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in the spotlight today ……………………
Ivory mafia: how criminal gangs are killing Africa’s elephants. extract: "There hasn’t been a single kingpin prosecuted,”
No 318 Wildlife Trade News 28th January 2015
On this occasion both current and recent news.
CITES: Zim Elephant Trade Legal
http://www.newsdzezimbabwe.co.uk/2015/01/cites-zim-elephant-trade-legal.html
Zimbabwe: Live Elephant Sales Better Than Culling. (NA comment: “Better” because the money will line the deep pockets of corrupt politicians?)
Why It’s So Hard to Stop Zimbabwe’s Export of Baby Elephants http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2015/01/150123-cites-scanlon-zimbabwe-elephants-china-uae-france-iucn/
Deforestation may be ramping up in Papua, West Papua http://news.mongabay.com/2015/0127-gfrn-harfenist-papua-deforestation-ramping-up.html
Cameroon, M’sia singled out for illegal logging. (NA comment: Another inconvenient truth for the CITES Secretariat and Standing Committee. These countries get away year after year, after year, with no sanctions – not even a good telling off by the gutless CITES bureaucrats.)
Company run Sarawak governor has amassed $1.4B in state infrastructure contracts http://news.mongabay.com/2015/0126-cahya-mata-sarawak-contracts-malaysia.html
Swiss NGO BMF to release ‘explosive report’ on Taib Family
Conservationists want action on Taib (NA comment: How come Malaysia has been allowed by CITES to get away with all this illegal logging over the years? Another example of CITES suffering from selective blindness? This illegal logging has gone on openly for as long as anyone can remember – unless you are a cowardly CITES official who has chosen to ignore it. )
http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2015/01/23/conservationists-want-action-on-taib/
Lawyer admits Taib family’s secret deal with timber tycoon. SARAWAK http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2015/01/20/lawyer-admits-taib-familys-secret-deal-with-timber-tycoon/
Taib ‘declines’ to justify his extreme wealth
Why Malaysia’s Palm Oil Boom May Be Bad News For Orangutans
Read the full article: Why Malaysia’s Palm Oil Boom May Be Bad News For Orangutans
155 Chinese nationals arrested for illegal logging in Myanmar
Truck carrying raw logs in Myanmar. Photo courtesy of EIA
Timber exports to US to reach 300 tonnes . MYANMAR . (NA comment. The USA bending/breaking the rules to suit. what message does this send to others?) http://www.elevenmyanmar.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=8725:timber-exports-to-us-to-reach-300-tonnes&catid=33:business&Itemid=356
GREENOMICS/INDONESIA "The recommendations provided by the Stakeholder Advisory Committee (SAC) actually encourage the clearance of natural forest in existing conservation zones located on the concessions of APRIL and its long-term supply partners".
http://www.greenomics.org/docs/Public-Response-to-SAC-APRIL_(LowRes).pdf
Asia Pulp & Paper’s Aida Greenbury on changing the story from environmental pariah to sustainability leader http://www.mumbrella.asia/2015/01/asia-pulp-papers-aida-greenbury-changing-story-environmental-pariah-sustainability-leader/
Govt intercepts smuggling of pricey marine wildlife to China. INDONESIA – See more at: http://m.thejakartapost.com/news/2015/01/21/govt-intercepts-smuggling-pricey-marine-wildlife-china.html#sthash.oxDQpOac.dpuf
Seeing ‘red’ – the often hidden colour of wildlife contraband
Helmeted hornbill, left, by Doug Janson; right, carved hornbill beaks illegally sold on the internet http://eia-international.org/seeing-red-the-often-hidden-colour-of-wildlife-contraband
Corrupt cop at large despite being jailed for timber theft. WEST PAPUA / INDONESIA (NA comment: Let’s hope INTERPOL place him on their WANTED – now.)
http://eia-international.org/corrupt-cop-at-large-despite-being-jailed-for-timber-theft
Pangolin smuggling ring busted by Chinese police extract: Customs from south China’s Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region have busted a pangolin trafficking ring who allegedly smuggled over 4,000 of the endangered anteater.
