After 400 editions of this newsletter you can see from today’s copy there is no obvious sign of the wildlife trade diminishing in its scale. Is this, coupled with barely any news ever coming from South or Central America where we know the wildlife trade is rampant, alarming to you? The next hot-spot will be Papua New Guinea, where the palm oil industry is now blazing a trail through pristine forests and as they do so the wildlife is either killed or, caught and sold….exactly as has happened in Borneo and Sumatra.
Wildlife traders will always take advantage of weak leadership from government, lazy law enforcement agencies and, a CITES convention that is weakly enforced. As can be seen below, when a strong leader (as in Sarawak) walks his talk, it does make a big difference. Sadly, such individuals are rare bordering on unique, with many leaders of governments, agencies etc so poorly managed by weak individuals as to be rendered ineffective bordering on useless. If conferences, workshops, summits, etc were the answer, the problems would have gone away long ago, wouldn’t they? What matters is – results – are things getting better or worse, has to be the only way one can judge the effectiveness of those individuals with the power to make a difference.
We fully acknowledge the many brave wildlife rangers out there doing the best they can. These are the people who really save wildlife, despite poor pay, lousy working conditions and sometimes corrupt superiors. You would, therefore, have thought the very least desk-bound UNEP/CITES officials could do would be to pull their weight and enforce the CITES convention, wouldn’t you? Is that too much to ask or expect?
Hence does the daily dose of bad new about poaching, wildlife and environmental crimes have to continue, to edition 1.000 and beyond!
Thought for today: ‘Laws without enforcement are just good advice’. Abraham Lincoln
in the spotlight today ……………………
Cruel smugglers cram endangered birds into water bottles to pass through customs and reach black market. INDONESIA
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-news/cruel-smugglers-cram-endangered-birds-5637726
Indonesia’s yellow-crested cockatoo population in critical condition
No 401 Wildlife Trade News: 6th May
Captive Zim elephants not re-homed in local sanctuary – game park http://www.news24.com/Africa/Zimbabwe/Captive-Zim-elephants-not-re-homed-in-local-sanctuary-game-park-20150505
Sumatran tiger found dead in wire trap
http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2015/05/05/sumatran-tiger-found-dead-wire-trap.html
Routes of Extinction: The corruption and violence destroying Siamese rosewood in the Mekong. EXTRACT: A report revealing how Siamese rosewood has been illegally logged to the brink of extinction in the Mekong region to feed the demand for luxury hongmu furniture in China. http://eia-international.org/reports/routes-of-extinction-the-corruption-and-violence-destroying-siamese-rosewood-in-the-mekong-2
INDONESIA: The only place on earth is being bulldozed by supplier of
two IPOP signatories: What solutions will be offered by the two IPOP signatories to their supplier so as to address this situation? EXTRACT: The Indonesia
Palm Oil Pledge (IPOP) was signed by the four most important palm oil groups in the world – Golden
Agri-Resources, Wilmar International,Cargill, and Asian Agri–at the 2014 UN Climate Summit in New
York on 24 September 2014. http://www.greenomics.org/docs/IPOP-Implementation-Report-01_Greenomics.pdf
Time for ASEAN to act to end illegal, violent rosewood trade. (NA COMMENT: If you wait for ASEAN to act, will there be any rosewood left by then?)
Rosewood logs stored in a warehouse, Dong Ha, Vietnam (c) EIA http://eia-international.org/time-for-asean-to-act-to-end-illegal-violent-rosewood-trade
Elephants, rhinos and hippos facing extinction, experts warn
“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/UNEP and its officials are doing?
