The Endangered Species Protection Unit (ESPU) of the South African Police Service was formed in 1989 with the overall vision to ensure South Africa's natural heritage is preserved through professional law enforcement.

The ESPU's mission is to curtail the international trade in endangered species, which uses the Republic of South Africa as a conduit, by adopting a multinational approach and to, through the early identification of crime trends, initiate pro-active operations that will release the maximum potential of this unit.

The specialised functions of the ESPU includes investigation and preventing of any criminal conduct or endeavour thereto in respect of the hunting, importation, exportation, possession, buying and selling of such endangered species or any product thereof, as well as the smuggling and illegal dumping of radio active and toxic waste.

The ESPU operates nationally with only 40 members. Through the ESPU Trust, you can make a difference and together we can strive to win the struggle against this illegal trade in endangered species.