No 370 Wildlife Trade News 30th March 2015

The good news from Malawi, where the ivory stock
will be burned this week, are overshadowed by
another daily dose of bad news about ongoing
poaching, wildlife and environmental crimes

Under the spotlight today ……………………

Malawi to burn its £5m ivory stockpile this week – and demonstrate its commitment to wildlife conservation http://www.independent.co.uk/environment/nature/malawi-to-burn-its-5m-ivory-stockpile-this-week–and-demonstrate-its-commitment-to-wildlife-conservation-10141379.html

….. while Malaysia’s government continues to hide its ivory, demonstrating a very obvious and suspicious lack of transparency. Nothing has changed then over the years. CITES will not punish Malaysia, will it? And, all the reports are kept secret from inquisitive NGO’s.

Malawi’s courageous stance on ivory is a call to wealthier nations to sharpen up their game http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/malawis-courageous-stance-on-ivory-is-a-call-to-wealthier-nations-to-sharpen-up-their-game-10141385.html

No 370 Wildlife Trade News 30th March 2015

Malaysian rangers need ‘guns and decent salary’ EXTRACT: "It’s a professional job that has to be taken seriously. In Malaysia, only three of seven turtle species remain. There are only 20 rhinos remaining. "The biggest problem in wildlife conservation is that usually there aren’t enough rangers, and the authorities aren’t spending enough to do enforcement on the ground," she told The Star.

Poaching is widespread in Malaysia, with pygmy elephants, sun bears and green turtles among some of the species under threat. Recently, 19 turtles were found dead in Sabah, while in March 2014, 60 were found in the same area on Pulau Tiga. "It all translates to boots on the ground. Parks must have adequate rangers who have guns. If there aren’t enough or they aren’t well paid, how can you save the wildlife?" she said. – See more at: http://news.asiaone.com/news/malaysia/malaysian-rangers-need-guns-and-decent-salary#sthash.G9fXa6FQ.dpuf

Book Review: Money Logging on the Trail of the Asian Timber Mafia. SARAWAK/MALAYSIA

http://asiancorrespondent.com/131707/book-review-money-logging-on-the-trail-of-the-asian-timber-mafia/

Sarawak Report website hacked, story deleted http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2015/03/30/sarawak-report-website-hacked-story-deleted/

Zim elephants essentially political refugees https://www.newsday.co.zw/2015/03/30/zim-elephants-essentially-political-refugees/

CITES STANDING COMMITTEE?

Thai Customs promotes anti-ivory smuggling campaign. extract; The Director-General added that Thailand is to submit a comprehensive report on the control of trade in elephant ivory as well as the conservation of elephants to CITES by March 31st. http://customstoday.com.pk/thai-customs-promotes-anti-ivory-smuggling-campaign/

Return of the seal clubbers: Blood stains on the ice as half a million seals face death in cull. (NA comment – and not a criticism. More a reality check. IFAW was formed in 1969 as a direct consequence of revealing this slaughter to the world. In other words, IFAW would not exist today if it was not for seal-clubbing. 46 years on and tens, if not hundreds of millions of donor dollars and countless dead seals later, nothing has changed – right down to the exact same newspaper reporting now as it did in 1969.)

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-news/return-seal-clubbers-blood-stains-5413076#ICID=sharebar_twitter

Axe falls again on illegal logging. SARAWAK http://www.theborneopost.com/2015/03/29/axe-falls-again-on-illegal-logging/

Two suspected rhino poachers killed at Lake Nakuru National Park
Read more at: http://www.standardmedia.co.ke/thecounties/article/2000156424/two-suspected-rhino-poachers-killed-at-lake-nakuru-national-park

Paddington’s saviours: Mail on Sunday readers donate astonishing £30,000 to fly tortured bear rescued from Peru circus to new home in U.S. sanctuary http://www.dailymail.co.uk/home/index.html

Working elephants removed from Delhi streets http://thenewdaily.com.au/news/2015/03/29/working-elephants-removed-delhi-streets/

Kenya: Call to Charge KWS Wardens With Killing http://allafrica.com/stories/201503290062.html

Malaysia, US to host ARF workshop on combating wildlife traffickinghttp://www.nst.com.my/node/78652MORE HOT AIR AND BACK SLAPPING? SABAH IS THE PLACE FOR IT. What it lacks is law enforcement by the wildlife authorities – as highlighted last week by no less than Sabah’s very own Chief Justice Minister.

WTH?! Popular Thai Night Club Brings in Baby Elephant to ‘Party’ With Guests