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Homeland Security Investigations Wildlife Trafficking Campaign Partner Social Media Toolkit

End Wildlife Trafficking

Introduction

This bilingual toolkit provides campaign partners with basic social media content in English and Spanish to support the Fiscal Year 2023 national Wildlife Trafficking social media campaign: “Help make wildlife traffickers an endangered species.” It includes full posts and assets, as well as suggestions to compliment related press releases and local content.

Background Content General Social Media Content for Partners Campaign Assets Spanish Content & Campaign Assets

Appendix | National ICEgov and HSI Publication Schedule Appendix | Additional Approved Content for Field Use

Background

The year-long wildlife trafficking campaign supports Homeland Security Investigations wildlife trafficking operations with its national, international and local partners. It is also designed to support anticipated joint ICE and U.S. Customs and Border Protection policies and procedures under supervision of the DHS Office of Strategy, Policy and Plans Counterterrorism and Threat Prevention, Combating Transnational Organized Crime Office. Finally, this campaign looks to elevate our national and global partners in the fight to end wildlife trafficking. As such, please notify our social media manager if you have related content you would like us to share.

“Wildlife” includes all wild fauna and flora, including animals, birds and fish, as well as timber and non-timber forest products. "Wildlife crime" refers to the taking, trading (supplying, selling or trafficking), importing, exporting, processing, possessing, obtaining and consumption of wild fauna and flora, including timber and other forest products, in contravention of national or international law.

Wildlife trafficking is the fourth largest source of finance for transnational criminal organizations, generating about $23 billion each year. This not only has negative impacts around the world for local environments, economies and cultures, but it also robs countries of both precious resources and tax revenues that would be generated through the legal import/export process.

At the core of the illegal wildlife trafficking is a rapidly expanding demand for a variety of products around the world: bushmeat; ingredients for traditional Chinese medicine; exotic pets; jewelry, trinkets, and accessories such as chess sets; furs for uses ranging from coats to traditional costumes; and trophies.

Content

As a year-long campaign, additional social media content and assets may be developed and provided throughout FY 23.

The taglines for this campaign are:

  • Help make wildlife traffickers an endangered species.
  • Help Homeland Security Investigations and its global partners make wildlife traffickers an endangered species.

The campaign web page is: ICE.gov/wildlife

Suggested hashtags include #EndWildlifeTrafficking #Wildlife #Conservation #EndangeredSpecies. Field offices are encouraged to search and use popular related hashtags to include at the time of posting.

Key partners are U.S. Customs and Border Protection, NOAA Fisheries Law Enforcement and U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Law Enforcement. Field offices should also look to promote related operations by law enforcement agencies in their respective areas.

The appendix lists scheduled @ICEgov and @HSI_HQ national social media content supporting this campaign in case field offices plan to share national content.

General Social Media Content for Partners

Spanish Versions

Multiple threads

  1. Wildlife trafficking protected animals, marine life and timber is the fourth largest funding stream for transnational criminal organizations.
  2. Wildlife traffickers steal our natural resources and destroy local habitats, cultures and economies. They trade our irreplaceable flora and fauna for the guns, drugs, scams and other criminal activity they bring to our doorstep.
  3. Help [USE @HSI_HQ or local HSI handle] and its global partners make wildlife traffickers an endangered species. Do you care enough to click? ICE.gov/wildlife

Single thread

Wildlife trafficking protected animals, marine life and timber is the fourth largest funding stream for transnational criminal organizations. Learn how you can help [USE @HSI_HQ or local HSI handle] and its global partners make wildlife traffickers an endangered species: ICE.gov/wildlife

Add on to local, related posts

Learn how you can help [USE @HSI_HQ or local HSI handle] and its global partners make wildlife traffickers an endangered species: ICE.gov/wildlife

For inclusion with press releases

Wildlife trafficking protected animals, marine life and timber is the fourth largest funding stream for transnational criminal organizations. Find out how to help [USE @HSI_HQ or local HSI handle] and its global partners make wildlife traffickers an endangered species: ICE.gov/wildlife

Find out how to help [USE @HSI_HQ or local HSI handle] and its global partners make wildlife traffickers an endangered species: ICE.gov/wildlife

Campaign Assets

Spanish Campaign Assets

Assets are developed in groups intended to evoke different audience emotions in an effort to resonate with the largest audience over the fiscal year. All approved national assets for the campaign are located here.

