The daily dose of bad news about poaching, wildlife and environmental crimes and more
from around the world
in the spotlight today ……………………
Seized 50,000 Colombian Wildlife Specimens
Image: Birds recovered by Colombian National Police as part of INTERPOL’s 2012 Operation Cage (c) INTERPOL http://www.plenglish.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=3216551&Itemid=1 (NA comment: Time and again we can see results coming from INTERPOL activities, while we see none from CITES. Both have legal powers – one uses them, one doesn’t. Both have limitations; INTERPOL focuses on what it can and must do, while, if you care to write to it (CITES Secretariat) if you ever do get a reply they will tell you what they cannot and will not do.
The illegal wildlife trade has exploded in scale and complexity in the past ten years, while CITES remains firmly glued to the past. It’s another six months before the main CITES annual meeting is held. During which time how many countries will breach the Convention and how often? How many animals will be killed while waiting for the CITES Standing Committee to get their act together? Do you agree there is a need for an interim meeting of the CITES Standing Committee to focus on the crisis now engulfing the world’s wildlife? We need action, now, from these bureaucrats, don’t we? If their jobs and livelihoods were threatened, do you think they would wait a year before taking action?
“Those who have the privilege to know have the duty to act.”
? Albert Einstein
No 251 Wildlife Trade News 30th October 2014
Perak loses massively to illegal loggers (Malaysia) http://www.nst.com.my/node/47727
New Study Reveals Shocking Increase of Bear Bile Extraction ‘Farms’ in Lao PDR extract: The number of bears in farms supplying the widespread and expanding bile extraction industry in Lao PDR has tripled in recent years, with strong evidence the animals are illegally sourced from the wild, a new study published in Oryx finds. (NA comment: Will CITES doing anything about this? What do you think? )
Bear bile extraction taking place in a Laotian bear farm, 2012 PHOTO © TRAFFIC http://annamiticus.com/2014/10/29/new-study-reveals-shocking-increase-of-bear-bile-extraction-farms-in-lao-pdr/
Oil palm explosion driving West Africa’s Ebola outbreak http://www.theecologist.org/News/news_analysis/2612900/oil_palm_explosion_driving_west_africas_ebola_outbreak.html
AWF calls for tougher rules on lion hunting http://www.shanghaidaily.com/article/article_xinhua.aspx?id=249552
Books on Penan, logging for Adenan (Sarawak/Malaysia)
http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2014/10/29/books-on-penan-logging-for-adenan/
Palm oil plantations are bad for wildlife great and small: study http://theconversation.com/palm-oil-plantations-are-bad-for-wildlife-great-and-small-study-33632
$500,000 in illegal logs seized, loggers escape raid; Malaysia –
Seized stacks: Some of the illegally felled logs recovered by authorities in Lawas, Sarawak. – See more at: http://news.asiaone.com/news/malaysia/500000-illegal-logs-seized-loggers-escape-raid#sthash.QVbcwfQR.dpuf
Namibia Poachers Kill First Rhino in Etosha Reserve, Sun Reports http://www.businessweek.com/news/2014-10-30/namibia-poachers-kill-first-rhino-in-etosha-reserve-sun-reports
Mozambique: New Agreement On Fight Against Wildlife Crime http://allafrica.com/stories/201410300205.html
Fashion industry making progress in cutting deforestation from clothing http://news.mongabay.com/2014/1029-fashion-industry-zero-deforestation.html
Why conflict over land is inevitable in Philippines, Indonesia http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/business/10/30/14/why-conflict-over-land-inevitable-philippines-indonesia
Environmental degradation triggers drought: Walhi (Indonesia) http://www.antaranews.com/en/news/96292/environmental-degradation-triggers-drought-walhi
Saving the Canadian Polar Bear http://www.huffingtonpost.com/cathy-kangas/saving-the-canadian-polar_b_5946762.html
Air France A380 to land in Port Gentil: Gabon(NA comment: notable because of the nationality the airline anticipates taking more of to this region.).http://en.gabonews.com/en/economy/items/air-france-a380-to-land-in-port-gentil.html
Trees in Borneo among world’s most productive in recycling carbon
An aerial file photo of the lush tropical forests in the Central Kalimantan province in Indonesia’s Borneo island. – See more at: http://news.asiaone.com/news/asia/trees-borneo-among-worlds-most-productive-recycling-carbon#sthash.nfkLinan.dpuf
Poacher held near Orang National park (India) http://www.business-standard.com/article/pti-stories/poacher-held-near-orang-national-park-114102901270_1.html
Thailand tiger park reopens despite tourist mauling http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/destinations/asia/thailand/11195694/Thailand-tiger-park-reopens-despite-tourist-mauling.html
Xinhua Insight: Traditional monkey circus show faces dilemma http://www.shanghaidaily.com/article/article_xinhua.aspx?id=249586
Deal bolsters Mozambique’s fight against poaching http://ewn.co.za/2014/10/29/Mozambique-government-deal-to-combat-wildlife-crime
Wildlife enforcers meet to identify solutions :Sabah/Malaysia (NA comment: It has taken years to happen and now we will wait to see if the Sabah wildlife authorities will ever walk their talk. So far they have been in denial there is even a problem, let alone an enormous one.) http://www.dailyexpress.com.my/news.cfm?NewsID=92755
Sarawak Penans still hope for Peace Park http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/sarawak-penans-still-hope-for-peace-park
Can we rely on voluntary industry action to drive deforestation out of supply chains?
