International Legal Best Practices for the Custodial Management of Trafficked Live Wild Animals

This publication is the first of its kind and serves as a guide for wildlife crimes law enforcement around the world who handle the confiscation and care of live wildlife seized from trafficking/smuggling operations. Shennie Patel provided her expertise in trafficking law enforcement and provided valuable feedback on the draft version in identifying gaps and providing useful guidance to refine this publication in the areas covering the law enforcement and criminal and civil seizure.

This publication is part of the “Confiscated Animals – Rescue and Enforcement (CARE) project,” an initiative made possible by the support & grant funding from the U.S. Department of State, and the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs. The project was developed by the International Fund for Animal Welfare, operates in partnership with Jakarta Animal Aid Network, the Jane Goodall Institute and Legal Atlas.

Experts included:

• Shennie Patel, Senior Counsel, Crowell & Moring, LLC, Washington, D.C. (former prosecutor with the U.S. Department of Justice's Environmental Crimes Section).
• Sarita Valentin, Senior Wildlife Inspector, Wildlife Inspection Program Headquarters Office of
• Law Enforcement, US Fish and Wildlife Service.
• Mathias Lörtscher, Head CITES MA of Switzerland,
• Craig Hoover, Executive Vice President, Association of Zoos and Aquariums.
• Neil Maddison, Director, Landscape Conservation.