Nearly 30,000 Illegally Trafficked Animals Rescued In a Month-Long Global Extraction Mission By Moná Thomas

Nearly 30,000 live animals were rescued during a sweeping, month-long global crackdown on illegal wildlife trafficking, according to international law enforcement agencies, marking one of the largest coordinated efforts to date against environmental crime.

According to a release from Interpol, the mission, which took place from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15, saw authorities across 134 countries carry out Operation Thunder 2025, a joint initiative led by Interpol and the World Customs Organization (WCO), with the support of partners from the International Consortium on Combating Wildlife Crime. The operation resulted in 4,640 seizures worldwide, the identification of approximately 1,100 suspects, and the interception of massive quantities of protected wildlife, plants, animal parts and illegally logged timber.

The illegal wildlife trade is primarily driven by demand for exotic pets, with birds, reptiles, primates, and rare insects among the most commonly trafficked species. In Indonesia alone, authorities rescued more than 3,000 birds. Elsewhere, officials seized over 1,000 birds in Brazil, pangolins in Laos, Egyptian tortoises in Thailand, gibbons and cuscuses in Malaysia, and shipments of hatching eggs in Australia.

While live rescues reached historic highs, investigators emphasized that most wildlife trafficking still involves animal parts and derivatives (such as severed gorilla hands, shark fins, and elephant hair), frequently used in traditional medicine, luxury foods, or decorative items. During the operation, authorities seized more than 30 tons of protected species listed under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), along with 32,000 cubic meters of illegally harvested timber.

Interpol Secretary General Valdecy Urquiza said the operation exposed how wildlife trafficking networks increasingly intersect with other forms of organized crime, such as drug trafficking and human exploitation.

“These syndicates target vulnerable species, undermine the rule of law, and endanger communities worldwide,” said Urquiza. “Recognizing these deeply interconnected crime threats, Interpol is committed to strengthening global policing responses, dismantling the entire ecosystem of illicit activity, and protecting our planet’s shared natural and human heritage.”

The scale of the trade underscores the enormous profits at stake. Wildlife crime is estimated to generate at least $20 billion annually, though officials say the true figure is likely far higher due to the underground nature of the market.

WCO Secretary General Ian Saunders highlighted that customs agencies remain a critical frontline defense against the growing cross-border trade. “This global threat demands collective action, and the WCO is committed to delivering technical assistance, driving deeper intelligence exchange, and strengthening partnerships across the law-enforcement community to dismantle criminal enterprises and secure a sustainable future for the world’s biodiversity,” added Saunders.

Operation Thunder 2025 also revealed other emerging threats. Law enforcement reported a sharp rise in the trafficking of bushmeat (the meat of African wild animals) into Europe. According to the report, Belgian authorities intercepted primate meat, Kenyan officials seized more than 400 kilograms of giraffe meat, and Tanzanian officers recovered zebra and antelope meat and skins. In total, a record 5.8 tons of bushmeat were seized globally.

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Marine wildlife trafficking surged as well, with more than 245 tons of protected marine species confiscated, including thousands of shark fins. Meanwhile, nearly 10,500 insects and arthropods — such as butterflies, spiders, and beetles — were seized.

The illegal plant and timber trade also reached a record high. Authorities seized more than 10 tons of live plants and plant derivatives. Illegal logging, officials noted, accounts for up to 30% of the global timber trade.

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Beyond arrests and rescues, officials say the intelligence gathered during Operation Thunder 2025 will help map global criminal networks (that increasingly lean on cryptocurrency and digital assets), strengthen future investigations, and support long-term efforts to protect vulnerable species and ecosystems worldwide.