  • Do we have your attention: Assets intended to present information in a dramatic, near-violent manner.
  • Wild Ideas: Assets intend to present information in a non-threatening, approachable and almost playful manner.
  • Don’t bring it home (some assets still in development): Assets in development, like the “Hard to Spot” video, intend to evoke feelings of connectedness to the issue for American consumers and an obligation to be socially responsible.
  • Bad for business (in development): Assets in development intend tie even unknowing involvement to due diligence, social responsibility, customer perceptions and financial/legal implications motivating them to report and seek help from authorities immediately if they suspect wildlife trafficking.

English Videos

Series: “Do we have your attention”

Jungle Beat video (00:38): Leads with Rhino and overview of wildlife trafficking in general, what is trafficked and how criminal organizations use the profits.

Guns for a Song video (00:40): Leads with birds, covers what illegal products are used for and talks to the horrors smuggled animals endure.

Series: “Don't Bring It Home”

Hard to Spot (00:55) is the first video in the Don’t Bring it Home series. It speaks to the wooden furniture, tools, kitchenware and handicrafts we purchase every day and how they can be the products of wildlife trafficking.

Baby Steps (00:43) is the second video in the Don’t Bring it Home series. It speaks to illegal timber harvesting, its impact to local economies and cultures, as well as other species, and it addresses the fact that even large U.S. lumber suppliers have been ensnared by the illegal timber trade.

Fourth Largest (00:37) is a stand alone video that teases viewers into guessing that wildlife trafficking is the fourth largest funding stream for transnational criminal organizations, following narcotics, human trafficking and counterfeit merchandise.

Spanish Content

Single threads Spanish

REPORTAJE ESPECIAL— El tráfico de fauna y flora silvestre: Por qué la lucha contra este tipo de comercio ilícito es crítica: ice.gov/es/fauna-flora

English translation: SPECIAL REPORT- Wildlife trafficking: Why the fight against this type of illicit trade is critical: ice.gov/es/fauna-flora

Ayude a convertir a los traficantes de fauna y flora silvestre en una especie en peligro de extinción: ice.gov/es/fauna-flora

English translation: Help make wildlife traffickers an endangered species: ice.gov/es/fauna-flora

Add on to local, related posts

Ayude a convertir a los traficantes de fauna y flora silvestre en una especie en peligro de extinción: ice.gov/es/fauna-flora

English translation: Help make wildlife traffickers an endangered species: ice.gov/es/fauna-flora

For inclusion with press releases

REPORTAJE ESPECIAL— El tráfico de fauna y flora silvestre: Por qué la lucha contra este tipo de comercio ilícito es crítica: ice.gov/es/fauna-flora

English translation: SPECIAL REPORT- Wildlife trafficking: Why the fight against this type of illicit trade is critical: ice.gov/es/fauna-flora

Spanish Campaign Assets

Spanish Videos

Series: “Do we have your attention”

REPORTAJE ESPECIAL— El tráfico de fauna y flora silvestre (00:38): Leads with Rhino and overview of wildlife trafficking in general, what is trafficked and how criminal organizations use the profits.

Guns for a Song en Español (00:40): Subtitled in Spanish, the video leads with birds, covers what illegal products are used for and talks to the horrors smuggled animals endure

Series: “Don't Bring It Home”

Hard to Spot en Español (00:55) is the Spanish version of the first video in the Don’t Bring it Home series. It speaks to the wooden furniture, tools, kitchenware and handicrafts we purchase every day and how they can be the products of wildlife trafficking.

Baby Steps en Español (00:43) is the Spanish version of the second video in the Don’t Bring it Home series. It speaks to illegal timber harvesting, its impact to local economies and cultures, as well as other species, and it addresses the fact that even large U.S. lumber suppliers have been ensnared.

  • Series: "Wild Idea"

    Currently being translated to Spanish.

Fourth Largest Spanish (00:37) is the Spanish-captioned version of our stand-alone video that teases viewers into guessing that wildlife trafficking is the fourth largest funding stream for transnational criminal organizations, following narcotics, human trafficking and counterfeit merchandise.

