Another daily dose of bad news about
poaching, wildlife and environmental crimes
from around the world ….
in the spotlight(again) today ……………………
Help stop slaughter of elephants, David Attenborough tells Xi Jinping (NA COMMENT: This news story has criss-crossed the world – but not yet reached the CITES web site, Facebook page or Twitter. Is someone in CITES trying to protect China despite its rampant illegal wildlife trade? Does this worry you? The world’s worst country, by far, for involvement in the illegal wildlife trade, shielded by CITES from critical news reports.)
China’s leader must take action to halt the "unabated" slaughter of African elephants, conservationists, MPs and celebrities say
extract: David Attenborough has called on China’s president to help stop the "catastrophic" slaughter of tens of thousands of African elephants each year by ending his country’s domestic ivory trade.
In an open letter to Xi Jinping, the world famous wildlife filmmaker urges the Communist Party leader to take historic action in order to halt the animals’ rapid slide towards extinction. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/china/11429255/Help-stop-slaughter-of-elephants-David-Attenborough-tells-Xi-Jinping.html
HAVE YOU EVER HEARD A WORD FROM CITES CALLING ON CHINA TO BAN THE ILLEGAL IVORY TRADE AND COMPLY WITH THE CONVENTION?
NO? NEITHER HAVE WE.
HAVE YOU EVER HEARD ANYONE IN THE CHINESE GOVERMENT CONDEMN THE IVORY TRADE – OR EXPRESS CONCERN ABOUT WHAT’S HAPPENING TO ELEPHANTS?
NO? NEITHER HAVE WE.
extract: It’s been 17 years since Japan was authorized to legally buy ivory from the Southern African states by CITES, and as far as EIA can see, they have been non-compliant with the CITES regulations throughout that period. The same with China, since they purchased ivory in 2008 they have never been in compliance with the CITES ivory regulations to have demonstratively effective controls over the raw tusks and over worked ivory.http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jamie-joseph/eia-chinas-blood-ivory-carving-factories_b_6655144.html
CITES ISN’T WORKING – IS IT?
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. Do you have confidence in them? OR DO YOU FEEL IT’S TIME FOR CHANGE AT THE TOP?
Achim Steiner UNEP John Scanlon CITES Oystein Storkersen. CITES
Executive Director Secretary General Chairman: Standing Committee
When it comes to CITES and its leadership
isn’t the biggest mistake you can make is to judge either by its intentions, or number of meetings it holds, and not by its results?
In the private sector leaders who don’t produce results, get fired, don’t they?
The world’s wildlife is being decimated, illegally, by many CITES countries, without fear of any sanctions, which is why the trade continues to prosper, isn’t it?
No 341 Wildlife Trade News 24th February 2015
Forensic DNA tests show majority of Thai ivory on sale comes from African elephants http://wildlifenews.co.uk/2015/02/forensic-dna-tests-show-majority-of-thai-ivory-on-sale-comes-from-african-elephants/ WILL THIS GET THAILAND SANCTIONED? WHAT DO YOU THINK?
How raising tigers as farm animals drives illegal poaching in the wild. CHINA
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/raising-tigers-farm-animals-drives-illegal-poaching-wild/
India’s tiger success story based on dodgy science: Study http://www.indiagazette.com/index.php/sid/230519559
Flawed research method puts 30 per cent tiger rise in doubt http://www.mumbaimirror.com/others/sci-tech/Flawed-research-method-puts-30-per-cent-tiger-rise-in-doubt/articleshow/46350656.cms
New footage catches APRIL destroying the rainforest in Borneo http://www.greenpeace.org.uk/blog/forests/new-footage-catches-april-destroying-rainforest-borneo-20150223
Scientists Sound the Alarm on African Palm Oil Investment
http://www.theepochtimes.com/n3/1260166-scientists-sound-the-alarm-on-african-palm-oil-investment/
Outgoing government wipes hard drives, slowing environmental progress in Peru http://news.mongabay.com/2015/0223-sri-fraser-peru-hard-drives.html
Zimbabwe’s Robert Mugabe to slaughter wild animals as food for his 91st birthday feast http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-news/zimbabwes-robert-mugabe-slaughter-wild-5209778
Africa: Agribusiness Companies Destroying Vital Rainforest Habitat of Chimpanzees and Other Great Apes http://allafrica.com/stories/201502231574.html
EU plan to curb illegal logging: Think big by thinking small? http://blog.cifor.org/26890/eu-flegt-vpa-illegal-logging-policy-domestic-timber#.VOto5y7JIsc
