Program Term Archive

Commercial Trade

Colorado Now Leads Country in Comprehensive Approach to Fighting Wildlife Trafficking

Press ReleaseJune 2, 2025Terrestrial Wildlife

Today, Colorado Gov. Jared Polis signed S.B. 25-168 into law to combat wildlife trafficking. The bipartisan legislation, which is unique among states for the number of species covered, establishes criminal...

Captive Primate Safety Act Would End the Cruel and Dangerous Primate Pet Trade

Press ReleaseMay 6, 2025Terrestrial Wildlife

The Animal Welfare Institute (AWI) applauds yesterday’s reintroduction of the Captive Primate Safety Act (CPSA), which would end the cruel and dangerous pet primate trade in the United States. Nonhuman...

2025 Clark R. Bavin Wildlife Law Enforcement Award Recipients

Terrestrial Wildlife

2025 Award Recipients: Anti-Smuggling Bureau of China Customs for continuing to strengthen its capacity to fight wildlife crime, including through implementation of advanced scanning technology at key customs checkpoints, which has...

Chimp Crazy Docuseries Highlights Urgent Need for Federal Ban on Pet Primates

Press ReleaseAugust 9, 2024Terrestrial Wildlife

“Chimp Crazy,” the four-part docuseries premiering August 18 on HBO Max, aims to expose the dangerous and cruel trade in primates as pets that has destroyed lives — both human...

Captive Primate Safety Act Would End the Cruel and Dangerous Primate Pet Trade (2024)

Press ReleaseMay 1, 2024Terrestrial Wildlife

The Animal Welfare Institute (AWI) endorses yesterday’s reintroduction of the Captive Primate Safety Act (CPSA), which would end the cruel and dangerous pet primate trade in the United States. Nonhuman...

USFWS Increases African Elephant Protections, But Misses Crucial Opportunities

Press ReleaseApril 1, 2024Endangered Species, Terrestrial Wildlife

The Animal Welfare Institute (AWI) commends the US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) for releasing a final rule today that provides additional Endangered Species Act protections for imperiled African elephants. However, AWI...

ProTECT Act Would Ban Trophy Imports & Domestic Sport Hunting of At-Risk Species

Press ReleaseMarch 23, 2024Terrestrial Wildlife

The Prohibiting Threatened and Endangered Creature Trophies Act (ProTECT Act) was reintroduced yesterday, and the Animal Welfare Institute (AWI) commends Representatives Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX) and Ted Lieu (D-CA) for...

Improving Animal Welfare Act Enforcement

Companion Animals, Terrestrial Wildlife

In June, Reps. Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL) and Nancy Mace (R-SC) reintroduced the Animal Welfare Enforcement Improvement Act (AWEIA; HR 3859) in response to the egregious failures by the US Department...

Bill Reintroduced to Strengthen Vital Protections under the Animal Welfare Act

Press ReleaseJune 7, 2023Terrestrial Wildlife

The Animal Welfare Institute (AWI) welcomes the reintroduction today of the Animal Welfare Enforcement Improvement Act (AWEIA) by Reps. Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL) and Nancy Mace (R-SC). This bill (H.R.3859) would...

United States Finds Mexico Is Undermining Wildlife Treaty, May Impose Embargo

Press ReleaseMay 26, 2023Terrestrial Wildlife

The US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) announced today that Mexico has failed to halt the illegal wildlife trade threatening the critically endangered vaquita porpoise, diminishing the effectiveness of an international wildlife...