legally-hunted elephant remains from Zimbabwe and Zambia, noting the lack of information to support that trophy hunts help conserve species. Recently, however, the U.S. Government has taken concerning steps and made inconsistent statements to suggest that it may reverse these and other bans, and encourage international trophy hunts.

Report: Economics of Trophy Hunting in Africa Are Overrated and Overstated

This 2013 trophy hunting report details the true economics of trophy hunting in Africa and reveals that very little of the revenue generated by trophy hunting is invested in conservation efforts or back into local communities.

Paper: Effects of Trophy Hunting on Lion and Leopard Populations in Tanzania

House Natural Resources Committee Democrats' "Missing the Mark" Report on Trophy Hunting (2017)

World of Animals: "Trophy Hunting: The Bad, The Ugly... and the Good?"

GRAPHIC: Trophy Hunting Is Not Wildlife Conservation

GRAPHIC: Endangered Species Are Negatively Impacted by Trophy Hunting

GRAPHIC: The U.S. Plays a Major Role in Trophy Hunting

GRAPHIC: The Economic Benefits of Trophy Hunting Are Grossly Misstated

GRAPHIC: Trophy Hunting Does Not Meet Compassionate Conservation Goals

GRAPHIC: The Circle of Death on South Africa's Lion Farms

Webinars

Webinar: Trophy Hunting: Killing Is Not Conservation

On Wednesday, July 22, 2020, Born Free USA hosted Trophy Hunting: Killing Is Not Conservation, a webinar on trophy hunting. Born Free USA CEO, Angela Grimes, hosted a conversation with experts from around the world: Eduardo Gonçalves, Founder of Campaign to Ban Trophy Hunting (U.K.); Dr. Mark Jones, Head of Policy at Born Free Foundation (U.K.); Jennifer Place, Pike Associates, LLC (U.S.); and Dr. Liz Tyson, Born Free USA Programs Director (U.S.). Panelists discussed why trophy hunting is unsustainable, the cruelty of canned hunting, the status of work to end this terrible practice both in the U.S. and internationally, legislative efforts in the U.S., and more.

Webinar: Wildlife Trade and COVID-19

On May 14, 2020, Born Free USA hosted a special webinar on wildlife trade and the COVID-19 pandemic, discussing the link between COVID-19 and wildlife trafficking and what we are doing to combat the wildlife trade, followed by a live Q&A.

Resources on Poaching

Born Free Foundation: Learn more about Bushmeat

Bloody Ivory

Threat Assessment Reports

Understanding Threats to West African Biodiversity and Linkages to Wildlife Trafficking: Burkina Faso Field Assessment Report

Understanding Threats to West African Biodiversity and Linkages to Wildlife Trafficking: Guinea Field Assessment Report

Understanding Threats to West African Biodiversity and Linkages to Wildlife Trafficking: Nigeria Field Assessment Report

Other Resources

Toolkit: ICCWC Wildlife and Forest Crime Analytic Toolkit (by UNODC) (English)

Toolkit: ICCWC Wildlife and Forest Crime Analytic Toolkit (by UNODC) (French)

Report: World Wildlife Crime - The Trafficking in Protected Species (by UNODC)

Report: Enhancing the Detection, Investigation and Disruption of Illicit Financial Flows from Wildlife Crime (by UNODC)

Report: Justice for Forests - Improving Criminal Justice Efforts to Combat Illegal Logging (by The World Bank)

Report: The Rise of Environmental Crime (by UNEP-INTERPOL)

Pamphlet: Financial Flows from Wildlife Crime (by UNODC)

Pamphlet: Corruption and Wildlife Crime (by UNODC)

Factsheet: Environmental Crime - The Trafficking of Wildlife and Timber (by UNODC)

Flyer: Wildlife and Forest Crime (by UNODC)

Useful Links

Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES)

Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS)

The International Consortium on Combating Wildlife Crime (ICCWC)

United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC)

Interpol - Environmental Crime

World Customs Organization (WCO)

World Bank - Global Wildlife Program

Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS)

Central African Forest Commission (COMIFAC)

African Elephant Coalition

USAID West Africa Biodiversity and Climate Change (WABiCC)

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS)

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)

Pan African Sanctuary Alliance (PASA)

Latest News and Work

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Born Free USA is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. EIN 94-6187633.