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Endangered animals around the world face growing risks as U.S. foreign aid has been reduced
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Funding from U.S. aid once used to fight wildlife trafficking and poaching has largely disappeared
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something the nonprofits who use those funds say opens doors for international crime networks
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In 2024, Congress approved more than $365 million for biodiversity and nearly $119 million to combat poaching funneled through nonprofits and contracts
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With USAID shut down, much of that taxpayer-funded support has vanished. The Wildlife Conservation Society and African Parks use funding to train rangers, protect species, and monitor ecosystems
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Nearly half of their total income in fiscal year 2024 came from federal grants
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Anti-poaching programs also support security, helping law enforcement and deterring organized crime involved in trafficking and money laundering
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High-demand animal parts like tiger teeth, pangolin scales, rhino horns fuel a global black market
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Pangolins are now the world's most trafficked mammal. Environmental crime is skyrocketing, generating up to $281 billion annually
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with trafficking heaviest in Southeast Asia, Africa, and South America. Products flow to China, the U.S., and Europe, exploiting remote areas and open borders
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Find the full story right now on san.com or by downloading the Straight Arrow News mobile app today
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For Straight Arrow News, I'm Kaylee Carey
