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The USAID funded Wildlife Trafficking, Response, Assessment and Priority Setting (Wildlife TRAPS) Project, implemented by ������ϲʿ�������ֳ�ֱ�� and TRAFFIC, has been operational since February 14th, 2013. Since inception, the Wildlife TRAPS Project has implemented on-going research in wildlife trade including nearly two dozen targeted assessments and thematic reports across various species and geographies between Africa, Asia and Latin America. Customised activities have been implemented with strategic partners from across the globe around clusters of work or six “thematic workstreams” including: The Finance Sector, Transportation Sector, Social and Behaviour Change Communications and Demand Reduction, Law Enforcement, Wildlife Forensics, and Community Engagement. After over 7 years of activity implementation, the project has acted as a catalyst by establishing and supporting professional networks in each of the thematic workstreams with tailored interventions designed to combat illegal wildlife trade.

With the recent onset of the COVID-19 pandemic that is rapidly spreading across the globe, the likely linkages between this pandemic, other zoonotic diseases and the trade in wildlife is becoming increasingly clear. While many questions regarding this link remain unanswered, as well as the implications this pandemic has on the future of the global economy and prevention of disease transmission as related to wildlife trade, this also presents a renewed urgency to scale up efforts to reduce future threats associated with zoonotic diseases. Under the Wildlife TRAPS Project, activities and interventions will assist stakeholders in answering critical questions related to the pandemic and establish more concrete linkages between wildlife trade dynamics (both legal and illegal), and public and animal health interventions. ������ϲʿ�������ֳ�ֱ�� and TRAFFIC, through the Wildlife TRAPS Project are uniquely positioned through its established network of partners, a toolbox of resources and skills readily available, and geographic coverage in critical countries to undertake this additional body of work through this zoonotic disease lens.