Wildlife Whistleblower Laws to be Discussed at Rethinking Animals Summit

KKC Staff

Published On: May 5th, 2017

The Rethinking Animals Summit 2017 will be held May 6-7 addressing the massive global exploitation of animals and ways to create sustainable initiatives – including wildlife whistleblower laws.

As humans continue to exploit animals and their resources for economic activities their existence becomes increasingly threatened. The summit aims to assemble “science, health business, conservation, animal welfare, security and ethics leaders and concerned citizens” to address protection and conservation of wildlife.

Stephen M. Kohn, executive director of the National Whistleblower Center and partner at Kohn, Kohn & Colapinto, LLP will present on May 7 to discuss wildlife whistleblower laws and how they can be a vital tool to stopping and preventing illegal wildlife trafficking.

Some of those laws include the Lacey Act (16 U.S.C. §§3371-3378) and the Endangered Species Act (16 U.S.C. §§1531-1544, ELR Stat. ESA §§2-18), which have provisions providing monetary incentives to persons who disclose original information reporting wildlife crimes. In enacting the Lacey Act, Congress stated in their House Report No. 97-276, “Powerful tools are needed to combat and control the massive illegal trade in wildlife which threatens the survival of numerous species …”

In fact, there are 40 other wildlife protection laws covering fish, animals, and endangered species and plants. Both U.S. citizens and non-citizens alike can be wildlife crime whistleblowers and are eligible to receive rewards.

Rethinking Animals Summit 2017 hopes to “ignite sustainable actions to create a healthy and humane future that includes protections of all creatures.”