TPWD, Dallas Zoo Fight Online Wildlife Crime

Thanks to support from Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation and the Dallas Zoo, a recent Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) law enforcement operation in North Texas conducted by Texas Game Wardens netted 15 citations and 10 warnings for the illegal sale of wildlife online.

Dubbed “Operation Wild Web,” the five-day proactive effort targeted the illegal sale of wildlife, wildlife products and invasive species via the internet. Texas Game Wardens searched a variety of websites and social media platforms to find persons selling wildlife and other items illegally.

“Just like many other forms of criminal activity, wildlife crimes thrive online,” said Texas Game Warden Major Brent Satsky, who heads TPWD’s Special Operations unit in the Law Enforcement Division. “These crimes threaten the health of native populations of wildlife, and as the perpetrators move online, so must law enforcement. We appreciate the support of the Dallas Zoo in helping to make this operation possible.”

Cases filed involved wildlife species ranging from reticulated and Burmese pythons, king cobras and rattlesnakes and several species of turtles. Several cases also cited water hyacinth, an invasive species that threatens Texas waterways. The cases involved the illegal sale of threatened species, invasive species, the sale of aquatic products without a fish dealer’s license and selling native wildlife without a permit.

Through a grant to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation, the Dallas Zoo funded the operation to help stem the tide of the illegal sale and exploitation of wildlife resources in Texas.  “People often think of wildlife trafficking as a problem happening in other countries around the world, but the truth is that it is happening right here in North Texas,” says Chris Corpus, Director of Conservation at the Dallas Zoo. “We know not just international wildlife, but many of our American species of wildlife are being poached and traded at record numbers. It’s going to take all of us to protect these animals and our Texas ecosystems, so the Dallas Zoo is proud to support Texas Parks and Wildlife in their efforts to stop wildlife trafficking crimes.”