Forest dept to install cameras in Pilibhit Tiger Reserve http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bareilly/Forest-dept-to-install-cameras-in-Pilibhit-Tiger-Reserve/articleshow/46347102.cms
Mexico rescues more than 100 animals from overcrowded zoo
The Wildlife Conservation Trust (WCT), in association with Panthera, initiates specialised training for Special Tiger Protection Force personnel from Tadoba and Pench – See more at: http://www.nyoooz.com/news/nagpur/the-wildlife-conservation-trust-wct-in-association-with-panthera-initiates-specialised-training-for-special-tiger-protection-force-personnel-from-tadoba-and-pench/60027.html#sthash.6TPr9pKF.dpuf
Poachers targeting rhino calves. ZIMBABWE http://www.newzimbabwe.com/news-20756-Poachers+targeting+rhino+calves/news.aspx
Officials of Maharashtra’s tiger reserves get lessons in site security http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/Officials-of-Maharashtras-tiger-reserves-get-lessons-in-site-security/articleshow/46345465.cms
Investigations on 20 complaints regarding illegal detention of elephant calves. http://www.slbc.lk/index.php/component/content/article/1-latest-news/23866–investigations-on-20-complaints-regarding-illegal-detention-of-elephant-calves-.html
Team against illegal logging set up to save forests. INDONESIA http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2015/02/24/team-against-illegal-logging-set-save-forests.html
Brazil arrests "biggest deforester" of the Amazon jungle http://www.laprensasa.com/309_america-in-english/2967333_brazil-arrests-biggest-deforester-of-the-amazon-jungle.html
Palm oil businessman gets 3 years for bribing governor – See more at: http://news.asiaone.com/news/asia/palm-oil-businessman-gets-3-years-bribing-governor#sthash.bRYmUIh3.dpuf
New Guinea rainforest being leveled for palm oil, revealing gaps in zero deforestation pacts http://news.mongabay.com/2015/0223-gfrn-anj-palm-oil-clearing-mrn.html
Wildlife dept to ensure implementation of ban on crane hunting PAKISTAN http://nation.com.pk/national/24-Feb-2015/wildlife-dept-to-ensure-implementation-of-ban-on-crane-hunting
Now, poachers bleed Birbhum sanctuary http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata/Now-poachers-bleed-Birbhum-sanctuary/articleshow/46348135.cms
Sting operation nets tiger poachers INDONESIA http://news.mongabay.com/2015/0224-lbell-tiger-bust.html
Bengal mulls two-way approach to stop rhino-poaching
Read more at http://www.theshillongtimes.com/2015/02/24/bengal-mulls-two-way-approach-to-stop-rhino-poaching/#fUy0sEfKMrdhUrWE.99
Parks cracks reptile trade. AUSTRALIA http://www.psnews.com.au/wa/Page_WApsn26713.html
Baguazo conflict reaches consensus in forestry law after 6 years PERU http://www.peruthisweek.com/news-consensus-reached-between-the-state-and-indigenous-groups-for-forestry-law-105363
Most wanted red sanders smuggler arrested in Mauritius http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/most-wanted-red-sanders-smuggler-arrested-in-mauritius/article6926968.ece
SeaWorld Orlando is Finally Ending Dolphin Feeding, Here’s What They Should Do Next http://www.onegreenplanet.org/news/seaworld-orlando-ends-feeding-programs/
Zambia hosts INTERPOL training session against wildlife crime
LUSAKA, Zambia – INTERPOL has held a wildlife crime training course to enhance the skills of police and wildlife officials from Malawi and Zambia in effectively enforcing environmental laws.
With a keynote address at the opening ceremony by Zambia’s Inspector General of Police, Stella M. Libongani, trainees from Police, Environmental Authorities and Customs, attended the five-day training session (9-13 February) which also aimed to encourage a multi-agency, multi-national approach to tackling wildlife trafficking.
The use of INTERPOL’s global tools and services to enhance multinational law enforcement collaboration against wildlife trafficking, including through intelligence-led law enforcement intervention, was the focus of discussions on field training exercises.
Further topics included operational planning, decision making, risk management, completing information collection plans, witness and subject interview techniques, crime scene investigation, search and seizure techniques, and court procedures.
The training was funded by the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) through INTERPOL’s Project Wisdom, which supports and enhances governance and law enforcement capacity for the conservation of elephants and rhinoceros. It seeks to conserve these species through international operations, intelligence-led policing, increased public awareness and training of local police.
