The daily dose of bad news from around
the world, about poaching, wildlife and
environmental crimes …
in the spotlight, again, today ……………………while we await to see if there will be any clarification from the CITES Secretariat.
Zim defends sale of elephants. (NA comment: Trying to apportion blame elsewhere, as usual) http://www.chronicle.co.zw/zim-defends-sale-of-live-elephants/
Furore over Zim baby elephant move
http://www.timeslive.co.za/africa/2014/12/20/furore-over-zim-baby-elephant-move
PICTURED above: Zimbabwe exported eight elephants, including this male, to China in 2012. Most are now reported to be dead. Elephantopia https://www.facebook.com/Elephantopia?fref=photo
No 301 Wildlife Trade News 22nd December 2014
Orangutan in Argentina zoo recognised by court as ‘non-human person’
Argentine zoo may be forced to release Sandra the orangutan after court rules she should have same rights to freedom as a human http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2882858/Captive-orangutan-human-right-freedom-Argentine-court-rules.html
Keep Africa’s wild animals in Africa, not in Melaka Zoo. MALAYSIA http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/opinion/letters/2014/12/22/keep-africas-wild-animals-in-africa-not-in-melaka-zoo/
Going, going, gone: Malaysia’s wildlife loses battle against extinction – See more at: http://news.asiaone.com/news/malaysia/going-going-gone-malaysias-wildlife-loses-battle-against-extinction#sthash.gzrc1FYB.dpuf
We need to do more for clouded leopards in Malaysia http://www.thestar.com.my/Lifestyle/Features/2014/12/22/We-need-to-do-more-for-clouded-leopards-in-Malaysia/
TRAFFIC REPORT: Myanmar a gateway for illegal trade in Tigers and other wild cats to China EXTRACT: “It’s time for the relevant enforcement authorities to live up to their international commitments to address wildlife crime,” said Dr Nijman.
Illicit Trade in Wild Cats Down in Tachilek, Up in Mong La: Report http://www.irrawaddy.org/burma/illicit-trade-wild-cats-tachilek-mong-la-report.html
Hundreds of animals seized in operation targeting wildlife trafficking across Asia. (NA comment: Results. Making things happen. Excellent work by INTERPOL. We long for the day we can say the same about impotent CITES.)
Uphill battle to tackle Indonesian shark fishing
Sonny Tumbelaka/AFP http://news.yahoo.com/uphill-battle-tackle-indonesian-shark-fishing-054032347.html
Huge swath of forest in Indonesian Borneo slated for clearing by ‘sustainable’ company. WEST KALIMANTAN. http://news.mongabay.com/2014/1210-gfrn-harfenist-huge-concession-appears-in-kalimantan.html?tw!ttr=yes
Forest minister unwittingly reveals smuggling of jumbos. INDIA http://www.deccanchronicle.com/141222/nation-current-affairs/article/forest-minister-unwittingly-reveals-smuggling-jumbos
After Ivory Poachers Tore Apart Her Family, We Are Helping Her Build a New One. KENYA
EXTRACT and UAE, CHINA and ZIMBABWE please note “For any of us, the loss of a mother or father is a devastating moment. For a tiny elephant, it’s no different and herds have been known to return to the bones of their loved ones years after they died.” http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/rob-brandford/ivory-poachers_b_6345934.html
China ivory craze kills 100,000 elephants. extract: The market for legal ivory in China, which has quadrupled over the past 10 years, is providing a "smokescreen" for illegal sales, it said.
http://money.cnn.com/2014/12/09/news/china-ivory-elephant/index.html?sr=twmoney121514chinaivory1200story NA comment: Why, then, is CITES and its secretariat so soft on China? Elephants, rhinos, tigers, etc. massacred for Chinese consumption, and CITES does not punish that country. WHY? WHOSE SIDE ARE CITES AND THE SECRETARIAT ON?
All three men are very influential over which countries are punished, or not, by CITES. No one, least of all us, is asking these men to do more than enforce the CITES Convention – which is what they are paid very well to do.
