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

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

In a release from Interpol, officials said the operation ran from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15, as authorities in 134 countries carried out Operation Thunder 2025. The initiative was led by Interpol and the World Customs Organization (WCO), with support from partners in the International Consortium on Combating Wildlife Crime. In total, the effort resulted in 4,640 seizures worldwide, the identification of roughly 1,100 suspects, and the interception of large quantities of protected wildlife, plants, animal parts, and illegally logged timber.

The illegal wildlife trade is largely fueled by demand for exotic pets, with birds, reptiles, primates and rare insects among the most frequently trafficked species. In Indonesia, authorities rescued more than 3,000 birds. Officials also reported seizures of more than 1,000 birds in Brazil, pangolins in Laos, Egyptian tortoises in Thailand, gibbons and cuscuses in Malaysia, and shipments of hatching eggs in Australia.

Investigators stressed that while live rescues reached historic levels, most trafficking still centers on animal parts and derivatives — including items such as gorilla hands, shark fins, and elephant hair — which are often sold for use in traditional medicine, luxury foods, or decorative products. 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), as well as 32,000 cubic meters of illegally harvested timber.

Interpol Secretary General Valdecy Urquiza said the operation highlighted how wildlife trafficking networks increasingly overlap with other forms of organized crime, including drug trafficking and human exploitation.

“These syndicates target vulnerable species, undermine the rule of law, and endanger communities worldwide,” Urquiza said. “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 points to enormous profits. Wildlife crime is estimated to generate at least $20 billion annually, though officials believe the true amount is likely higher because of the market’s underground nature.

WCO Secretary General Ian Saunders said customs agencies remain a critical frontline defense against the expanding 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,” Saunders added.

Operation Thunder 2025 also surfaced other emerging concerns, including a reported rise in the trafficking of bushmeat — meat from African wild animals — into Europe. 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 worldwide.

Marine wildlife trafficking also spiked, 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 reached record levels as well. Authorities seized more than 10 tons of live plants and plant derivatives. Officials noted that illegal logging may account for as much as 30% of the global timber trade.

Beyond arrests and rescues, officials said the intelligence collected during Operation Thunder 2025 will help map global criminal networks — which increasingly rely on cryptocurrency and digital assets — strengthen future investigations, and support long-term efforts to protect vulnerable species and ecosystems.