The daily dose of bad news about poaching, wildlife and environmental crimes from around the world
in the spotlight today ……………………
Wildlife Declining Rapidly Says Scientists http://gazettereview.com/2015/05/wildlife-declining-rapidly-says-scientists/
“The objective of CITES is to ensure that wild fauna and flora is not unsustainably exploited through international trade.” says John Scanlon, CITES http://cites.org/eng/cites_sg_wto20
So: How do you feel CITES has done over the last 10 years?
Who do you hold accountable for the failure by CITES over the past 10 years to enforce the convention?
The world’s wildlife is being decimated. What’s the point of having a CITES convention if CITES officials won’t enforce it?
Can you imagine what would happen in your neighbourhood if the law was not enforced? Criminals would expand their empire, wouldn’t they? Well, that’s what is happening on a global scale with the wildlife trade, because CITES officials are protective of countries like China, aren’t they?
No 399 Wildlife Trade News: 4th May
Sending orangutans to North Korea. INDONESIA http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2015/05/04/your-letters-sending-orangutans-north-korea.html
Where did those baby chimps come from? Where are they now? What are you thinking about CITES and the UAE law enforcement?
Also on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/pages/Humaid-Abdalla-ALbuqaish/1539667339597689?sk=photos_stream
INDONESIA: (see below) Where the ‘legal’ wildlife trade is unbelievably bad and a front for the illegal trade. It’s been this way for at least 20 years – and often makes world news headlines.
Photos below were all taken within the last ten days at the Jatinegara and Pramuka markets and have previously been submitted to the authorities in Indonesia.
Out of frustration we now show the same photos to the world, because CITES needs to be REMINDED about this wildlife exploitation and tragedy. This trade is not sustainable. The wildlife markets need closing down – it’s the only way to stamp out the illegal trade everyone in authority knows goes on every day..
and below at the central Jakarta Pramuka market – where traders are aggressive towards anyone asking too many questions or wanting to take photos. This market is so bad as to be beyond any description we can think of, but probably comparable for animals and birds to the concentration camps of WW2 or, those human death-camps in Cambodia under Pol Pot. Only time before a deadly disease outbreak occurs – or a serious fire…..all the foreseeable conditions are present. CITES have known and done nothing about this trade for decades.
It’s important to remember the people who buy all these birds and animals have no experience and no knowledge of how to care for them. Most will die an early, painful death.
Authority found 35 pieces of sun bear parts and paws from at least 12 bears in Medan, Sumatra, Indonesia.
http://www.mongabay.co.id/2015/05/01/duh-belasan-beruang-madu-ini-ditemukan-terpotong-potong/
KL Tower Mini Zoo goes from 0 to 5 after improvements. MALAYSIAMALAYSIAhttp://www.themalaysianinsider.com/citynews/greater-kl/article/kl-tower-mini-zoo-goes-from-0-to-5-after-improvements
Home Ministry seizes books at fair, including expose on Taib. MALAYSIA. (NA COMMENT: Arguably the world’s most notorious illegal logger still unpunished and living like a king. What does this tell you about a) Malaysia’s law enforcement? b) CITES failures over a decade or more? c) INTERPOL not issuing a warrant for his arrest? Yep, ENVIRONMENTAL CRIME PAYS IN MALAYSIA. This person got filthy rich and remains free because of weak officials. Sound familiar to you?)