http://www.independent.co.uk/environment/nature/elephants-rhinos-and-hippos-facing-extinction-experts-warn-10227187.html
Coming Together to Save Africa’s Wildlife. How We’re Joining the Race Against Mass Extinction http://www.onegreenplanet.org/animalsandnature/how-were-joining-the-race-against-mass-extinction/
Medium, rare or at risk? CAMBODIA http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/medium-rare-or-risk
Tourists in Thailand have no idea they shouldn’t be doing this http://www.globalpost.com/article/6537756/2015/05/04/backpackers-pay-top-dollar-cuddle-abused-and-imprisoned-tigers
Zambia approves treaty on regional wildlife conservation http://www.spyghana.com/zambia-approves-treaty-on-regional-wildlife-conservation/
Wildlife Dept says new incidents of elephant smuggling have surfaced http://newsfirst.lk/english/2015/05/wildlife-dept-says-new-incidents-of-elephant-smuggling-have-surfaced/93114
Adenan welcomes gate-crashing activists during dinner in London. SARAWAK/ http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/adenan-welcomes-gate-crashing-activists-during-dinner-in-london
No more timber concessions, Adenan pledges in London. Sarawak chief minister also says no more oil palm estates are needed in his state. http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2015/05/05/no-more-timber-concessions-adenan-pledges-in-london/
ADENAN DAZZLES IN LONDON: But will his heroic words be backed by ACTION?
Full article: http://www.malaysia-chronicle.com/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&id=506661:adenan-dazzles-in-london-but-will-his-heroic-words-be-backed-by-action?&Itemid=2#ixzz3ZKmfSfna
Bruno Manser Fund lauds Sarawak CM’s clean timber industry stance http://www.thestar.com.my/News/Nation/2015/05/05/BMF-adenan-timber/
Transparency International Malaysia keen to work with Sarawak to battle timber corruption http://www.therakyatpost.com/news/2015/05/06/transparency-international-malaysia-keen-to-work-with-sarawak-to-battle-timber-corruption/
Chinese fishing crew convicted of poaching
http://focustaiwan.tw/news/asoc/201505050029.aspx
Tough laws ‘not enough’ to stop endangered wildlife trade http://phys.org/news/2015-05-tough-laws-endangered-wildlife.html
CITES and UNEP support strengthening of wildlife laws. (NA comment: More bland statements from two bland organisations? It’s a pity they don’t practice what they preach and get on with enforcing the convention, isn’t it? i.e. Lead by example. Inexplicably, two of the worst countries – CHINA and VIETNAM) are not even amongst “The CITES National Legislation Project has identified 17 countries that require attention as a priority, namely Algeria, Belize, Plurinational State of Bolivia, Comoros, Djibouti, Guinea-Bissau, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Liberia, Mauritania, Mozambique, Pakistan, Paraguay, Rwanda, Somalia, United Republic of Tanzania and Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela.)http://cites.org/eng/CITES_UNEP_wildlife_laws
CITES ISN’T WORKING – IS IT? WHY ARE SO MANY CONVENTION-BUSTING COUNTRIES OMITTED FROM THIS LIST?
Elephant population not declining : Government. (NA comment: You can always rely on the Indian government for some creative counting.) http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/elephant-population-not-declining-government/articleshow/47163080.cms
11 rhino poachers killed, 20 arrested in 2015: Govt. INDIA http://www.ptinews.com/news/5994465_11-rhino-poachers-killed–20-arrested-in-2015–Govt-.html
Sandalwood, red sander timbers smuggled most: Govt http://www.sakshipost.com/index.php/news/national/56338-sandalwood,-red-sander-timbers-smuggled-most-govt.html
China Invading Antarctica for New Food Source: Krill
Read more: http://en.yibada.com/articles/30977/20150505/china-invading-antarctica-for-new-food-source-krill.htm#ixzz3ZGjZhx00
NSPCA lays animal cruelty charges against ‘horrific’ zoo. SOUTH AFRICA http://citizen.co.za/375915/endofaun-zoo-2/
Flintshire sniffer dogs to help catch smugglers in Tanzania http://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/flintshire-sniffer-dogs-help-catch-9166993#ICID=sharebar_twitter
Why Botswana’s villagers are demanding the return of elephant hunting
Read more at http://www.9news.com.au/world/2015/05/04/16/28/elephants-trampling-crops-in-botswana#LAZ3wcw50YejmWQJ.99
