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GUEST BLOG: Turning the Tide on Illegal Wildlife Trade
Posted on Thursday, May 7th, 2026
In affiliation with Cleveland Metroparks Zoo, Miami University’s Advanced Inquiry Program (AIP) combines online coursework with hands-on, field-based learning at the Zoo. This program empowers working professionals to pursue a Master of Arts (MA) in Biology or a Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) in Biological Sciences. The Cleveland Zoological Society helps make impactful programs like this possible by providing unrestricted funds to the Zoo’s Education & Engagement division each year.
Guest blogger Haley Fletcher is a current AIP student sharing insights from her thesis for the program, which looks at the illegal wildlife trade and what the Zoo is doing to address it. The Zoo Society supports this critical work by securing $500,000 in funding for the Zoo’s wildlife conservation efforts each year.
Cleveland Metroparks Zoo has been a meaningful place to me since childhood, and it has inspired my life-long interest in protecting animals and their natural habitats. I have been able to pursue my passion for wildlife conservation through graduate studies in the Advanced Inquiry Program, which combines hands-on learning at the Zoo with coursework through Miami University. This experience has prompted me to examine the illegal wildlife trade, which is currently one of the most significant threats to wildlife. My thesis for this program focuses on turning public education into conservation action to help stop illegal trafficking and prevent species extinction. Building on my experience at the Zoo, I hope to pursue a career in conservation, protecting endangered species and combating illegal wildlife trade.
The illegal wildlife trade is a pervasive threat to ecosystems around the world, including those close to home. It involves the removal of animals and plants from their wild habitats to sell them as pets, products, or souvenirs. This trade threatens biodiversity, fuels organized crime, and emphasizes the need for conservation, education, and stronger policy enforcement. Stopping it requires coordinated efforts, from protecting animals in the wild to educating people about the consequences of their actions.
Cleveland Metroparks Zoo is actively involved in addressing illegal wildlife trade both globally and locally. The Zoo is a member of the Wildlife Trafficking Alliance, a coalition of more than 90 leading companies, non-profit organizations, and AZA-accredited zoos and aquariums working to reduce and eventually eliminate the illegal trade of wildlife and use of wildlife products. The Zoo supports these efforts through its animal care expertise, field research, conservation programs, and public education initiatives.
The Zoo also demonstrates a long-term commitment to combating the illegal wildlife trade through its global partnerships. One of these partnerships is with Education for Nature Vietnam (ENV), which helps to protect vulnerable species in Southeast Asia. ENV operates a National Wildlife Crime Hotline and conducts investigations in wildlife trade hotspots, efforts that have led to documentation and resolution of more than 6,500 cases of wildlife crime since 2005.
This global impact is also reflected in the Zoo’s on-site efforts, where conservation comes to life through important milestones like the birth of endangered species. The Zoo turns these moments into opportunities to build awareness and generate support for conservation efforts. In 2022 and 2025, the Zoo held public naming contests for the newborn rhino calves born here, inviting the community to participate while donating to support rhino conservation through its partner, the African Wildlife Foundation (AWF). AWF uses innovative solutions to combat wildlife trafficking, including their Canine Detection Unit. These specially trained dogs can sniff out illegal wildlife products such as rhino horn and ivory at ports and checkpoints, intercepting trafficking items faster and more efficiently than human inspectors. A single dog and handler can search 300 passengers and 600 bags in under 30 minutes with over 90% accuracy, something that would take 36 officers multiple hours to accomplish.
The illegal wildlife trade is not confined to other countries. It also impacts species right here in the United States, potentially even in your own backyard. In Ohio, the endangered spotted turtle (Clemmys guttata) is found in wetlands, bogs, and flooded woodlands, but populations have declined due to habitat loss and illegal collection. Recognizable for their bright yellow spots and orange and black limbs, spotted turtles are an important part of Ohio’s ecosystems.
To protect this species, Cleveland Metroparks plays an active role in the Save and Protect Ohio’s Turtle Diversity program (SPOTD), which works with partners to conserve turtles affected by illegal wildlife collection. Many spotted turtles that were collected from illegal trade between 2014 and 2018 were cared for at the Zoo. After undergoing disease and genetic testing, staff began gradually reintroducing them into a suitable site in a Cleveland Metroparks reservation in 2025. They used a soft release approach, placing turtles in pens within the habitat for about a month to acclimate before allowing them to roam freely. The turtles were also fitted with radio transmitters so staff could monitor movement, survival, and behavior after their release. Early results show healthy body conditions and natural home ranges, and ongoing monitoring focuses on nesting, reproduction, habitat restoration, and predator management.
This case demonstrates the direct connection between illegal wildlife collection and its impact on native species. Removing endangered turtles and other wildlife from their natural habitats is not only illegal but also contributes to the global illegal wildlife trade, harming populations and ecosystems. Programs such as the Not A Pet Campaign illustrate why wild animals should not be kept as pets and how their specialized needs and health risks make ownership unsafe. The Zoo also educates visitors about illegal wildlife trade and the importance of wildlife conservation through exhibits, signage, workshops, and hands-on experiences.
You can make a difference by:
- Taking the Not A Pet Pledge to commit to protecting wild species
- Learning about and sharing information on illegal wildlife trade
- Supporting organizations that protect wildlife and donating to their conservation efforts
- Reporting suspicious wildlife sales or activities
The fight against illegal wildlife trade is ongoing, but with continued dedication and collective effort, we can build a future where every species has a chance to thrive.
Author: Haley Fletcher, Advanced Inquiry Program participant