A strengthened forest moratorium expected from Jokowi. INDONESIA – See more at: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2015/05/04/a-strengthened-forest-moratorium-expected-jokowi.html#sthash.s6ya0vEl.dpuf
Govt lacks legal basis to curb deforestation. INDONESIA http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2015/05/04/govt-lacks-legal-basis-curb-deforestation.html
Tanzania’s conservation record gets another devastating blow. EXTRACT When the Kikwete presidency ends in late 2015 will this president be remembered by the conservation fraternity for but two things: that he presided over the worst elephant slaughter in history, similar only to the mowing down of the great North American herds of bisons and that he directed that the application for UNESCO World Heritage Status for the Eastern Arc Mountains be withdrawn just as the world body was to enscribe the forested mountains in its global list. http://www.eturbonews.com/58505/tanzanias-conservation-record-gets-another-devastating-blow
Man charged with smuggling endangered butterflies at LAX (from PNG)
http://mynewsla.com/crime/2015/05/02/man-charged-with-smuggling-endangered-butterflies-at-lax/
MP forest officials crack Indo-China Pangolin smuggling racket. EXTRACT:
Madhya Pradesh forest officials, this week arrested a Kolkata-based businessman, who is part of a global racket involved in smuggling Indian pangolins to China and Vietnam, where its blood, meat and scales are sold to traditional medical practitioners at a premium. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bhopal/MP-forest-officials-crack-Indo-China-Pangolin-smuggling-racket/articleshow/47137053.cms
Two rhino poached from EC game farm http://ewn.co.za/2015/05/02/EC-game-farmer-Its-too-difficult-to-prevent-rhino-poaching
In South Africa, Where Elephants Are Fenced In, Choosing Contraception Over Culling http://voices.nationalgeographic.com/2015/05/02/in-south-africa-where-elephants-are-fenced-in-choosing-contraception-over-culling/
Illegal logging rampant in Bandarban’s reserved forests – See more at: http://www.dhakatribune.com/bangladesh/2015/may/03/illegal-logging-rampant-bandarbans-reserved-forests#sthash.ywUZAZ2r.dpuf
Kenya Wildlife Service builds anti poaching alliances in China http://www.eturbonews.com/58459/kenya-wildlife-service-builds-anti-poaching-alliances-china
Tanzania loses 80 percent of forest in Eastern Arc Mountains: report http://www.shanghaidaily.com/article/article_xinhua.aspx?id=279955
We urge Uhuru Kenyatta President of the Republic of Kenya, to declare elephants National Treasures & issue a Presidential Decree to protect Big Tuskers – just as his father did before him for Ahmed the King of Marsabit. https://www.facebook.com/paula.kahumbu?fref=nf
Thought for the day: “The trafficking of ivory in the EA region can only be occurring with high levels of corruption & impunity & facilitated by the weak enforcement.” Paula Kahumbu
CITES ISN’T WORKING – IS IT?
Kenya: State Launches Probe Into Trafficked Ivory http://allafrica.com/stories/201505030287.html
Chelsea Clinton highlights plight of elephants on visit to reserve in Kenya http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/africa/chelsea-clinton-highlights-plight-of-elephants-on-visit-to-reserve-in-kenya/2015/05/03/13014e76-edf8-11e4-8050-839e9234b303_story.html
Shocking news: Sumatran rhino extinct in Sabah
May 3, 2015 Why did Sabah Wildlife Department allow such a disastrous state of affairs? http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/opinion/letters/2015/05/03/shocking-news-sumatran-rhino-extinct-in-sabah/
Elephant survival is a global problem that needs global and local solutions http://asiancorrespondent.com/132563/elephant-survival-is-a-global-problem-that-needs-global-and-local-solutions/
Sustainable logging at vast tracts of Sarawak forests http://www.thestar.com.my/News/Nation/2015/05/04/Sustainable-logging-at-vast-tracts-of-Sarawak-forest/
African leaders agree on co-ordinated response and action against illegal exploitation and illicit trade of wild flora and fauna in Africa. (NA comment: This is ‘conference’ talk – promises, so in reality will never happen.) http://www.traffic.org/home/2015/5/3/african-leaders-agree-on-co-ordinated-response-and-action-ag.html
Hunting ban debate triggered by Botswana’s marauding elephants – See more at: http://www.themalaymailonline.com/world/article/hunting-ban-debate-triggered-by-botswanas-marauding-elephants#sthash.dluVIXWC.dpuf
Investigator with animal welfare group is on a mission to save tigers. SINGAPORE
– See more at: http://news.asiaone.com/news/singapore/investigator-animal-welfare-group-mission-save-tigers#sthash.8mNrIsrI.dpuf
94 trafficked pangolins released into Sumatran wilds after massive bust http://news.mongabay.com/2015/0504-jacobson-pangolins-released.html
Concerns raised about homes being built around lagoon filled with captive dolphins. SINGAPORE – See more at: http://www.straitstimes.com/news/singapore/more-singapore-stories/story/concerns-raised-about-homes-being-built-around-lagoon-fi#sthash.qJhrnQpc.dpuf
CURRENTLY IN PURGATORY AND WAITING
TO BE SENT TO HELL. APPROVED BY
The CITES Management Authority of China
IT’S SO VERY, VERY, WRONG – ISN’T IT?
…CONSIGNING THEM TO A LIFE OF CRUELTY AND ABUSE IN CHINA.
CITES OFFICIALS CAN EASILY STOP THIS TRADE. IF THEY HAD AN OUNCE OF CONCERN FOR ELEPHANTS, THEY WOULD BLOCK THE SHIPMENT, WOULDN’T THEY?
YES – CITES OFFICIALS – ONCE AGAIN AT THE FOREFRONT OF EXPANDING THE
CRUEL WILDLIFE TRADE.
CITES OFFICIALS?
SHAME ON CHINA AND ZIMBABWE.
