Your daily dose of bad news … Poaching! Wildlife Crimes! Environmental Crimes!
The never ending story …
in the spotlight today ……………………
Chinese ivory traders find haven online
extract: China‘s booming e-commerce websites have carried thousands of advertisements for illegal wildlife products including ivory, rhino horn and tiger bone, a wildlife trade monitoring network said on Tuesday.
More than half of such products offered online in recent months are ivory, the British group TRAFFIC found in a survey of 15 Chinese retail websites over a two year period.
Conservationists say China is the world’s largest consumer of illegal ivory, with skyrocketing demand fuelling the slaughter of tens of thousands of African elephants each year.
TRAFFIC found that surveyed websites were hosting thousands of advertisements for illegal wildlife products as of the end of 2014.
It had consistently found "around 1,500" new advertisements for such items every month for the last two years, it said in a report.
As well as ivory, it tracked offers of rhino horn, leopard and tiger bones, hawksbill turtle shells, pangolin scales, hornbill casques and the horns of the saiga, a critically endangered antelope. https://uk.news.yahoo.com/chinese-ivory-traders-haven-online-075831805.html#132ToZ5 (If Traffic with its very limited resources can find this, why cannot the Chinese government with unlimited resources do the same?)
New evidence proves China’s illegal trade in ivory and tiger boneRead more: http://www.digitaljournal.com/news/environment/new-evidence-proves-china-s-illegal-trade-in-ivory-and-tiger-bone/article/427405#ixzz3TOZjyv7U
No 348 Wildlife Trade News 4th March 2015
CITES ISN’T WORKING – IS IT?
DO YOU WISH CITES OFFICIALS WOULD STOP SUCKING UP TO CHINA?
Are China’s Zoos Really ‘Acceptable’ Places for Zimbabwe’s Wild Baby Elephants? (NA comment: We have written and asked the CITES MA in both China and Thailand to confirm or deny if their countries are importing these elephants. We have heard from neither. We ddin’t expect to hear from China as the MA there are well known for being economical with the truth. Thailand, however, already with more elephants in captivity than it knows what to do with, we are hoping will reply. This illustrates just how secretive the CITES ‘club’ really is.)
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Lead image source: Chantal Lyons/Flickr http://www.onegreenplanet.org/animalsandnature/are-chinas-zoos-really-acceptable-places-for-zimbabwes-wild-baby-elephants/
Pangolin: Battle To Save Most Hunted Animal (NA comment: being eaten to extinction by the Chinese and Vietnamese. Sky News are showing a new report where journalists are easily able to but Pangolin meet in a Chinese restaurant – with a photo of the animals on the menu. Illegal, but local police bribed.) http://www.klfm967.co.uk/news/world-news/1545266/battle-to-save-worlds-most-hunted-animal/
Chinese nationals involved in 46 illegal tusks export arrested. SOUTH AFRICA (NA COMMENT: Look at the PATHETIC PUNISHMENT one of them got. Why so paltry? http://customstoday.com.pk/chinese-nationals-involved-in-46-illegal-tusks-export-arrested/
DO YOU BELIEVE CITES OFFICIALS ARE LISTENING?
OR, MIGHT THEY SUFFER FROM SELECTIVE DEAFNESS?
OH LOOK. ANOTHER TALKING SHOP. IT’S ONE A DAY LATELY.
THE GRAVY TRAIN ROLLS ON – JUST A SHAME ABOUT THE WILDLIFE BEING KILLED
WHILE THESE FREELOADERS SIT AROUND ENDLESSLY TALKING. IN THE COMMERCIAL WORLD
MANY WOULD HAVE BEEN FIRED LONG AGO FOR A LACK OF RESULTS AND ACCOUNTABILITY .