Chinese Customs Seizes Over 1,000 Exotic Reptiles http://en.yibada.com/articles/9675/20150118/chinese-customs-seizes-over-1000-exotic-reptiles.htm
Botswana leader blames Asian market for increase in animal poaching
Seized ivory linked to missing UWA stock http://www.newvision.co.ug/news/664147-seized-ivory-linked-to-missing-uwa-stock.html
Rogue cop missing from jail. PAPUA / INDONESIA http://news.mongabay.com/2015/0127-sitorus-case-indonesia.html
Tanzania: The elephant in the room. extract: Every year, thousands of elephants are killed for their tusks in Tanzania, and the trade of their ivory is sophisticated, global and hugely lucrative. According to growing evidence, this trade also relies on complicity, if not direct profiteering, that goes all the way to the top. – See more at: http://newafricanmagazine.com/elephant-room/#sthash.KSkE6bRs.dpuf
The ivory mafia: How a high-profile trial could lay bare the workings of deadly African criminal gangs http://mgafrica.com/article/2015-01-25-the-ivory-mafia-how-criminal-gangs-are-killing-africas-elephants
South Africa: Government Must Come Clean On Rhino Horn Trade Stance http://allafrica.com/stories/201501261758.html
Trial of alleged ivory kingpin gets underway in Kenya http://www.aquila-style.com/focus-points/global-snapshots/trial-alleged-ivory-kingpin-gets-underway-kenya/91096/
Two-thirds of carnivores die when reintroduced into the wild http://news.mongabay.com/2008/0120-carnivores.html#ixzz3Pqm1NCGc
Indonesia’s moratorium not enough to achieve emissions reduction target http://news.mongabay.com/2015/0120-eshelman-sri-indonesia-moratorium-emissions.html#ixzz3Par4THH5
Logging of primary rainforests not ecologically sustainable, argue scientists http://news.mongabay.com/2012/0125-peak_timber.html
Permitting Crime: Palm oil expansion and illegal logging in Indonesia’s REDD pilot province http://www.redd-monitor.org/2015/01/23/permitting-crime-palm-oil-expansion-and-illegal-logging-in-indonesias-redd-pilot-province/
Critically Endangered chimpanzees stand to lose home over giant iron mine in West Africa http://news.mongabay.com/2015/0120-sri-stiles-simandou-mine.html
Malaysians have become accidental accomplices to illegal wildlife trade
Read more: http://www.therakyatpost.com/news/2015/01/24/malaysians-become-accidental-accomplices-illegal-wildlife-trade/#ixzz3Q2RSFr3S
Namibia to beef up rhino and elephant protection http://m.jacarandafm.com/post/namibia-beef-rhino-and-elephant-protection/
A dozen elephants killed by poachers in northern Cameroon – official
Criminal gangs are killing Africa’s elephants (published in China) http://www.chinapost.com.tw/life/environment/2015/01/27/427468/Criminal-gangs.htm
14 arrested for ivory trading in Hebei http://www.thestandard.com.hk/breaking_news_detail.asp?id=56444&icid=a&d_str
How a global ivory mafia is killing Africa’s elephants http://www.nationmultimedia.com/opinion/How-a-global-ivory-mafia-is-killing-Africas-elepha-30252726.html
Stepping Out of the Lab to Help Millions of Trafficked Animals. BRAZIL Emerging Explorer Juliana Machado Ferreira says whole ecosystems are put at risk by wildlife trafficking.