Appendix

National ICEgov and HSI Publication Schedule

  • September

  • October

  • November

    • 1 & 5 (Oct. 30 - Nov. 5): National Polar Bear Week
    • 21: World Fisheries Day

  • December

    • 4: Wildlife Conservation Day
    • 15: Holiday travel/Wildlife smuggling on aircraft
    • 28: Anniversary of the Endangered Species Act (1973).

  • January

    • 5: National Bird Day
    • 18: UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration (2021-2030)

  • February (in development)

    • 2: World Wetlands Day
    • 18: World Pangolin Day
    • 23: Great Backyard Bird Count (17-23)
    • 28: National Invasive Species Awareness Week (Feb 27-March 3)

  • March

    • 3: UN World Wildlife Day
    • 21: International Day of Forests

  • April

    • 3: World Aquatic Animal Day
    • 7: UN World Health Day
    • 10: Arbor Day
    • 14: National Dolphin Day.(Vaquitas/totoaba)
    • 21 & 22: UN International Mother Earth Day (A/RES/63/278) & Earth Day

  • May

    • 1: Save the rhino day
    • 13: World Migratory Bird Day
    • 19: National Endangered Species Day -- Passed by Congress in 2006
    • 22: International Day for Biodiversity
    • 23: World Turtle Day

  • June

    • 5: UN World Environment Day & UN International Day for the Fight against Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing
    • 8: UN World Oceans Day 
    • 18: UN Sustainable Gastronomy Day 

  • July

    • 2023 TBD: Discovery channel Shark Week. (11-18, 2022)
    • 16: World Snake Day
    • 29: International Tiger Day

  • August

    • 9: UN International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples
    • 12: World Elephant Week/Day (9-12)
    • 14: World Lizard Day

  • September

    • 3 & 13: National Wilderness Month
    • 21: Reptile awareness Day
    • 22: World Rhino Day

Appendix

Additional Approved Content for Field Use

The following content with a nexus to wildlife trafficking is approved for use by field offices. While some content is crafted to appeal to multiple target audiences, other content is designed for specific target audiences.

Content contains messages targeting consumers; business owners, retailers and importers/exporters; the transportation and cargo sector; current and potential wildlife traffickers; and other law enforcement agencies. It also contains content specifically aimed at marine life and timber and wood products.

Consumers

Do you need to see a #rhino’s horns chain sawed off by wildlife traffickers to act? We hope not. Learn to help #EndWildlifeTrafficking that funds criminal activity and destroys our future: ICE.gov/wildlife Together, we can make wildlife traffickers an endangered species. 

#WildlifeTrafficking protected timber and animals destroys local cultures and economies. It’s also the fourth largest global funding stream for transnational criminal organizations. Learn how to help #HSI and its global partners make wildlife traffickers an endangered species: ICE.gov/wildlife

Make a free and real difference for social, environmental and economic justice: Learn to identify and report illegal consumer goods funding criminal organizations that infect your communities: ICE.gov/wildlife #EndWildlifeTrafficking

Wildlife trafficking is the illegal movement of wildlife and wildlife parts or products – including lumber and wood handicrafts – across borders. It’s the fourth largest money maker worldwide for transnational criminal organizations. You can help stop them. Do you care enough to click? ICE.gov/wildlife

Wildlife poaching and smuggling damages ecosystems, threatens species’ survival and economic stability, funds organized crime and spreads invasive species. @HSI_HQ and its international partners work together #EndWildlifeTrafficking. You can help, too: ICE.gov/wildlife

Is the pet you’re about to purchase endangered? Find out from the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora: https://checklist.cites.org/#/en. Then learn how to help @HSI_HQ and its global partners make wildlife traffickers an endangered species: ICE.gov/wildlife

Is the pet you’re about to purchase endangered or sourced from wildlife traffickers? Smuggling and selling protected wildlife gives organized crime $23 billion every year to bring violence, guns, drugs and more to your doorstep. Click for info and resources to help make wildlife traffickers an endangered species: ICE.gov/wildlife

Are you sitting next to a wildlife trafficker? More than half of illegal wildlife smuggled by airline passengers occurs in the cabin or in checked baggage. Know what to look for and how to report suspicious behavior to help #EndWildlifeTrafficking that funds criminal activity and destroys our future: ICE.gov/wildlife

