Fighting wildlife crime, together.
WildLIFE Crime Academy is a five-year EU-funded initiative dedicated to tackling wildlife crime through training, knowledge-sharing, and international cooperation. Led by the Vulture Conservation Foundation, the project has several local partners, including Ministerul Mediului (Romania’s Ministry of Environment, Waters and Forests), DOPPS – BirdLife Slovenia, Centar za zaštitu i proučavanje ptica (Birdlife Montenegro), and Taskent Doga Parki (Taskent Nature Park). The project works across Portugal, Slovenia, Romania, Montenegro, Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt, North Cyprus, and Georgia. By equipping law enforcement, NGOs, and forensic experts with specialized skills and tools, the Academy strengthens investigations and prosecutions against poaching, poisoning, illegal trade, and other wildlife crimes.
| Initiative period | 2024-2029 |
| Budget | 2 Million |
| Target countries | Portugal, Slovenia, Romania, Montenegro, Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt, Northern part of Cyprus and Georgia |
| Target issues | Illegal killing, Trapping, Poisoning, Poaching and Trafficking of wildlife |
Launched in 2021 under the BalkanDetox LIFE project, the WildLIFE Crime Academy (WCA) was born from a strong partnership between the Vulture Conservation Foundation, Junta de Andalucía (Regional Government of Andalusia), Ministerio para la Transición Ecológica y el Reto Demográfico (Spain’s Ministry of Environment), and Guardia Civil (Spanish Police).
Its goal was to treat wildlife The goal was to treat wildlife crime with the same urgency, tools and expertise used to combat other forms of serious crime. Its training brings together law enforcement officers, prosecutors, forensic vets, toxicologists and NGOs — ensuring every stage of a case, from field investigation to prosecution, is in expert hands.
Proven Model
Coordinated enforcement and forensic innovation in Andalusia reduced wildlife poisoning incidents by 90% over two decades. This success became the blueprint for WCA’s international training programme.
Training & Impact: 2021-2024
From 2021 to 2024, WCA delivered five international courses to 66 professionals from 13 countries. Many later trained over 650 additional professionals across Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East.
Next Phase: 2024-2029
In 2024, WCA entered a new phase under the WildLIFE Crime Academy LIFE project, expanding across Europe, North Africa, and the Caucasus to strengthen cooperation and capacity to fight illegal wildlife poisoning, killing, trafficking, and trapping.
Wildlife crime threatens biodiversity, security, and economies. Poaching, poisoning, illegal trade, and habitat destruction – often driven by transnational networks – cause species decline and environmental damage. In Europe, vultures and eagles suffer from poisoning, while songbirds and game species are heavily impacted by trapping and poaching. Weak enforcement and light penalties have allowed wildlife trafficking to grow into a billion-euro criminal industry.
Funded by the EU’s LIFE Programme, the Vulture Conservation Foundation, and key international partners, the WildLIFE Crime Academy is a five-year initiative with a 2M budget aimed at strengthening law enforcement, enhancing international cooperation, and building capacity to combat wildlife crime in Portugal, Slovenia, Romania, Montenegro, Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt, North Cyprus and Georgia.
Through a series of specialized training programmes, knowledge-exchange workshops, and collaborative efforts with governmental authorities, NGOs, and forensic experts, the project seeks to improve investigation and prosecution processes for wildlife crime. By equipping enforcement agencies with the necessary skills and tools, the WildLIFE Crime Academy is taking decisive steps to protect threatened species and dismantle the networks driving illegal wildlife trafficking.
Management
Finance
Conservation
Communication
Communication
Through training, tools, and international collaboration, the Academy tackles poaching, poisoning, and illegal wildlife trade.
WCA shares results, monitors impact, and ensures lasting improvements in wildlife crime prevention efforts.
The 15th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Migratory Species (CMS COP15) convened in Campo Grande, Brazil, from 23–29 March 2026, bringing together governments, scientists and conservation practitioners at a critical moment for global biodiversity. The numbers are
The LIFE SUPport project hosted a WildLIFE Crime Academy training workshop dedicated to police officers and nature professionals. It presented Spanish expertise in the detection and prosecution of environmental crimes through presentations and training on real-life cases. Practical session at
As wildlife crime escalates and threatens biodiversity, health, and security, the Wildlife Crime Academy advances efforts to strengthen Europe’s united response through training, collaboration, and strategic action.
