Freeland

06/23/2026

After a complaint from Freeland triggered by an anonymous denounce based on information posted on the hunting reserve’s own social media, authorities in Gualeguaychú, Argentina raided an illegal hunting operation tied to suspected wildlife trafficking.

The raid uncovered a disturbing haul: the 72-point antlers of a red deer, reportedly killed by a foreign hunter who paid USD $40,000, alongside 50 additional hunting trophies from species including red deer, Indian buffalo, antelope, goats, and rams.

Officials also found a 130-hectare enclosure holding live exotic species, including Indian antelope, axis deer, wild boar, four-horned ram, and red deer.

Beyond the criminal investigation, Argentine authorities have now begun proceedings to financially sanction the owner for violating national environmental law.

Another reminder that trophy hunting and wildlife trafficking are deeply connected industries — and that exposing these networks is critical to protecting wildlife.

Photo: Environmental Control Brigade (BCA) and Naval Prefecture

06/22/2026

Freeland joins the Coalition for Multilateral Action against Environmental Crimes

Announced by the Ministry of Foreign Relations of the Brazilian Government, the expansion of the "Coalition for Multilateral Action against Environmental Crimes", with the inclusion of five new countries - China, Morocco, Costa Rica, Ecuador and the Central African Republic (in addition to those already part of the initiative - Brazil, Bolivia, Colombia, Gabon, Guinea-Bissau, Panama, Peru, Democratic Republic of the Congo, São Tome and Prince, South Africa, Suriname) and the support of eight more civil society organizations - Instituto Igarapé, Cipó Platform, Global Initiative against Transnational Organized Crime, Freeland, Amazon Underworld, Wildlife Conservation Society, Environmental Investigation Agency and Wildlife Justice Commission - beyond already formerly present End Wildlife Crime and International Council of Environmental Law.

The Coalition, created in November 2025, promotes the establishment of a binding legal framework against environmental crimes under the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime (UNTOC). Freeland, which has been involved since the beginning due to its role on the Steering Committee of End Wildlife Crime, now also supports the Coalition individually, becoming part of initiatives and actions to strengthen the international legal framework to tackle environmental crimes.

06/19/2026

Demand Meta to stop this. Tag Meta and Mark Zuckerberg in the comment section of this post.

When you see posts selling animals:
1. Don’t engage - even negative comments promote these posts
2. ⁠Take a screenshot of the post and DM it to us.
3. Take action: “report post” > Select “selling or promoting restricted items” and then select “animals”

06/19/2026

The name pangolin comes from the Malay word “penggulung,” which translates to “roller” — a nod to the animal’s instinct of curling into a tight ball when threatened. Sadly, that same defense offers little protection against wildlife traffickers.

Did you know that pangolins are nocturnal? They have poor eyesight, but they don't need to see to rule the night. Their powerful snouts can detect termite mounds buried underground, pinpointing exactly where to dig without seeing a single thing.

Pangolins are heavily targeted for their scales, used in traditional medicine markets, and their meat, considered a luxury product in parts of Asia.

Today, all eight pangolin species are listed on the IUCN Red List, with species classified as Vulnerable, Endangered, and Critically Endangered due to illegal trade.

06/16/2026

Freeland is looking for volunteers and interns to support the WildScan project, an innovative mobile application designed to help frontline officers, conservation professionals, and the public identify trafficked wildlife species and report wildlife crime in real time.

Who should apply?
We welcome students, recent graduates, and motivated individuals with an interest in:
• Conservation and biodiversity protection
• Technology for social impact
• Wildlife crime prevention
• Research and project support

What you’ll gain:
• Hands-on experience working on an international conservation technology initiative
• Practical exposure to wildlife conservation and anti-trafficking work
• Professional development and collaborative experience working with a global team

Location: Remote

If you are interested in using your skills to help protect wildlife and strengthen global efforts against wildlife trafficking, we would love to hear from you.

Send applications to: [email protected]

06/12/2026

For today’s , meet the Golden Jackal (Canis aureus), one of the world’s most adaptable and resilient canines.

