Weekend or not, the bad news just keep coming … poaching, wildlife and environmental crimes just
do not stop …
in the spotlight today ……………………
Pangolin Prison – Part II. EXTRACT: providing black market pangolin meat and scales to traders in China and Vietnam, and now this unimaginable hoard of dead pangolins needs to be destroyed. (NA COMMENT: This is what happens when CITES enforcement and Sanctions fail to be applied by weak, cowardly officials, isn’t it? You do know the CITES Convention is not being enforced, don’t you? Do you blame highly paid officials sat at desks for allowing this carnage to take place?)
3000 to 4000 slaughtered frozen pangolins lying in a pit before being burnt, 29th April 2015 Medan Indonesia. After a pangolin bust conducted by the Indonesian National Police alongside WCS’s Wildlife Crimes Unit. The haul of the world’s most hunted animal is valued on the black market at USD 1.8 million. Photo: Paul Hilton of WCS http://voices.nationalgeographic.com/2015/04/30/pangolin-prison-part-ii/
Thought for today: "To avoid criticism say nothing, do nothing,
and be nothing." Aristotle
No 398 Wildlife Trade News: 2nd May
Japan zoo group puzzled over dolphin hunt exclusionhttp://nation.com.pk/snippets/01-May-2015/japan-zoo-group-puzzled-over-dolphin-hunt-exclusion
Tanzania: Elephant Population Report ‘Misleading’. (NA comment: Maybe they meant to say ‘embarrassing’.) http://allafrica.com/stories/201505010336.html
Lao Authorities Investigate Local Groups Involved in Illegal Ivory Trade. EXTRACT “We are now thoroughly investigating [the current case], but cannot identify the suspected groups," a Lao police officer who declined to be named told RFA’s Lao Service. “Those involved in the case are the rich, and they will continue exporting ivory to China and other countries.”
Because of lax law enforcement in Laos, customs officials usually do not thoroughly investigate illegal wildlife smuggling cases, he said.
“In terms of the legislation, [the CITES convention] it is not upheld because the smugglers are able to deal with politicians and high-ranking officials through a conspiracy,” a legal expert, who declined to be named, told RFA. http://www.rfa.org/english/news/laos/authorities-investigate-local-groups-involved-in-illegal-ivory-trade-05012015162714.html
Wildlife decline may lead to ’empty landscape’. BBC
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-32549898
The Devastating and Deadly Damage of the Ivory Trade (Video Clip) (NA COMMENT: Mandatory viewing for CHINA, LAOS, VIETNAM, USA AND THE MANY OTHER WEAK CITES OFFICIALS) http://www.takepart.com/video/2015/05/01/devastating-and-deadly-damage-ivory-trade-video-clip
Balikpapan protected forest illegally logged. INDONESIA http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2015/05/02/balikpapan-protected-forest-illegally-logged.html
Saving Indonesia’s Forests. Despite recent signs of modest progress, the fight to save Indonesia’s natural forests is far from being won. http://thediplomat.com/2015/05/saving-indonesias-forests/
Sarawak increases fines for illegal logging http://news.mongabay.com/2015/0501-sarawak-illegal-logging-fines.html
Airline Takes On Big Game Hunters to Protect Rhinos, Lions, and Elephants. Africa’s largest airline bans the shipment of endangered animal trophies on its flights.
An elephant head with ivory tusks and other hunting trophies in a taxidermy store in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe. (Photo: Robert Caputo/Getty Images) https://www.takepart.com/article/2015/04/30/south-africa-airline-bans-hunting-trophies
Sumatran Tigers could be extinct if poaching and habitat loss continues http://www.abc.net.au/pm/content/2015/s4227858.htm
Tigers Set to Remain at Tiger Temple. Here’s Why the Fight for Their Freedom is Not Over http://www.onegreenplanet.org/animalsandnature/tigers-set-to-remain-at-tiger-temple/
Hunter sent to prison for shooting down a kestrel in Malta
http://www.internationalanimalrescue.org/news/hunter-sent-prison-shooting-down-kestrel-malta
Brazil: Amazon Indian killed by ‘loggers’ http://www.survivalinternational.org/news/10773
More than R1,3?billion lost to rhino poaching in SA http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/Incoming/More-than-R13billion-lost-to-rhino-poaching-in-SA-20150430
Palm giants ask Indonesian gov’t to clear path toward sustainability http://news.mongabay.com/2015/0501-jacobson-ipop-summit.html
Indonesia: Good news and bad news on deforestation http://www.redd-monitor.org/2015/04/30/indonesia-good-news-and-bad-news-on-deforestation/
Playtime at the elephant orphanage: Animals left motherless by poachers are brought up by ‘foster parents’ in 50-strong ‘family’
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3064892/Elephants-left-motherless-poachers-brought-foster-parents-Kenya-50-strong-family.html#ixzz3YxIsodlk
EU rules intended to block imports of illegally produced timber are a "pointless burden" to British forestry, a Conservative MEP has warned. http://www.hortweek.com/dont-burden-uk-forestry-industry-illegal-logging-rules-mep-urges/arboriculture/article/1345620
Jane Goodall backtracks on elephant sanctuary, says zoo is fine http://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/jane-goodall-backtracks-on-elephant-sanctuary-says-zoo-is-fine/
US envoy bemoans high levels of poaching. ZAMBIA http://www.times.co.zm/?p=57790
Somaliland: Saving Cheetah and Stopping their illegal Trade
http://www.somalilandpress.com/somalilandsaving-cheetah-and-stopping-their-illegal-trade/
Nine rhino poachers nabbed. INDIA http://www.assamtribune.com/scripts/detailsnew.asp?id=may0215/at054