Two held for killing leopard. India http://www.business-standard.com/article/pti-stories/two-held-for-killing-leopard-114102901143_1.html
Indian government plans to repeal hundreds of pre-independence laws
Legal relics of British rule face biggest clearout since India became independent in 1947 extract: In India, shooting an elephant carries a fine of just 500 rupees, or £5, according to a colonial law dating back to 1879. http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/oct/29/indian-government-repeal-pre-independence-laws
Hundreds of birds of prey are being shot or poisoned in UK RSPB calls on shooting industry to help stamp out problem as a report shows birds, including golden eagles, hen harriers and red kites were illegally killed last year http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2014/oct/30/hundreds-of-birds-of-prey-being-shot-or-poisoned-in-uk-rspb
India: Forests and tigers vs coal mines http://www.cpa.org.au/guardian/2014/1662/09-india.html
Forest conservation work proves ineffective (India) http://www.ekantipur.com/2014/10/30/national/forest-conservation-work-proves-ineffective/396967.html
4 turtles might be listed as endangered (USA) http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/national_world/2014/10/29/4-turtles-might-be-listed-as-endangered.html
Palani, a poacher, fell to a bullet: TN probe team (India) http://www.deccanchronicle.com/141030/nation-current-affairs/article/palani-poacher-fell-bullet-tn-probe-team
Tamil Nadu proves to be major link in chain for red sanders smuggling
Two months ago, the brother of a prominent politician was arrested while trying to smuggle red sander logs in his BMW. If one goes by the recent arrests, seizures and even a suicide, it looks like Chennai’s links with the red sander racket is getting bigger. (Photo: DC/File) http://www.deccanchronicle.com/141030/nation-crime/article/tamil-nadu-proves-be-major-link-chain-red-sanders-smuggling
Pink dolphin with skin cancer is ‘generally in good health’: Underwater World spokesman ;Singapore (NA comment: Would a human being with skin cancer be described as ‘generally in good health’ and be imprisoned for no crime?) http://news.asiaone.com/news/singapore/pink-dolphin-skin-cancer-generally-good-health-underwater-world-spokesman
Local communities rise to the forefront of global conservation practice (commentary)
Read more at http://news.mongabay.com/2014/1029-commentary-nelson-community-conservation.html#DZ6WIGUCP1TA8fPg.99
Illegal wildlife haul found in Lancashire (UK) http://www.wildlifeextra.com/go/news/burnley-wildlife-seizure-014.html#cr
ASOS and M&S pledge to make deforestation unfashionable extract: More than 20 major fashion retailers, including Marks and Spencer, Levi Strauss and ASOS, have this week signed up to a new industry campaign that aims to eliminate deforestation from their supply chains. http://www.businessgreen.com/bg/news/2378383/asos-and-m-s-pledge-to-make-deforestation-unfashionable
APP acknowledges historic land-grabbing in China, pledges reform http://news.mongabay.com/2014/1029-app-china-plantations.html
Tigers vs. diamonds: India’s protected areas rampantly downgraded to make room for people, industry (PART II) http://news.mongabay.com/2014/1029-gfrn-watsa-india-downgrades-protected-areas.html
