Criminals are the newest donors to the Oregon Zoo.

The zoo is happy to take the cash, even if it is blood money. The funds will fuel new projects to protect endangered species.

U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

An example of an endangered ocelot.

All of the money comes from those convicted of wildlife crimes.

Investigators have bought elephant ears from a Portland man on the Craig's List website, recovered a rhinoceros tusk from another defendant and found a fur hat and coat made from the hides of endangered ocelots.

The hat and coat came from the house of Deborah Walding of Beaverton. She owned two living ocelots for a time. No one knew she liked to wear them too.

Walding's trafficking case exposed a nation-wide network of exotic cat owners conspiring to sell the endangered felines.

Her cooperation fingered a California church called the "Temple of Isis," which pleaded guilty and paid a $60,000 fine. That fine provided the seed money for this new Endangered Species Justice Fund.

"It's a little sad," says Oregon Zoo director Tony Vecchio. "This is a good day and a bad day for us. It's sad there's even a need to talk about this."

The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service says endangered animal trafficking ranks second in cross-border smuggling only behind drugs.

U.S.F.W. Pacific region director Ren Loehoefener says, "In the United States alone over $10 million exchanged hands in illegal traffic of wildlife last year."

The zoo, in partnership with the U.S. Attorney's office and the National Fish & Wildlife Foundation, will have a new fund to tap for conservation efforts aimed at protecting endangered species.

The Foundation says initial funding will likely go to efforts to save animals in Oregon but it will be open to applications from any conservation group working to advance the protections of endangered species.

U.S. Attorney Karin Immergut compares this wildlife crime fund to one established with Gov. Ted Kulongoski directing fines from industrial polluters to environmental grants.

Investigations remain open as a result of the Walding case. Its tentacles reached into at least 6 different states and has resulted in charges against 13 people.

Last week the U.S. Attorney brought the latest charge against a downtown Portland clothing store, Torso Vintages. The store allegedly sold an ocelot coat.

More charges are possible against other suspects.

Any fines imposed in future convictions will likely go to the new fund.