Dear friends and supporters,
As 2025 comes to an end, we reflect on a year that showcased both the urgency of our work and the effectiveness of our model. From disrupting criminal networks and taking down kingpins of wildlife crime to advancing global policy and expanding our marine investigations, the Wildlife Justice Commission strengthened its impact across every part of its mission.
In our 10th anniversary year, these achievements remind us how far we have come — and how much more we can achieve together in the decade ahead.
Warm regards,
Olivia
2025: A breakthrough year for Wildlife Justice
This year, Wildlife Justice contributed to 48 arrests worldwide, including nine high-level traffickers, among them one of the biggest pangolin-scale traffickers ever arrested in Nigeria. Our intelligence also supported the disruption of 22 criminal networks, eight of which were severely weakened.
This was also a defining year for our marine investigations, with Wildlife Justice intelligence helping authorities dismantle criminal networks trafficking shark fins, sea cucumbers, and other marine species across multiple jurisdictions. Several major achievements remain confidential for now to protect ongoing operations — but they reflect the growing strength of our work to combat marine trafficking.
Beyond arrests, 2025 delivered 13 convictions in cases we supported, and major progress on the global stage as we advanced stronger criminal-justice responses to wildlife crime at international gatherings including CITES CoP20, UNTOC, the UN Ocean Summit, and the UNCAC CoSP.
Explore more of our 2025 achievements.
Wildlife Justice at CITES CoP20: Advancing global enforcement for endangered species
At CITES CoP20 in Samarkand, Wildlife Justice brought real-world investigative insights directly to governments and decision-makers. Throughout the conference, Wildlife Justice advocated for stronger enforcement and more effective action against the criminal networks driving wildlife trafficking.
This CoP delivered historic outcomes — including new or strengthened protections for over 70 shark and ray species, and the first-ever Appendix I listings for oceanic whitetip and whale sharks. Governments also adopted new measures to improve monitoring, address corruption risks, strengthen international cooperation, and enhance enforcement for those species most affected by poaching and trafficking.
Wildlife Justice co-hosted a high-level side event with Nigeria to spotlight the country’s enforcement successes, driven in part by our long-standing partnership with the Nigeria Customs Service. Senior officials from Nigeria and UNODC highlighted how intelligence-led investigations and coordinated enforcement have significantly disrupted wildlife trafficking networks, particularly those involved in pangolin and ivory trafficking.
As global commitments move into implementation, Wildlife Justice will continue working with governments to ensure these promises translate into real-world protection for the world’s most threatened species.
See our key take aways from CoP20.
Watch our side-event on Nigeria’s success story
‘Seizure’: Our award-winning documentary reaches audiences worldwide
This month saw the global release of Seizure, our award-winning short documentary that takes viewers undercover into the criminal networks driving the illegal wildlife trade. Directed by Matt Durrant and filmed across multiple continents, Seizure offers an unprecedented look at how Wildlife Justice investigators turn intelligence into action — from tracing illicit supply chains to supporting law enforcement in taking down high-level traffickers.
The response has been remarkable. Within its first week on the Wildlife Justice YouTube channel, Seizure surpassed 22,000 views, drawing strong international engagement and helping raise awareness of wildlife trafficking as a serious organised crime threat. The film’s success follows its recognition at several international film festivals, where it received top awards for environmental and documentary filmmaking.
By opening a window into our investigative work — while protecting the integrity of ongoing operations — Seizure has become a powerful tool for public awareness, donor engagement, and global advocacy.
