Canberra high school students will soon be learning about the illegal trade in wildlife, worth up to $30 billion globally every year, and what they can do to stop it.

Crime Stoppers has worked with some of Australia’s leading education professionals to develop a Wildlife Crime and the Law teachers’ resource to help break the chain.

It is the latest addition to the free online teachers’ resource suite of Civics and Citizenship themes available to educators of Years 7 to 10 students across Australia.

In addition to more than 45 different links to videos, websites, apps and worksheets, the Wildlife Crime and the Law theme pack offers flexible lesson ideas that cover biosecurity and wildlife crime; wildlife, biosecurity and the law; wildlife crime in Australia; the Break the Chain campaign; and reporting wildlife crime. The materials in the pack can also be used to teach lower secondary Science.

Oliver Forrester, chair of ACT Region Crime Stoppers Australia, said wildlife crime remains one of the largest direct threats to many of Australia’s most threatened species, second only to direct habitat destruction – and the crime is increasing.

“Wildlife and environmental crime is big business, and has taken its place as a mainstay major transnational organised crime activity alongside trafficking in drugs, weapons and human beings,” Mr Forrester said.

“It is a problem in every state and territory, and awareness is key to addressing the issue. Adding a unit about this crime to the teachers’ resource pack will encourage young people and their families to help.”

The Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW) leads Australia’s enforcement efforts to combat illegal wildlife trafficking, a significant problem worldwide.

“Disrupting the cruel and exploitative crime is a priority outcome for the department,” a spokesperson said.

“Taking animals from the wild poses serious risks to the species’ conservation, local populations, habitats, and ecosystems.

“Stopping wildlife from being trafficked into Australia protects our unique natural environment from exotic pests and diseases. It is also extremely cruel – smuggled animals often suffer stress, dehydration, or starvation, with many dying during transit.”

During transportation, Mr Forrester said, animals are often bound by tape and packed into small objects for up to days.

“Our nation’s exotic reptiles, amphibians, and birds are highly prized and command big prices on the black market here and overseas,” Mr Forrester said. “The pet trade [is] hungry for our lizards, snakes, and bird species such as parrots and cockatoos – and we need to partner with everyone in the community to make a difference.”

Brightly coloured Australian snakes and reptiles sell for $1,000 to $20,000 when illegally trafficked overseas, Mr Forrester said, while native birds such as the rainbow lorikeet and peach-faced cockatiel are also highly valued on the international pet market because of their unusual colourings, behaviours, and genetic traits.

“Everyone can play a critical role when it comes to the fight against wildlife crime by sharing what they know or suspect with Crime Stoppers, without the need to say who they are or get involved.

“Awareness and reporting of suspicious and criminal activity is the key to keeping our wildlife safe. Everyone can be on the lookout and play their part in reducing wildlife crime.”

Recent wildlife trafficking criminal investigations have resulted in 11 individuals sentenced to a combined 26 years in prison with one individual receiving a maximum sentence of 5 years, DCCEEW stated.

Earlier this year, a Malaysian man was deported from Australia after serving a two-year jail sentence for attempting to post native reptiles – shingleback lizards, blue-tongue lizards, geckoes, lace monitors, pythons, and water dragons – to Hong Kong.

Exporting Australian wildlife is an offence under the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act 1999). Each count is deemed serious and indictable; the maximum penalty is imprisonment for 10 years and/or a $222,000 fine for an individual or a $1,110,000 fine for a corporation.

Last year, a Sydney man was arrested for dealing in protected animals; 144 reptiles, including tortoises, turtles, lizards, salamanders, and a freshwater crocodile, were found living in the premises. The man was sentenced to 12 months imprisonment to be served as an intensive correction order, including 100 hours of community service.

Under the EPBC Act 1999,it is an offence to possess non-native specimen without a permit. Each wildlife offence carries a maximum penalty of 5 years imprisonment or a $222,000 fine.

DCCEEW has also seized money linked to the criminal activity under proceeds of crime processes.

“The Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water remains resolute in its efforts to identify individuals involved in wildlife trafficking into and out of Australia,” a spokesperson said.

If a member of the public has information about illegal wildlife trade, they can contact the department at [email protected] or 1800 110 395.

Mr Forrester said the teachers’ resource “actively engages our next generation so they understand what they can do to help stop wildlife crime”.

“As an independent charity, Crime Stoppers is proud to have funded this unique national learning initiative, which encourages a sense of community engagement in students by increasing their potential to be informed, responsible, ethical and active participants in society.”

The launch of the Wildlife Crime and the Law teachers’ resource follows highly successful wildlife trafficking awareness campaigns in Victoria, and a partnership between Crime Stoppers Queensland and the Australia Zoo Wildlife Warriors to offer cash rewards for information that leads to arrests or charges for wildlife crime.

“These campaigns were well received, and both jurisdictions experienced an increase in reporting of wildlife crime,” Mr Forrester said.

The teachers’ resource was developed and trialled in Western Australia to make the Australian subject of Civics and Citizenship more engaging to students. It can, Mr Forrester said, be a challenging student to keep Year 7 to 10 students interested and engaged.

The Wildlife Crime and the Law theme pack is the seventh in the suite of nationally available materials, which provide flexible content and lesson ideas, resources, and assessments for teachers, who can select lesson ideas in any order to best suit the interest and needs of students.

Other theme packs in the suite explore cybercrime, the justice system, crime laws, law enforcement, and the role of citizens in relation to crime, including how Crime Stoppers can help.

These teachers’ resources, Mr Forrester said, “ensure the next generation of Australians understand the importance of being informed, responsible, ethical, and active participants in society.”

Teachers can access the resource through Scootle, a national digital repository of teacher resources made available by Education Services Australia, as well as on the Crime Stoppers Australia website.