UN urges ASEAN governments to step up efforts to tackle wildlife trafficking
In this October 31, 2014 hand out picture provided by the South African Police Services a large cache of 41kilos of smuggled rhino horns are seen at the O.R. Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg after they were confiscated from two Vietnamese passengers leaving the country on a flight to Hanoi which originated from Mozambique – See more at: http://news.asiaone.com/news/asia/un-urges-asean-governments-step-efforts-tackle-wildlife-trafficking#sthash.NnCwNLn1.dpuf
TAKE A LOOK AT AN ‘INDUSTRY’ CONDONED BY CORRUPT OFFICIALS IN VIETNAM, CHINA AND LAOS. ALL OF WHOM HAVE SOMEHOW MANAGED TO ESCAPE CITES SANCTIONS FOR MANY YEARS – WHICH IS WHY THINGS HAVE GONE FROM BAD TO WORSE – ISN’T IT?
When it comes to CITES and its leadership
isn’t the biggest mistake you can make would be to judge either by its intentions, or number of meetings it holds, and not by its results?
Forced to fight to the death: The cruel dogfights in northern China that organisers insist are just ‘entertainment’
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2977841/Forced-fight-death-cruel-dogfights-northern-China-organisers-insist-just-entertainment.html#ixzz3TOhJpabf
Kenya leads the way as UK and Tanzania lag behind. (NA comment: Not forgetting MALAYSIA – if all the confiscated ivory hasn’t already been sold off illegally.) http://wildlifenews.co.uk/2015/03/kenya-leads-the-way-as-uk-and-tanzania-lag-behind/
Pictures: 8 Amazing Animals at Risk From Wildlife Crimes http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2015/03/pictures/150303-tiger-whale-bear-bile-poaching-wildlife-animal-conservation/
Call To Save Nambia’s Rhinos http://www.bernama.com.my/bernama/v8/wn/newsworld.php?id=1113467
Africa: Organized Crime Threat to Wild Species On the Increase, Says UN On Wildlife Day http://allafrica.com/stories/201503030546.html
An alliance against wildlife trafficking The Wildlife Alliance is making big strides in fighting the booming illegal animal trade in Cambodia with its conservationists and special forces successfully taking on the organized mafia-style business. http://www.dw.de/global-ideas-cambodia-conservation-shelter-illegal-trade/a-18290608
Indigenous Peoples destroyed for misguided ‘conservation’ http://www.theecologist.org/blogs_and_comments/commentators/2776725/indigenous_peoples_destroyed_for_misguided_conservation.html
PH most lacking in funds, staff for conservation in ASEAN Protected areas in the Philippines are underfunded and understaffed by 324% and 540%, respectively, says a new study http://www.rappler.com/world/specials/southeast-asia/asean-journey/85646-asean-protected-areas-funds-staff
78 tigers died in 2014: Prakash Javadekar http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/environment/flora-fauna/78-tigers-died-in-2014-prakash-javadekar/articleshow/46443788.cms
Rhinos to macaws seen at risk in $10 billion wildlife trade http://www.thanhniennews.com/education-youth/rhinos-to-macaws-seen-at-risk-in-10-billion-wildlife-trade-39344.html
Kenya burns 15 tonnes of ivory worth £19.4m – video
http://www.theguardian.com/world/video/2015/mar/03/kenya-burns-15-tonnes-ivory-worth-19-4m-video
Illegal elephant tusk vendor convicted with help of radiocarbon dating CANADA http://www.cbc.ca/news/technology/illegal-elephant-tusk-vendor-convicted-with-help-of-radiocarbon-dating-1.2980338
Dubai Rainforest gets eco alarm bells ringing http://www.khaleejtimes.com/kt-article-display-1.asp?xfile=data/nationgeneral/2015/March/nationgeneral_March38.xml§ion=nationgeneral
APP-linked guards surrender after murder http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2015/03/04/app-linked-guards-surrender-after-murder.html
Notorious poacher Kuttu nabbed from Katni, 2 others escape. INDIA http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/nagpur/Notorious-poacher-Kuttu-nabbed-from-Katni-2-others-escape/articleshow/46452085.cms
Act firmly to protect wildlife – Park Manager. GHANA http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/regional/artikel.php?ID=348966
Uganda microchips rhinos to fight poaching http://edition.cnn.com/2015/03/03/africa/uganda-rhino-tracking/