62 elephants at risk of being exported by Zimbabwe http://ewn.co.za/2015/01/26/Zim-gets-R4m-for-7-elephants
3 Resilient Elephants Who Survived Poaching Attempts http://www.onegreenplanet.org/animalsandnature/resilient-elephants-who-survived-poaching-attempts/
Uganda seizes massive ivory, pangolin haul http://www.news24.com/Green/News/Uganda-seizes-massive-ivory-pangolin-haul-20150126
Raising wild animals in farms causes scare in Vietnam
The elephant poaching business in numbers http://phys.org/news/2015-01-elephant-poaching-business.html
Dallas Club Cancels African Elephant Hunt http://www.outsideonline.com/news-from-the-field/Dallas-Club-Cancels-African-Elephant-Hunt-Auction.html
The world’s loneliest elephant has been kept all alone in concrete ‘jungle’ since 1977 http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-news/worlds-loneliest-elephant-been-kept-4998133
Suspected poachers to appear in court (S. Africa) http://www.news24.com/Green/News/Suspected-poachers-to-appear-in-court-20150127
TRAFFIC – SOUTHEAST ASIA Just as we posted news that over 2,000 smuggled pig nosed turtles had been seized at the Soekarno-Hatta Airport in Jakarta (), a second seizure made headlines: Over 5,000 more turtles were seized at Bali’s Ngurah Rai airport.
TRAFFIC SOUTHEAST ASIA Thailand’s Natural Resources and Crime Suppression Division has been hard at work – a recent seizure of leopard cat skins as well as parts of porcupines, deers, serow and other protected animals.
TRAFFIC SOUTHEAST ASIA Authorities in Chiang Mai have intercepted a shipment of 151 pangolins destined for China, say news reports.
Reports only in Thai language press: and
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Rhino deaths raise questions about conservation efforts: INDIA http://www.hindustantimes.com/kolkata/rhino-deaths-raise-questions-about-conservation-efforts/article1-1310996.aspx
‘Eyes on the Sea’ Curtail Illegal Fishing http://www.bignewsnetwork.com/index.php/sid/229717611
Environmentalists allege over 140 elephants being held illegally’ SRI LANKA – See more at: http://www.nation.lk/edition/breaking-news/item/37573-environmentalists-allege-over-140-elephants-being-held-illegally.html#sthash.JNHjXOim.dpuf
Kenya: Two Rhinos Killed At Ol Pejeta, State Asked to Declare Them Treasures http://allafrica.com/stories/201501262433.html
Smuggling the bane of Cameron Highlands’ exotic and rare orchids. MALAYSIA Read more: http://www.therakyatpost.com/news/2015/01/26/smuggling-bane-cameron-highlands-exotic-rare-orchids/#ixzz3Q2DOlnFF
Vietnam hotel boss nicked for buying 303kg dismembered tiger to make bone glue
Woman poacher escapes custody by jumping off train. INDIA http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/nagpur/Woman-poacher-escapes-custody-by-jumping-off-train/articleshow/46015537.cms
Foraging orangutans destroy village farms. INDONESIA (NA comment: Because palm oil companies have destroyed their forest home) http://m.thejakartapost.com/news/2015/01/22/foraging-orangutans-destroy-village-farms.html
Gang of tiger poachers held in Pilibhit; Int’l Agency’s Help Sought To Bust Racket http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/lucknow/Gang-of-tiger-poachers-held-in-Pilibhit-Intl-Agencys-Help-Sought-To-Bust-Racket/articleshow/46015687.cms
Record Number of Rhinos Die from Poaching in 2014 http://www.natureworldnews.com/articles/12176/20150123/record-number-of-rhinos-die-from-poaching-in-2014.htm
More than 2300 turtles seized at Jakarta international airport http://www.traffic.org/home/2015/1/23/more-than-2300-turtles-seized-at-jakarta-international-airpo.html
Wild tigers have made a dramatic comeback: but how? http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/earth/wildlife/11359324/Wild-tigers-have-made-a-dramatic-comeback-but-how.html
Air Shepherd targets poachers http://www.aopa.org/News-and-Video/All-News/2015/January/21/Air-Shepherd
Poachers take logs at gunpoint. PHILIPPINES http://www.visayandailystar.com/2015/January/24/topstory6.htm
Poachers Threaten Existence of Venus Flytraps in Wild. USA http://www.newser.com/story/201693/venus-flytraps-biggest-threat-poachers.html
Butchered jumbos in the Selous in five years represent loss of over $40 billion http://www.ippmedia.com/frontend/index.php?l=76673
Can anything stop the rhino poaching crisis? http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/jan/23/can-anything-stop-the-rhino-poaching-crisis
