The bad news never seem to stop and then there are some who think it is perfectly acceptable
what they do …
More bad news about poaching, wildlife trade and
environmental crimes
in the spotlight today ……………………
Zimbabwe blasts “politicisation” of elephant sales http://en.starafrica.com/news/zimbabwe-blasts-politicisation-of-elephant-sales.html
Which zoos and what people want to do business with the corrupt Zimbabwe government.
What do you call such zoos and people?
Photos courtesy Zimbabwe Conservation Task Force. https://www.facebook.com/pages/ZCTF-Zimbabwe-Conservation-Task-Force/246013052094585
You, hopefully, see baby elephants stolen from their mothers and incarcerated before shipping to FRANCE, UAE and CHINA. Greedy politicians, thoughtless zoos and heartless wildlife traders see only $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
Zimbabwe plans to export baby ellies overseas despite dangers http://www.thesouthafrican.com/zimbabwe-plans-to-export-baby-ellies-overseas-despite-dangers/
extract: “These innocent and terrified babies have been traumatically stolen from their families and their natural habitat, only to be sold to the highest bidder and sentenced to a life of abuse and captivity.”
SHAME ON FRANCE, UAE and CHINA
‘High prices deterring tourists to Zimbabwe’ (NA comment: The Dutch government giving away it’s taxpayers money to this corrupt government. Not exactly setting a good example, is it?) http://nehandaradio.com/2015/01/10/high-prices-deterring-tourists-zimbabwe/
Zimbabwean First Lady Accused of Evicting Villagers http://allafrica.com/view/group/main/main/id/00034887.html
No 314 Wildlife Trade News 10th January 2015
Alleged Kenya poaching boss denied bail https://uk.news.yahoo.com/alleged-kenya-poaching-boss-denied-bail-105722714.html#uf9udWH
3 fishing cat kittens rescued, 2 jailed
http://www.thedailystar.net/3-fishing-cat-kittens-rescued-2-jailed-59237
More than 80 Chinese arrested for teak smuggling. MYANMAR
Myanmar arrests 102 Chinese loggers http://www.wantchinatimes.com/news-subclass-cnt.aspx?id=20150109000047&cid=1103
CITES ISN’T WORKING – IS IT?
IS CITES A CHINESE PUPPET?
Gober, once-blind Sumatran orangutan ditches her son, stunning carers http://www.theage.com.au/world/gober-onceblind-sumatran-orangutan-ditches-her-son-stunning-carers-20150110-12lilb.html
KZN cop arrested over rhino horn charges http://www.ecr.co.za/post/zululand-officer-arrested-rhino-horn-charges/
Assam: Second rhino poached this year http://www.newkerala.com/news/2015/fullnews-3792.html
After only one year, REDD+ agency future is in doubt. INDONESIA – See more at: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2015/01/10/after-only-one-year-redd-agency-future-doubt.html#sthash.esfc9DtO.dpuf
Sulawesi community regains access to forest on which it depends http://news.mongabay.com/2015/0109-gfrn-bell-latowa-namu-regain-forest-access.html
‘Bulk of cases, confiscations involved illegal logging’. SARAWAK http://www.theborneopost.com/2015/01/10/bulk-of-cases-confiscations-involved-illegal-logging/
The most dangerous place to be a park ranger http://boingboing.net/2011/11/15/the-most-dangerous-place-to-be.html
Trade court deal to help marine mammals worldwide USA http://summitcountyvoice.com/2015/01/08/trade-court-deal-to-help-marine-mammals-worldwide/
Rhino killed by poachers, horn removed. INDIA http://www.business-standard.com/article/pti-stories/rhino-killed-by-poachers-horn-removed-115010900815_1.html
Namibia Seeks Funding for Drone Army to Fight Poaching http://www.ecorazzi.com/2015/01/09/namibia-seeks-funding-for-drone-army-to-fight-poaching/
China tightens wildlife protection after panda deaths Tourists are not allowed to approach protected wildlife after two pandas died of a measle-like virus, the State Forestry Administration said on Friday. http://www.ecns.cn/2015/01-10/150165.shtml
Furniture firm owner allegedly smuggled endangered sea species. USA. extract: “ …. and shipping them to China, where they are considered a delicacy.”