Report odd observances to authorities while flying, like movement or noises in people’s clothes or luggage or unusual smells. Many traffickers use their clothing, carry-ons or checked bags to smuggle illegal wildlife that funds international criminal organizations. Learn more: ICE.gov/wildlife

Ignorance is no excuse for destroying our future and funding transnational criminal organizations. Do you care enough to click? Help us by make wildlife traffickers an endangered species: ICE.gov/wildlife #EndWildlifeTrafficking

The illegal wildlife trade – including illegal timber harvesting -- threatens local ecosystems and puts all species under additional pressure. It can also crush local economies while making about $23 billion each year for transnational criminal organizations. Learn how to identify and report #WildlifeTrafficking: ICE.gov/wildlife

Marine life

1/Endangered vaquita dolphins die in droves as they’re trapped in nets by wildlife traffickers illegally fishing for totoaba – worth about $10,000 each on the black market for fake medicine and dietary “enhancements.” 

2/Wildlife traffickers stripping our lands and waters of endangered resources give transnational criminal organizations about $23 billion every year. Together, we can #EndWildlifeTrafficking: Click to help: ICE.gov/wildlife

1/Imagine life without #SharkWeek. 

2/100 million sharks are killed every year, many of which are threatened or endangered species. Selling endangered wildlife and derived products as hack cures and dietary enhancements, trophies and more is the fourth largest money maker for transnational criminal organizations. 

3/Click to help Homeland Security Investigations and its global partners make wildlife traffickers an endangered species: ICE.gov/wildlife

Timber and wood products

You’d never buy ivory from endangered rhinos, but what about using endangered wood for a new floor? #IllegalTimber harvesting damages ecosystems, threatens economic stability and plant and animal species, funds organized crime and spreads invasive. Be part of the solution: ICE.gov/wildlife

Even nationwide home improvement and lumber retailers are unknowingly ensnared by wildlife trafficking schemes that benefit transnational criminal organizations. Learn to identify illegal consumer goods and report suspicious suppliers: ICE.gov/wildlife

Looking to import wooden handicrafts? @USDA provides an updated list of approved Chinese manufacturers who design handicrafts to eliminate the presence of pests, such as wood-boring beetles, in their products. Get it and other tools to help make wildlife traffickers an endangered species: ICE.gov/wildlife

Is your product made from wood covered by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora? Find out and help us make wildlife traffickers an endangered species: ICE.gov/wildlife

Will your next home remodel help cause a village to starve or increase global warming? Flooring, plywood and furniture made from illegally harvested timber decimates local economies and ecosystems where they originated, and profits fund international criminal organizations. Click for solutions: ICE.gov/wildlife

Are your building materials endangered species? See if your product is made from wood covered by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora and help @HSI_HQ make wildlife traffickers an endangered species: ICE.gov/wildlife

Are your building materials endangered species? Find out from the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora before your next #HomeImprovement project and help @HSI_HQ make wildlife traffickers an endangered species: ICE.gov/wildlife

Organized crime groups funded by #WildlifeTrafficking span across national boundaries and continents. Fraud, counterfeiting, money-laundering, violence and corruption are often closely linked with various forms of wildlife crime. Help @HSI_HQ make wildlife traffickers an endangered species: ICE.gov/wildlife

Learn how to help @HSI_HQ and its global partners make wildlife traffickers an endangered species: ICE.gov/wildlife. If you suspect you have received illicit goods or believe you know of illicit goods that are being trafficked, anonymously contact HSI’s tip line at 1-866-347-2423, fill out the HSI Tip Form.

Other Law Enforcement Agencies

Suspect you’ve got a #WildlifeTrafficking case? #HSI's broad legal authorities and global partnerships means it can help flesh out just about any criminal organization. Contact your nearest @HSI_HQ office help making wildlife traffickers an endangered species: ICE.gov/wildlife

Tools and training to help law enforcement agencies effectively address #WildlifeTrafficking are available from the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora. Get a link and learn how #HSI can help you stem the cash flow to transnational criminal organizations at ICE.gov/wildlife

Law enforcement tools and training are available from CITES to help authorities address wildlife trafficking that’s funding transnational crime in your area. #HSI and its international partners work together to stop it. Get a link to the training and our nearest office at: ICE.gov/wildlife

Law enforcement organizations: Let us know if you encounter smuggled flora and fauna. #HSI experts can help arrest, investigate and prosecute #WildlifeTraffickers funding transnational criminal organizations. Contact your nearest @HSI_HQ office for assistance: https://www.ice.gov/contact/field-offices. Learn more: ICE.gov/wildlife

1/#WildlifeTrafficking is the fourth largest income stream for transnational criminal organizations. Law enforcement agencies worldwide encounter them every day, and @HSI_HQ is a ready to assist you with our investigative expertise and extensive authorities. 

