{"id":5494,"date":"2016-09-13T09:44:11","date_gmt":"2016-09-13T13:44:11","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.atl.com\/?p=5494"},"modified":"2016-12-07T15:46:54","modified_gmt":"2016-12-07T20:46:54","slug":"atl-hosts-launch-of-national-campaign-against-illegal-wildlife-trafficking","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dev.atl.com\/atl\/atl-hosts-launch-of-national-campaign-against-illegal-wildlife-trafficking\/","title":{"rendered":"ATL hosts launch of national campaign against illegal wildlife trafficking"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"ATL

WildAid ambassador Michael Cudlitz of The Walking Dead speaks during the press event.<\/p><\/div>\n

By Shane Blatt
\nSenior Public Relations Manager<\/em><\/b><\/p>\n

Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) on Wednesday, Sept. 7 joined the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and conservation nonprofit group WildAid in launching a national campaign against illegal wildlife trade.<\/p>\n

Globally, wildlife trafficking is a $10 billion to $20 billion annual industry, ranking just behind human trafficking, weapons trafficking and drug trafficking. And the United States is one of the largest illegal wildlife markets in the world. This trade is often run by dangerous criminal syndicates who traffic animal parts such as rhino horn, elephant ivory and tiger bones.<\/p>\n

\u201cHartsfield-Jackson stands adamantly against illegal wildlife trade,\u201d interim Airport General Manager Roosevelt Council Jr. told onlookers at a press event in the Domestic Terminal. \u201cAs the world\u2019s most traveled airport and a major international point of entry, our inspectors work tirelessly each day to keep such products out of this country. But there\u2019s more we can \u2014 and must \u2014 do to stop this.\u201d<\/p>\n

Council was joined by WildAid CEO Peter Knights, WildAid ambassador Michael Cudlitz of The Walking Dead, and Special Agent in Charge Luis Santiago of the U.S. Fish & Wildlife\u2019s Southeast region.<\/p>\n

The campaign comes as a new survey shows a steep decline in the African elephant population, along with a dramatic drop in the number of rhinos, tigers, lions and sea turtles. Meanwhile, a recent poll commissioned by WildAid found that 80 percent of Americans know little or nothing about illegal wildlife trade in the U.S.<\/p>\n

Knights said WildAid wants to educate and boost public awareness in an effort to save the world\u2019s endangered species.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re trying to popularize conservation and, at the same time, stigmatize consumption of wildlife products,\u201d said Knights, who stood near a display of illegally trafficked items.<\/p>\n

A simultaneous press event took place at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). Both ATL and LAX are major U.S. entry points where wildlife product seizures are common.<\/p>\n

\u201cLearn about wildlife trafficking,\u201d Council said, \u201cso you can help us put a stop to it.\u201d<\/p>\n

For more information, go to www.StopWildlifeTrafficking.org<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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