A big international Interpol operation saves almost 30,000 animals that were trafficked

Interpol said this week that one of the biggest and best-planned efforts to stop wildlife trafficking had led to the recovery of almost 30,000 animals that had been smuggled. Operation Thunder 2025 was a month-long effort that involved police from 134 countries. It uncovered a huge network of criminal groups that were involved in the illegal trade of parts from endangered animals, wildlife, and protected marine species.

The project is one of a kind in terms of its size. Authorities stopped more than 4,600 illegal shipments and found thousands of birds, reptiles, tortoises, primates, and even big cats, including endangered tigers that were going to the black market. Officers took about 2,000 pieces of elephant ivory, more than 200 tons of illegally caught marine species, seven tons of pangolin scales (one of the most trafficked mammals in the world), and a variety of live insects that were brought in for sale.

Interpol says that the operation found trafficking networks that have links to more than 1,000 people. Officials say that these networks work like international drug or weapons cartels, using weak law enforcement, open borders, and a growing black market fueled by demand from around the world. The busts show how big the trade is; it has grown into a multibillion-dollar criminal business that spans continents.

Environmental investigators praised the partnership as a big step forward in protecting biodiversity around the world. To better connect trafficking routes and break up supply chains than in previous years, the operation mostly relied on sharing information, analyzing data, and keeping an eye on things in a coordinated way.

Conservation groups have called the decision a turning point in the fight against organized wildlife crime. They say that saving thousands of living animals, many of whom were sick or about to die, shows how cruel the trade is and how important it is to strengthen protections around the world.

Advocates warned that rescue efforts are important, but they can't fix the problem by themselves. They say that for long-term improvement, people need to want less exotic wildlife items and traffickers who make money by harming the environment need to face harsher punishments.

For now, officials are calling the operation a big success. They say it shows that law enforcement around the world is more willing to go after the criminal networks that are hurting the world's most endangered species.