Crushing the Ivory Trade
Watch our interactive panel discussion on New York State's success in closing what was formally the largest domestic ivory market in the United States. Captain Jesse Paluch talked about his team's undercover investigative work, "Operation White Gold" which led to the biggest ivory bust in New York State history and the seizure of $8 million in ivory.
Learn how you can be a force-multiplier and help report ivory items you see in store windows or online, using the "i of the Elephant" App created by Biologists without Borders, which thanks to engaged citizens has led to several successful prosecutions and ivory busts in the United States.
PANEL SPEAKERS
Captain Jesse Paluch: Chief Environmental Conservation Officer, Bureau of Environmental Crimes Division, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC). Captain Paluch has 20 years of service with the New York State DEC. He currently leads the Bureau of Environmental Crimes Investigation with 30 investigators and 10 Investigative Lieutenants under his command. "Operation White Gold" which he initiated and led from 2015-2018, resulted in the largest ivory bust in New York State history.
Sue Orloff: Founder & President of Biologists without Borders. Ms. Orloff is a wildlife biologist (M.A. California State University) with over 30 years of experience in wildlife management, endangered species studies, and monitoring wildlife populations. Sue has always had a great love of Africa and has traveled, lived, and volunteered in many African countries over the years. Sue founded Biologists without Borders in 2015 and is the creator of the "i of Elephant" app.
Wendy Hapgood (Moderator): Co-founder of Wild Tomorrow Fund. Wendy left her international career in finance to dedicate her life to the protection of global biodiversity, co-founding Wild Tomorrow Fund in 2015. She is a graduate of Columbia University's Master of Science in Sustainability Management Program at the Earth Institute, and the Master of International Relations (Political Science) at The University of Queensland, Australia.
Sara Walker: Senior Advisor on Wildlife Trafficking, AZA. Sara has led the Wildlife Trafficking Alliance (WTA) since 2015, which joined forces in 2018 with the Association of Zoos & Aquariums in a united effort to fight the global epidemic of wildlife trafficking. The WTA coordinates efforts to raise public awareness about scope of the wildlife trafficking crisis, effect behavior change to reduce consumer demand for wildlife and wildlife products, while working to mobilize companies to adopt best practices in the fight against wildlife trafficking. Sara has an MA in International Relations from the University of San Diego and a BA in International Studies from the University of Oregon.
