Albert Schweitzer medal recipient recognizes ICE HSI

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations’ (HSI) Environmental Crimes Program was recognized at the 2018 Albert Schweitzer medal ceremony for Dr. Samuel K. Wasser, director of the University of Washington’s Center for Conservation Biology. The honor is tied to his work worldwide for developing non-invasive tools for monitoring human impacts on wildlife. This prestigious award, established by the Animal Welfare Institute in 1951, recognizes outstanding achievement in the advancement of animal welfare.

Dr. Wasser’s work has led to prosecutions of major multinational ivory traffickers that reflected his extensive collaboration with ICE HSI, the International Consortium on Combatting Wildlife Crime, INTERPOL, the Task Force on Combatting Wildlife Trafficking, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Department of State and wildlife authorities in numerous source and transit countries across Africa and Asia. The award was presented by Senator Maria Cantwell of Washington during a ceremony on April 10, 2018.

Dr. Wasser thanked ICE HSI for its unwavering support in the identification and prosecution of poachers of endangered species around the globe. Past recipients of the award include British Primatologist Jane Goodall.