CONVENTION ON INTERNATIONAL TRADE IN ENDANGERED SPECIES
OF WILD FAUNA AND FLORA . NOTIFICATION TO THE PARTIES
CONCERNING: Sample permits and certificates and signature specimens http://cites.org/sites/default/files/notif/E-Notif-2015-001.pdf
China: Party member jailed for 11 years for tiger trafficking
One local CPPCC [Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference] member was sentenced to 11 years in prison for the illegal sale of tiger skins in Tonglu, Zhejiang; he prepared testimony in advance for police interrogation.
Shentu was a locally popular person in Tonglu and he was also a member of local CPPCC. He owned a big moon bear farm in Tonglu. Due to the business relationship, Shentu came into contact with people involved in illegal wildlife business. As a personal hobby and due to the attraction of this lucrative business, he began to sell illegal wildlife products in Hangzhou.
On December 18, Hangzhou Forestry Police revealed to reporters its biggest case of illegal trade in rare and endangered wildlife products, cracked after two years of investigation.
In February 2012, police from Jinghua and Hangzhou arrested Guo and other suspects for a large illegal gold operation. During the search, the police revealed a shocking fact that in the house of Guo’s father in law in Sandun, Hangzhou, there were tiger skins and leopard skins hanging in the attic. The total number of animal skins was eight.
Tigers and leopards are under the first class state protection. The poaching, killing, transportation, purchase and sale of these animals and their products are strictly prohibited. According to the relevant legislation, the suspect who illegally purchases, transports and sells a tiger skin can be sentenced to more than 10 years’ imprisonment or confiscation of personal property …
Hangzhou Forestry Police asked the National Forest Public Security Bureau of Forestry Judicial Identification Centre to identify these animal skins. The result showed that these are two tiger skins, one leopard skin and five snow leopard skins. These three species are all under first class state protection. The total value of skins is around 1.52 million Yuan [approx US$245,000].
Image: Wildlife products sold by Shentu, via thepaper.cn
Hangzhou Forestry Police immediately established a special team to fully investigate this case.
Guo said all of eight skins from his father in law’s were purchased from a man called Shentu, in Tonglu.
Police investigated Shentu and found he was the local CPPCC member at that time and also owned a large commercial moon bear farm. He is socially active and with complex social relationship. The police decided to arrest Shentu and then search for his supplier to find the real source of tiger and leopard skins.
Shentu was extremely calm when he faced the police interrogation. He refused to admit his criminal fact and kept evading the crucial points.
Shentu claimed: "I had no clue that tigers and leopards were under first class state protection. The skins I gave Guo were found when I tidied up my father’s remains. I was not sure if these are genuine tiger and leopard skins. I knew Guo was really into this stuff, so I gave these gifts to him for our business friendship and I did not receive any money from him. And he also came to my bear farm to collect these skins.”
Shentu’s answer was almost perfect and the forestry police could not find any legal loophole. After a month’s interrogation, the investigation stalled because his testimony covered all the bases …
Police searched Shentu’s home and office, and in a closet of his home found a newspaper article about protecting Siberian tigers; on the desk at his bear farm, they found prepared draft notes in order to deal with police interrogation and bookkeeping records of the transactions between him and Guo. The evidence can be a powerful weapon to beat Shentu’s previous testimony and an important part of the evidence chain to recreate the fact.
The police special team interrogated Shentu again and finally crushed his defence. He admitted that from 2005-10, he purchased tiger and leopard skins from Ma and Gao (fled) in Gansu Province and then sold them on …
In the end, Shentu was found guilty by Hangzhou West Lake Court of the illegal sale of rare and endangered wildlife products and was sentenced to 11 years in prison; Ma was sentenced to 10 years in prison. The other relevant suspects who are involved in economic cases were also sentenced recently.
Source: http://www.thepaper.cn/newsDetail_forward_1287145
(Translated by EIA)