Originally native to Southeastern Europe and the Middle East all the way to South Asia, these clever omnivores will eat just about anything; from small rodents and birds to fruits, crops, and scavenged leftovers.

While they look almost identical to African wolves, DNA testing proved that they are entirely separate species, with African wolves being more closely related to gray wolves. They also happen to be total relationship goals; golden jackals are strictly monogamous, mating for life.

Today, they face modern threats like habitat loss, urbanization, and human conflict, but they remain resilient. Currently classified as Least Concern, their populations are booming (pro tip, change your diet and maybe try monogamy!)

To ensure they stay protected from the creeping dangers of urbanization, Freeland works directly with communities to prevent human-wildlife conflict. By helping communities build sustainable, wildlife-friendly livelihoods, we are keeping ecosystems safe for resilient species like the golden jackal to thrive.

06/10/2026

Thank you Big Cat Rescue for supporting us and amplifying our mission. Grateful for all that you do for organisations like us. Every bit helps 🙂

Support link: https://giving.gofundme.com/campaign/724345/donate

06/09/2026

For decades, Bangkok’s famous Chatuchak (JJ) Market has been celebrated in travel blogs as a vibrant tourist destination with a sprawling labyrinth of textiles, street food, and souvenirs. But within its narrow corridors, lies a darker reality that Freeland has been fighting to expose for the last two decades: the pet and exotic wildlife section. Behind the glass panes and wire cages of this market section is a thriving hub for transnational wildlife trafficking, severe animal cruelty, and a biosecurity blind spot.

The monkey business
From a glance, you might think that these animals are captive-bred or imported legally (which some are). However, investigations have repeatedly shown that Chatuchak might be serving as a primary laundering mechanism. Poached, highly endangered wild animals are smuggled across international borders, slipped into the market, and falsified as legally bred pets.

The perfect breeding ground for zoonotic diseases.
The market isn’t just an animal welfare disaster but also poses a threat for the next pandemic. During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, Freeland launched the campaign which established the connection between commercial wildlife markets and global health crises.

Closing these markets goes beyond just species conservation; it’s the most effective vaccine we have against the next pandemic.

06/08/2026

With meaningful support, comes significant results. Long term support of WildCats Conservation Alliance made the Indochinese Tigers survival a success in Thai protected landscapes. Freeland was able to establish strong protection and monitoring measures, train rangers and reach communities to ensure peaceful coexistence.

In 2025, WildCats Conservation Alliance support helped Freeland and Thailands Department of National Parks continue its work to protect Indochinese tigers in Thailand’s Western Forest Complex, where camera traps confirmed that tigers had survived in the highlands of Khao Laem National Park after they were once feared lost from the area.

Across the year, rangers carried out 301 SMART patrols, covering more than 22,000 km. These patrols recorded 138 violations, with poaching the most frequent offence, and 21 cases sent to the police for prosecution.

However, camera trapping provided encouraging signs for tiger recovery, recording nine individual tigers, including three that had not been recorded before. Rangers also received formal training in patrol monitoring and enforcement, with further on-the-job training helping strengthen wildlife survey skills.

Alongside enforcement and monitoring, the team engaged 757 community members through outreach activities, including school sessions and conservation awareness work. Communities are becoming more receptive to park-led engagement, with early signs of better compliance and growing trust.

This work is helping protect one of Thailand’s most important tiger landscapes by strengthening ranger capacity, monitoring tiger recovery, and supporting communities to live alongside wildlife.

We have been a long term supporter of this work for many years as long term funding is important to ensure real progress can be made in conservation. You can help us support this project and others next year by making a donation today > https://conservewildcats.org/donate/

06/05/2026

Demand Meta to stop this. Tag and in the comment section of this post.

When you see posts selling animals:
1. Don’t engage - even negative comments promote these posts
2. ⁠Take a screenshot of the post and DM it to us.
3. Take action: “report post” > Select “selling or promoting restricted items” and then select “animals”