‘Educate communities on anti-poaching’. S. AFRICA http://ewn.co.za/2015/01/23/Anti-poaching-educate-communities-adjacent-to-reserves
Rhino syndicates targeted as South Africa battles with poachers http://www.thanhniennews.com/world/rhino-syndicates-targeted-as-south-africa-battles-with-poachers-37962.html
Toothfish poachers caught red-handed in Antarctica waters slip away http://en.mercopress.com/2015/01/22/toothfish-poachers-caught-red-handed-in-antarctica-waters-slip-away
S.Africa moves 100 rhinos outside country to fight poaching http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/01/22/safrica-rhinos-poaching-idUSL6N0V122X20150122
Wild animal farms stoke tiger poaching problem http://www.yakimaherald.com/photosandvideos/internationalphotos/2793085-8/wild-animal-farms-stoke-tiger-poaching-problem
Interpol: IUU vessels operating in Australian protected research areas http://www.undercurrentnews.com/2015/01/21/interpol-iuu-vessels-operating-in-australian-protected-research-areas/
UN General Assembly: Sustainable tourism is a tool for poverty reduction and environmental protection http://media.unwto.org/press-release/2015-01-14/un-general-assembly-sustainable-tourism-tool-poverty-reduction-and-environm
Next big idea in forest conservation? Using drones to catch poachers, monitor forests http://news.mongabay.com/2014/0117-forestinnovation-kimbrough-koh.html
Company chops down rainforest to produce ‘sustainable’ chocolate http://news.mongabay.com/2015/0120-gfrn-cannon-company-clears-forest-for-chocolate.html#ixzz3PapUNscO
Ministry Turns Down Nickel Smelter at Baluran National Park. INDONESIA http://www.profauna.net/en/content/ministry-turns-down-nickel-smelter-baluran-national-park#.VMewwnuTIsd
4,552 timber logs worth over RM500,000 seized. SARAWAK http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2015/01/27/4552-timber-logs-worth-over-rm500000-seized/
Why can’t I buy more palm oil-free products from mainstream shops? http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/jan/18/why-cant-i-buy-more-palm-oil-free-products
World’s largest palm oil trader commits to zero deforestation http://www.theguardian.com/sustainable-business/2015/jan/26/palm-oil-companies-deliver-deforestation-promises
Progress report on National Ivory Action Plan sent to CITES. THAILAND http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/Progress-report-on-National-Ivory-Action-Plan-sent-30252128.html
700kg of ivory, 2 tonnes of pangolin skins seized at Uganda’s airport
Read more: http://www.therakyatpost.com/world/2015/01/26/700kg-ivory-2-tonnes-pangolin-skins-seized-ugandas-airport/#ixzz3Q2QY05o2
Beijing Airport hosts huge anti-animal performance display https://www.animalsasia.org/uk/media/news/news-archive/beijing-airport-hosts-huge-anti-animal-performance-display.html
Police seize frozen tiger, monkeys transported illegally in central Vietnam
Stripped of her teeth and claws, and covered in wounds: Heartbreaking images of lioness who died after being kept in appalling conditions by her cruel owner. MEXICO
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2926824/Stripped-teeth-claws-underweight-covered-wounds-Heartbreaking-images-lioness-died-kept-appalling-conditions-cruel-owner.html#ixzz3Q2LXVP93
The baby orangutan who couldn’t grow up… because it was kept in a chicken coop: Ten-month-old animal who knew only pain and hunger because owner never gave it food
Financial pledges for REDD+ slow to be disbursed, finds report http://news.mongabay.com/2015/0127-reddx_finance.html
Ontario to overhaul rules for marine mammals, ban sale of killer whales http://www.thestar.com/news/queenspark/2015/01/27/ontario-to-overhaul-rules-for-marine-mammals-ban-sale-of-killer-whales.html
Please note: This daily newsletter has evolved from an intended single species niche target audience news report, into what is now a more general wildlife news report to a very large and widespread audience consisting of CITES, EU, UNEP, and other government officials with an interest in these issues, as well as media worldwide, NGO’s scientists and concerned members of the public. Our aim is to keep as close as possible to collating and distributing reports related to deforestation and the illegal wildlife trade.
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