The WildLife with Laurel Neme

The WildLife: Wildlife Law Enforcement in Alaska, Al Crane

Al Crane, former FWS Special Agent, remembers his 30+ years in wildlife law enforcement in Alaska’s most remote reaches. He tells “The WildLife” host Laurel Neme about the many challenges he faced protecting walruses, wolves, bears and other creatures. He also discusses working within the Native Alaskan culture and how his involvement with the 1,150 mile Iditarod dog sled race, both as an organizer and entrant, helped him connect with the people and ultimately do his job better. Mr. Crane was a special agent with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) and the first such officer stationed in northwestern Alaska. He worked with the state of Alaska’s Fish and Wildlife Protection Division until 1974, when he moved to FWS to implement the then-newly passed federal Marine Mammal Protection Act. For the next 20 plus years, he acted as supervisor, pilot and field operative for that federal wildlife law enforcement agency. He was also one of the early organizers of the Iditarod, and ran that grueling race in 1977. This episode of “The WildLife” aired on The Radiator, WOMM-LP, 105.9 FM in Burlington, Vermont on January 25, 2010.

The WildLife: Wildlife Rescue Centers & Illegal Pet Trade, Tracy O'Toole

Tracy O’Toole talks about the illegal international pet trade in Central America and what happens to birds, primates and other animals once they’re confiscated by wildlife law enforcement. She tells “The WildLife” host Laurel Neme about the challenges facing wildlife rescue centers and what’s required for successful rehabilitation and release of seized wildlife. Listen and hear how parrots rescued from the fate of being illegally shipped around the world must relearn to fly and hunt, why release sites are so important for success, and the psychological impact of the process on the animals.  Ms. O’Toole currently serves as the Director of Wildlife Development Programs for the International Trade and Development Division of Humane Society International.  She oversees programs to build capacity in Central America for enforcement of laws to stop wildlife trafficking and for establishment and running of wildlife rescue centers. She also works on public education and outreach programs to combat illegal wildlife trade throughout the region. Before joining the Humane Society, Ms. O’Toole worked extensively in the fields of international development and conservation for various donor organizations including the U.S. Agency for International Development and Europe Aid. She holds a master’s in International Business, a B.A. in International Relations, and is fluent in French, Portuguese and Spanish.  This episode of “The WildLife” aired on The Radiator, WOMM-LP, 105.9 FM in Burlington, Vermont on January 11, 2010.

The WildLife: Wildlife Crime & INTERPOL, David Higgins

David Higgins discusses INTERPOL and wildlife trafficking and reveals the many challenges facing law enforcement in stopping it. He explains to “The WildLife” host Laurel Neme how INTERPOL, the world’s largest international police organization, fights wildlife crime and describes several INTERPOL-assisted undercover operations. Listen as he takes us inside Operation Baba, a five-country sting that targeted the illicit ivory trade in five African countries, and Operation Oxossi, a joint investigation with the Brazilian Federal Police that stopped a massive trafficking ring smuggling live macaws, their eggs and other wildlife out of Brazil into Europe for the pet trade dead in its tracks.  David Higgins is a criminal intelligence officer specializing in wildlife crime as part of the INTERPOL Environmental Crime Programme. Previously he worked for the Australian Government Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts as an Assistant Director of Compliance and Enforcement.  Before that, he served in Cambodia as an Environmental Law Enforcement Advisor and in Tasmania, Australia as a Wildlife Ranger for the Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service and Police Officer for the Tasmania Police Service. Since August 2008, he has led INTERPOL’s efforts against wildlife crime.  This episode of "The WildLife" aired on The Radiator, WOMM-LP, 105.9 FM in Burlington, Vermont on December 21, 2009.