CBI arrests notorious tiger poacher from Katni in Madhya Pradesh http://www.hindustantimes.com/bhopal/cbi-arrests-notorious-tiger-poacher-from-katni-in-madhya-pradesh/article1-1322764.aspx
Indonesia to Partner With Interpol in Tackling Illegal Fishing http://thejakartaglobe.beritasatu.com/news/indonesia-partner-interpol-tackling-illegal-fishing/
Now, Interpol to track wildlife crime involving lesser known species http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/wildlife-crime-interpol-environment-ministry-poaching-illegal-trade/1/422112.html
DENR appeals case vs researchers who killed Cebu rare birds
http://www.rappler.com/nation/85665-denr-case-researchers-cebu-birds
Safari threat returns to haunt Gir lions after pressure from Gujarat tourism department Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/indiahome/indianews/article-2978024/Safari-threat-returns-haunt-Gir-lions-pressure-Gujarat-tourism-department.html#ixzz3TObK0y6Q
Sea Shepherd Establishes Legal Practice http://www.maritime-executive.com/article/sea-shepherd-establishes-legal-practice
Kelantan worst state for forest preservation. MALAYSIA http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2015/03/04/kelantan-worst-state-for-forest-preservation/
Employing shame for environmental change http://news.mongabay.com/2015/0303-hance-jacquet-interview.html
Wildlife Smuggling Foiled at Surabaya Seaport
http://www.profauna.net/en/content/wildlife-smuggling-foiled-surabaya-seaport#.VPYSD38gGSN
INTERPOL encourages global action on World Wildlife Day
INTERPOL is backing World Wildlife Day as part of the Organization’s ongoing efforts to support law enforcement around the globe in promoting environmental security.
With the theme ‘Wildlife crime is serious’, World Wildlife Day 2015 aims to raise awareness of the positive role which local communities can also play in helping curb this illegal trade, which is often linked to other forms of crime, including corruption and drug trafficking.
INTERPOL’s Environmental Security unit works with all 190 member countries to protect and conserve the world’s natural resources from exploitation by criminals.
“The criminal networks behind wildlife crime make large illicit profits while their actions damage the environment and the economies of affected countries. Ultimately we are all poorer as our iconic wildlife and biodiversity are damaged irreparably,” said Glyn Lewis, INTERPOL’s Director of Specialized Crime and Analysis.
“Effectively combating environmental crime requires a collective effort and World Wildlife Day provides us with an opportunity to show our unity in this fight,” added Mr Lewis.
As a member of the International Consortium on Combating Wildlife Crime which includes the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), the World Bank and World Customs Organization (WCO), INTERPOL strongly supports this powerful alliance to fight wildlife crime.
In 2014, a five-month-long INTERPOL-coordinated operation involving 13 countries targeting wildlife trafficking in tigers and other big cats across Asia resulted in the seizure of hundreds of animals and more than 160 arrests.
Last year also saw the launch of the first INTERPOL operation focusing on environmental crime fugitives, targeting more than 130 suspects wanted by 36 countries for crimes including illegal fishing, wildlife trafficking, illegal trade and disposal of waste, illegal logging and trading in illicit ivory.
Operation Infra (International Fugitive Round Up and Arrest) Terra, coordinated by INTERPOL’s Fugitive Investigative Support unit, has already led to several high-profile arrests including Feisal Ali, a Kenyan national suspected of leading an international ivory smuggling syndicate, and Rajkumar Praja, the ringleader of a rhino poaching network in Nepal.
One of the aims of INTERPOL’s Turn Back Crime campaign is to raise public awareness of the connection between organized crime and the illicit wildlife trade, encouraging people not to buy items which come from threatened species.
The campaign also encourages the private sector and the public to join forces and take an active role in supporting police activities to form a global alliance against organized crime.