2/Contact your nearest #HSI office for help making wildlife traffickers an endangered species: https://www.ice.gov/contact/field-offices, then learn more: ICE.gov/wildlife

Criminals

A Message to #WildlifeTraffickers: Find another job. #HSI and its partners will find you, no matter where you are in the world. Citizens around the world are watching you and have the tools to help make wildlife traffickers an endangered species with a click: ICE.gov/wildlife.

Business owners, retailers and importers/exporters

Getting caught up in a wildlife trafficking investigations risks your finances and customer loyalty for being socially irresponsible, even if you were not aware. Learn how protect your business and customers at ICE.gov/wildlife

Wildlife trafficking decimates ecosystems, local economies and cultures, and brings devastating invasive species into our neighborhoods. Learn how protect your business and customers at ICE.gov/wildlife

Transnational criminal organizations make $23 billion every year from smuggling protected animals and plants – including lumber and wooden crafts – across borders to fund their illicit activities. Learn how protect your business and customers at ICE.gov/wildlife

The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) regulates international trade so that it doesn’t threaten the survival of certain species in the wild. The U.S. Department of Agriculture provides resources for identifying import requirements. Learn more: ICE.gov/wildlife

It is a violation of the Endangered Species Act to export wildlife without a license or permission from the Department of the Interior or Department of Commerce. It is an additional violation of the Lacey Act to export CITES Appendix II wildlife against the ESA. Learn more: ICE.gov/wildlife

You are responsible for knowing your suppliers and supply chains. Learn how to spot red flags of illegal logging and products in your supply chains and report suspected wildlife traffickers before it impacts your bottom line. Learn to protect your business and customers at ICE.gov/wildlife

Are your building materials endangered species? Find out at ICE.gov/wildlife

Find out what wood and plant products require a Lacey Act declaration to avoid losing everything to a #WildlifeTrafficking investigation. Get links and learn more: ICE.gov/wildlife

Looking to import wooden handicrafts? @USDA provides an updated list of approved Chinese manufacturers who design handicrafts to eliminate the presence of pests, such as wood-boring beetles, in their products. Get links and learn more: ICE.gov/wildlife

Don’t put your bottom line at risk. Social and environmental responsibility means paying attention. Learn to identify illegal goods that fund organized crime, threaten plant and animal species, and destroy local cultures and economies: ICE.gov/wildlife

1/A great deal from suppliers could backfire with the law and your customers. Wildlife trafficking protected animals and wood products is the fourth largest funding stream worldwide for transnational criminal organizations.

2/Click for info and tools to help put wildlife traffickers on the endangered species list ICE.gov/wildlife

Wildlife trafficking is bad business. Don’t lose inventory, customer loyalty or your entire business by getting ensnared by it. Know how to determine what’s legal before you lose everything: ICE.gov/wildlife

Ignorance is no excuse for destroying our future and funding transnational criminal organizations. Do you care enough to click? Help us #EndWildlifeTrafficking by putting traffickers on the endangered species list: ICE.gov/wildlife

1/Raw wood, either in log, board, or veneer form, is restricted by the Convention on International Trade of Endangered Species. On some species, the restriction is even greater, and includes even finished products made of or including a protected wood.

2/Know how to determine what’s legal before you lose everything: ICE.gov/wildlife

Transportation sector

Wildlife traffickers use clothing, carry-ons or checked bags to smuggle illegal wildlife that funds international criminal organizations. This is a health and safety risk to passengers and employees since wildlife can carry diseases or be poisonous or dangerous. Learn to report it: ICE.gov/wildlife

Airline and shipping employees can make a significant impact on the illegal wildlife trade funding criminal organizations and decimating our protected natural resources. Learn how you can help put wildlife traffickers on the endangered species list: ICE.gov/wildlife

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