The daily dose of bad news about poaching, environmental and wildlife crimes …
Sarawak targets 1.5 million hectares of totally protected areas. extract: "People do things because they are certain never to be caught. But if they are certain to be caught, that is the deterrent. That involves enforcement. We have to take a firm stand now; otherwise we’ll have to take a desperate stand later on,” he said. (NA comment: Wise words you never see uttered by a CITES official, do you? The kind of leadership CITES is lacking, do you agree?) http://www.thestar.com.my/News/Nation/2015/03/22/Sarawak-TPA/
S’wak CM wants ‘Big Six’ to account for every log http://www.dailyexpress.com.my/news.cfm?NewsID=98225
No 363 Wildlife Trade News 22nd March 2015
Export of elephants: ZIMBABWE
TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN
I am writing to ask you to please help to raise awareness about the abduction of around 200 very young baby elephants in Zimbabwe and find help to stop them being exported to zoos in China. Around 80 have already been captured and are being help for export. These baby elephants were abducted in violation of CITES Article 1V which states under regulation of trade of species in appendix II:
1. All trade in species in appendix II shall be in accordance with provisions of this article.
2. The export of any species included in appendix II shall require prior grant and presentation of an export permit. An export permit shall only be granted when the following conditions have been met:
a) A scientific authority of the state of export advises that such export will not be detrimental to the survival of that species.
b) A management authority of the state of export is satisfied that any living species will be handled and shipped so as to minimize any risk of injury, damage to health or cruel treatment.
Clearly these regulations were broken when these very young baby elephants – still dependent on their mothers – were abducted from their families who were rounded up and fired at from helicopters – a terrible ordeal to be put through. Having been highly traumatised by this treatment they are now being help in enclosures awaiting export to zoos in China – breaking yet another CITES rule. They must be sent to suitable destinations only.
This is extremely cruel treatment by any standards. It did not minimise risk of injury or damage to health and sending them to zoos in China will condemn them to a life of misery if they survive the arduous journey.
Survival of elephant herds in Zimbabwe will also be put at risk if families are continually traumatised and babies sold to raise funds in this way.
As all CITES regulation have clearly been broken by the state authorities in Zimbabwe, the export permits should be rejected by CITES.
Please can you do anything in your power to stop the illegal export of these very young baby elephants whose ages are between 2 and 5 years old to a life of misery in China.
Thank you very much for your assistance.
Johnny Rodrigues
Chairman for Zimbabwe Conservation Task Force
Landline: 263 4 339065
Mobile: 263 712 603 213
Email: galorand
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/ZCTF-Zimbabwe-Conservation-Task-Force/246013052094585
WILL EITHER OF THESE THREE MEN RESPOND PUBLICLY TO THE CLAIMS ABOVE THAT THE CITES CONVENTION IS BEING BROKEN MULTIPLE TIMES BY ZIMBABWE – AND CHINA?
OR, WILL THEY HELP CHINA RATHER THAN HELP THESE BABY ELEPHANTS ………(continued below)
Achim Steiner UNEP John Scanlon CITES Oystein Storkersen CITES
Executive Director Secretary General Chairman: Standing Committee
…CONSIGNING THEM TO A LIFE OF ABUSE IN CHINA AND THE CONVENTION AGAIN IGNORED?
SHAME ON CHINA & CITES
Zimbabwe ignores pleas, catches 20 baby elephants and will ship them off to China. extract: “We are members of CITES, so everything is above board.” (NA comment: CITES used once again to ‘legalize’ this barbaric trade. If CHINA was not behind the demand, these 20 baby elephants would still be with their mothers.) http://mgafrica.com/article/2015-03-21-zimbabwe-ignores-pleas-catches-20-baby-elephants-and-will-ship-them-off-to-china
Africa is centre of a ‘wildlife war’ that the world is losing
A year on since 46 countries signed up to the ‘London declaration’ to eradicate the trade in horn and ivory, rhinos and elephants are still being pushed closer to extinction.
