20 December 2011: The Secretariat of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) and the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA) entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to facilitate access to expertise for the care of confiscated live animals.In honor of the UN International Decade of Biodiversity, CITES and WAZA established the MoU on building capacity for the care of confiscated wild animals, through the use of expertise available in the WAZA network as well as support for the activities of the CITES Secretariat for the conservation and sustainable use of species of wild fauna and flora. Other areas of collaboration include care and placement of confiscated live animals, collection of information about current wildlife trade issues, and research and science, with a focus on Appendix-I species.

The collaboration also will ensure the safe transport of live wild animals between countries, for commercial trade, breeding, research or conservation purposes. [CITES News]