Too often, individuals charged with protecting wildlife become ensnared in wildlife trafficking networks (Kassa et al, 2020b). It is important for all actors involved directly with wildlife to understand the potential corruption risks and to avoid exacerbating them. Key issues include:

Rangers and tourism sector employees

Poachers often rely on information supplied by rangers and others with access to parks and protected areas. These individuals can pass on tips about the location of animals and where patrols might take place. They may accept bribes to not search cars entering or exiting parks for weapons or trophies.

Law enforcement

Poachers often attempt to bribe law enforcement when apprehended to avoid arrest, lose evidence, delay prosecution, or to avoid imprisonment or fines (Kassa et al, 2020b). Current research is seeking to better identify vulnerabilities for corruption within law enforcement responsible for addressing wildlife crimes.

Customs and border officials

Traffickers exporting wildlife may pay off officials to not search packages or containers and to sign off on fraudulent documentation. Unusual transactions should be scrutinised for individuals working within parks and protected areas, and for customs and border officials at high-risk exit points. The freight forwarding and logistics industry is another key risk area (Wannenwetsch and Guy, 2020).