A rhino killed for its horn last month in Kruger National Park, South Africa. Photograph: Salym Fayad/EPA http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/mar/21/wildlife-war-lost-in-africa
Zimbabwe Indigenization, A Legalized Plunder of National Assets by ZANU (PF)http://www.zimeye.com/zimbabwe-indigenization-a-legalized-plunder-of-national-assets-by-zanu-pf/
OPINION: Contradictory Emergency Measures to Save Two of Africa’s Iconic Pachyderms—Why? http://voices.nationalgeographic.com/2015/03/21/opinion-contradictory-emergency-measures-to-save-two-of-africas-iconic-pachyderms-why/
Poaching in Kaziranga National Park raises questions on rhino conservation http://ibnlive.in.com/news/poaching-in-kaziranga-national-park-raises-questions-on-rhino-conservation/535454-3-251.html
Heavy Duty Force To Combat Rhino Poaching In Assam http://www.newindianexpress.com/thesundaystandard/Heavy-Duty-Force-To-Combat-Rhino-Poaching-In-Assam/2015/03/22/article2724248.ece and http://www.telegraphindia.com/1150322/jsp/frontpage/story_10136.jsp#.VQ5reuHJIsc
Hunted with impunity: Survival becomes a challenge for cranes as they return home
“At least 2,000 to 3,000 birds are captured or killed by hunters in December and March.” http://tribune.com.pk/story/857010/hunted-with-impunity-survival-becomes-a-challenge-for-cranes-as-they-return-home/
Buxa jumbo poached, tusks missing http://www.nyoooz.com/kolkata/72797/buxa-jumbo-poached-tusks-missing
Poachers attack forestry enterprise employees in Bulgaria’s Samokov http://www.focus-fen.net/news/2015/03/21/367001/poachers-attack-forestry-enterprise-employees-in-bulgarias-samokov.html
Lions and tigers and bears, no more: Why countless species now face permanent oblivion http://www.salon.com/2015/03/21/lions_and_tigers_and_bears_no_more_why_countless_species_now_face_permanent_oblivion_partner/
Can trophy hunting help with animal conservation? http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/mar/22/can-trophy-hunting-help-animal-conservation-lucy-siegle
Botswana seems to show the way ahead in conservation – but poaching is still on the rise http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/mar/21/botswana-game-hunting-ban
Domesticated elephants in danger in Central Highlands. VIETNAM Another household-raised elephant in Dak Lak Province has died because of overwork. Scientists and environmentalists are concerned about the fate of the remaining elephants.
Zim blames elephant exports on US http://www.news24.com/Green/News/Zim-blames-elephant-exports-on-US-20150321
Sri Lanka Navy arrests 54 Indian fishermen for alleged poaching http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/sri-lanka-navy-arrests-54-indian-fishermen-for-alleged-poaching/articleshow/46650585.cms
A Crying Baby Orangutan Named Budi Highlights Indonesia’s Exotic Pet Problem https://news.vice.com/article/a-crying-baby-orangutan-named-budi-highlights-indonesias-exotic-pet-problem
I wanna be like you! Cute moment two baby orangutans meet for the first time after being rescued and nursed by humans http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3005393/I-wanna-like-Cute-moment-two-baby-orangutans-meet-time-rescued-nursed-humans.html
Police catch Costa Rica orchid thief red-handed
http://www.ticotimes.net/2015/03/21/police-catch-costa-rica-orchid-thief-red-handed
Campaign against lion hunting culminates in Johannesburg http://www.thesundaily.my/news/1361401
Man pleads not guilty to selling ivory at Utica antiques show http://www.uticaod.com/article/20150319/NEWS/150319121/1337/FRONTPAGE
Brazil’s Deforestation Rates Are on the Rise Again
Members of Brazil’s environmental police force IBAMA and the Para State police inspect logs discovered during "Operation Labareda," a raid against illegal logging, near Novo Progresso in the Amazon rain forest, August 18, 2012. After years of gains against destruction of the Amazon rainforest, Brazil appears to be suffering from an increase in deforestation as farmers, loggers, miners and builders move into previously untouched woodland, according to data compiled by the government and independent researchers. Nelson Feitosa/IBAMA/Reuters http://www.newsweek.com/brazils-deforestation-rates-are-rise-again-315648
Central Equatoria official says ‘we don’t have a forest policy’
https://radiotamazuj.org/en/article/central-equatoria-official-says-we-dont-have-forest-policy