Chimpanzee on the run after escape from Majorca zoo. Male ape escaped from zoo popular with British tourists, while female chimpanzee shot dead by police http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/spain/11582629/Chimpanzee-on-the-run-after-escape-from-Majorca-zoo.html
Government taken to task for keeping forestry documents. INDONESIA – See more at: http://m.thejakartapost.com/news/2015/04/24/government-taken-task-keeping-forestry-documents.html#sthash.poLx1GU7.a5SZUYlZ.dpuf
Lao Authorities Investigate Local Groups Involved in Illegal Ivory Trade http://www.bignewsnetwork.com/index.php/sid/232546599
Feds To Change Ivory Rule Enforcement After Bagpipes Seized http://www.pollstar.com/news_article.aspx?ID=817947
A Conversation with Anti-Poaching Legend, Richard Leakey https://medium.com/@WTTC/a-conversation-with-anti-poaching-legend-richard-leakey-73dd9c67b44d
Ivory trade in the US: Items worth $1.5million sold on Craigslist, campaigners say http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/ivory-trade-in-the-us-thousands-of-items-worth-millions-of-dollars-sold-on-craigslist-each-year-campaigners-say-10226130.html
Is Captive Lion Hunting Really Helping to Save the Species? http://news.nationalgeographic.com/2015/05/150504-lions-trophy-hunting-tiger-ban-south-africa-australia-cites/
Media Release: Sea Shepherd Announces Partnership With Government Of Mexico To Protect The Endangered Vaquita Porpoise And Other Marine Species http://www.wireservice.ca/index.php?module=News&func=display&sid=15644
Concord business owner charged with smuggling ivory, rhinoceros horns from U.S. to China http://www.bizjournals.com/boston/news/2015/05/05/concord-business-owner-charged-with-smuggling.html
Taking them home: Two bears suffering intolerable cruelty RESCUED from Vietnam bile farm http://www.express.co.uk/news/nature/575095/British-charity-Asia-Animals-rescues-bears-illegal-traders-in-Vietnam
Bryan Christy: Bringing wildlife crime to a global audience http://ensia.com/interviews/bryan-christy-bringing-wildlife-crime-to-a-global-audience/
Guatemala’s Maya Biosphere Reserve shows how forest communities can fight deforestation http://www.treehugger.com/climate-change/guatemalas-maya-biosphere-reserve-shows-how-forest-communities-can-fight-deforestation.html
Ivory Is Worthless, Elephants Are Invaluable: Why Malawi’s Ivory Is Not For Sale http://voices.nationalgeographic.com/2015/04/30/ivory-is-worthless-elephants-are-invaluable-why-malawis-ivory-is-not-for-sale/
Greenpeace India could close within a month due to government crackdown http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/may/05/greenpeace-india-could-close-within-a-month-due-to-government-crackdown?utm_medium=twitter&utm_source=dlvr.it
Elephant Watch (New Yorker Magazine) http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2015/05/11/elephant-watch
Illegal pangolin traders killed in Krabi double-homicide. THAILAND – See more at: http://www.phuketgazette.net/phuket-news/Illegal-pangolin-traders-killed-Krabi-doublehomicide/58070#sthash.ApMCBuTb.dpuf
Committee passes ban on ivory sales despite misgivings USA http://www.rep-am.com/articles/2015/05/06/news/connecticut/879281.txt
3 Vietnamese Loggers Charged; Raid Nets 5 More. CAMBODIA https://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/three-vietnamese-loggers-charged-raid-on-camp-nets-5-more-83255/
West Papua ‘oil palm atlas’ portrays industry’s explosion in the region. EXTRACT: There’s a saying in the Indonesian palm oil industry: Sumatra is yesterday, Kalimantan is today, and Papua is tomorrow. Tomorrow might well have arrived.
Read more: http://news.mongabay.com/2015/0506-jacobson-oil-palm-explosion.html#ixzz3ZKoAyLSf
Court dismisses application to acquit suspected poachers. SOUTH AFRICA http://www.news24.com/Green/News/Court-dismisses-application-to-acquit-suspected-poachers-20150505
Police seize wildlife meat in market raid. CAMBODIA http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/police-seize-wildlife-meat-market-raid
Ivory, Tortoise Shell, & Fur: The Ugly Truth of Wildlife Trafficking Museum’s Newest Temporary Exhibit Aims to Educate and Raise Awareness. USA http://groundreport.com/ivory-tortoise-shell-fur-the-ugly-truth-of-wildlife-trafficking-museums-newest-temporary-exhibit-aims-to-educate-and-raise-awareness/
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?
