The daily dose of bad news about poaching, wildlife and environmental crimes …
in the spotlight today ……………………
Ivory smuggling ring probe after elephant tusk find at Perth Airport. EXTRACT: The shipment was believed to be travelling through Perth on its way from Africa en route to Malaysia. (NA COMMENT: Malaysia, again. Doubtless because of the 11 previous shipments into Malaysia only one person has since been (mildly) prosecuted. It would appear that any country found to be up to its eyes in the ivory trade is treated very favourably by CITES – but why? Is it because if they punish one they will have to punish 10 or more, starting with China and the USA – two very large financial contributors to the CITES ‘club’?) http://www.watoday.com.au/wa-news/ivory-smuggling-ring-probe-after-elephant-tusk-find-at-perth-airport-20150408-1mgrh2.html
No 379 Wildlife Trade News: 9th April
New plan to save declining great apes of Central Africa. (NA comment: This should come with a health warning. ….it will either exasperate or depress you. It’s a big 10 year plan, guaranteed to fail with no one held accountable after gazillions of dollars spent. Loads of glitzy charts, graphs, etc to confuse sponsors – a well tried and proven formula. Much as happened with the numerous failed ‘Save the Tigers’ campaigns….which WWF knows a lot about.
An extract: "Priority landscapes were then delineated using a decision support tool and a suite of criteria that included…" Written by a robot?
Anyone in business who was crazy enough to put forward more than a 3-year plan would be considered insane, out of touch with the real world, and then demoted or more likely fired. In the world of ‘conservation’ such plans are rewarded with vast sums of ‘feel good’ money. Oh well, the money will keep a lot of NGOs and scientists in work and pay for more conferences. 10 years from now no one will ever remember who came up with this plan, will they? And there will be no trace of the money spent, will there? Do you know where the ‘save the tiger’ campaign money went? Just remember what has happened to the orangutans, tigers, rhinos and elephants…….no big plan has ever saved them, has it?
A three year plan, independently reviewed after two years with further funds 100% dependent on targets being met would make more sense, wouldn’t it? The thing is, when it comes to spending other people’s money you’ll find a lot of people don’t like or want any kind of accountability because it may get in the way of their lifestyle and career plans.
More money has been pumped into ape conservation in the last 20 years than ever before in history, and what is there to show for it? The most rapid decline in ape populations in history.
Without question: The most depressing, self-serving, ridiculous, deceitful, report/plan we have ever seen.
http://wwf.panda.org/wwf_news/?243890/New-plan-to-save-declining-great-apes-of-Central-Africa
Pamela Anderson urges Zimbabwe to halt baby elephant exporthttp://www.business-standard.com/article/news-ani/pamela-anderson-urges-zimbabwe-to-halt-baby-elephant-export-115040800439_1.html
Dumbo in Dubai? UAE denies baby elephant shipment rumours
http://www.albawaba.com/editorchoice/dumbo-dubai-uae-denies-baby-elephant-shipment-rumours-679570
Pamela Anderson urges Xi Jinping to halt baby elephant imports to China Former Baywatch star writes to Chinese president saying that, as a mother, she finds plight of elephant calves captured in Zimbabwe ‘heartbreaking’ http://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/article/1760206/pamela-anderson-urges-xi-jinping-halt-baby-elephant-imports-china
China’s Environmental Impact Doing Business In Africa. EXTRACT: Chinese fishing vessels have been criticized for worsening food insecurity among Africans because they catch small species that are the main source of food and income for small-scale African fishermen.
China is the largest importer of Africa’s tropical wood. While much of this activity constitutes only trade, some of it involves FDI by Chinese logging and timber trading companies. Chinese companies have a tendency to violate local forestry laws together with African counterparts. The illegal practices include abuse of permits and concession licenses, bribery, operating without management plans, under-reporting export volume, smuggling raw logs, and harvesting and transporting undesignated species. – See more at: http://afkinsider.com/93691/chinas-environmental-impact-doing-business-in-africa/#sthash.OGI7gyC7.dpuf
Kenya: Third Elephant Killed in Laikipia Conservancy http://allafrica.com/stories/201504080279.html
Namibia: Elephant Poached in Bwabwata http://allafrica.com/stories/201504080259.html
Losing the forest in Papua New Guinea http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/in-sight/wp/2015/04/08/deforestation-amid-papuas-fragile-ecosystem/
Circus derecognised after animals found to be tortured. INDIA http://www.newkerala.com/news/2015/fullnews-42083.html
European Union urged to ban ivory exports immediately http://eia-international.org/european-union-urged-to-ban-ivory-exports-immediately
Bid to make sanctuary haven for Bornean elephants. SABAH/MALAYSIA http://www.dailyexpress.com.my/news.cfm?NewsID=98786
Auckland-bound elephant Anjalee arrives in Niue http://www.3news.co.nz/nznews/auckland-bound-elephant-anjalee-arrives-in-niue-2015040912
Government Order Helps Only Timber Mafia: Activists. INDIA
U.S. Veterans Join Fight to End Wildlife Poaching in Africa
Read more: http://www.care2.com/causes/u-s-veterans-join-fight-to-end-wildlife-poaching-in-africa.html#ixzz3WmqLNBIg
Proposed Bill Would Ban Import, Sale Of 5 Endangered African Species In NY http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2015/04/08/proposed-bill-would-ban-import-sale-possession-transportation-of-5-endangered-african-species-in-ny/
Hun Sen Tells Officials to Stop Passing Blame. CAMBODIA https://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/hun-sen-tells-officials-to-stop-passing-blame-81705/
PM urges crackdown on illegal timber trade. CAMBODIA http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/pm-urges-crackdown-illegal-timber-trade
Lopsided wildlife protection laws force poor into illegal logging. INDIA http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/lopsided-wildlife-protection-laws-force-poor-people-into-illegal-logging/article1-1335316.aspx
WATCH: Rescued Orangutan Friends Enjoy the Cutest Meal Ever http://www.celebuzz.com/2015-04-08/rescued-orangutan-bffs-eating-hammock/
International Animal Rescue’s orangutan center in Indonesia, shows the duo throwing adoring glances at each other
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3030565/Ape-Budi-Jemmi-orphaned-orangutans-blow-air-kisses-dinner-table.html#ixzz3WmsXDgZb
Save the leopard http://www.dnaindia.com/analysis/editorial-dnaedit-save-the-leopard-2075877