Achim Steiner UNEP John Scanlon CITES Oystein Steiner CITES
Executive Director Secretary General Chairman: Standing Committee
When it comes to CITES and its leadership
the biggest mistake you can make is to judge
either by its intentions, not its results.
Poaching kingpin arrested. SOUTH AFRICA
http://www.iol.co.za/news/crime-courts/poaching-kingpin-arrested-1.1797859#.VJfEZv8MBB
White rhino: Fears for future of endangered species http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-30559853
Forest officials seize tiger skin
http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/telangana/forest-officials-seize-tiger-skin/article6711345.ece
Four arrested for trading in tiger skins
http://www.thehansindia.com/posts/index/2014-12-21/Four-arrested-for-trading-in-tiger-skins-122200
Probe into forest mafia syndicate down south. TANZANIA http://www.ippmedia.com/frontend/index.php?l=75443
CCB seizes red sanders worth Rs 36 crore
An app to save 400 million animals http://news.mongabay.com/2014/1211-alex-rodriguez-urubu-wildlife-app.html
PHOTOS: A Toothfish Poaching Ship Is Being Pursued Through Pack Ice In The Antarctic http://www.businessinsider.com.au/photos-a-toothfish-poaching-fishing-ship-is-being-pursued-through-pack-ice-in-the-antarctic-2014-12
Watch: Monkey saves ‘dying’ friend at train station in India http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newsvideo/viral-video/11306466/Watch-Monkey-saves-dying-friend-at-train-station-in-India.html
Activists demand rules on animal performances in Taiwan
A staff member from an animal rights group speaks at a press conference at the Legislative Yuan, Dec. 19. (Photo/CNA) http://www.wantchinatimes.com/news-subclass-cnt.aspx?id=20141221000040&cid=1103
1,600-panda surprise for visitors at Dataran Merdeka. MALAYSIA
Read more: http://www.theborneopost.com/2014/12/22/1600-panda-surprise-for-visitors-at-dataran-merdeka/#ixzz3MYTOpe1U
Wildlife Division is in need of pilots for anti-poaching choppers – minister. TANZANIA http://www.ippmedia.com/frontend/index.php?l=75499
Data on tamed elephants in State trigger row. INDIA http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/data-on-tamed-elephants-in-state-trigger-row/article6713754.ece
Tanzania lake people in wildlife campaign
http://www.busiweek.com/index1.php?Ctp=2&pI=2453&pLv=3&srI=57&spI=23&cI=19
Ecuador halts environment deals with Germany over rainforest visit http://www.trust.org/item/20141221205952-2q7kf/?source=gep
Europe imposes stricter standards for RI products http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2014/12/22/europe-imposes-stricter-standards-ri-products.html
‘Palm Oil Free labels damaging for Malaysia’ https://my.news.yahoo.com/palm-oil-free-labels-damaging-155906256.html
Oil palm fields threaten great apes http://www.theeastafrican.co.ke/magazine/Oil-palm-fields-threaten-great-apes/-/434746/2553958/-/fw7dq9/-/index.html
Deforestation taking toll on nesting birds in Cameroon http://news.mongabay.com/2014/1217-gfrn-tcs-mark-deforestation-affecting-birds.html
Researchers map out poorly understood dry tropical forests in Southeast Asia; technique may help protect wildlife living within http://news.mongabay.com/2014/1216-gfrn-tcs-sekar-mapping-ddf.html
Controversial conservation: Malaysian state plants 80,000 ha of palm oil in degraded forest reserve to boost protection of 500,000 ha of "good" rainforest http://news.mongabay.com/2014/1205-sabah-palm-oil-conservation-tradeoff.html
Captive elephants on rise despite trade ban http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/jaipur/Captive-elephants-on-rise-despite-trade-ban/articleshow/45601949.cms
Malawi Govt Commits to Protection of Wildlife http://allafrica.com/stories/201412220260.html
Never Remain Silent When You Know Something Is Wrong
