The daily dose of bad news …
Read on about poaching, wildlife and
environmental crimes from around the world
in the spotlight today ……………………
ORANGUTAN PRISON CELL, SHANGHAI ZOO, LAST WEEK.
Just to show countries like the Philippines, who have sent lots of orangutans to Chinese zoos, the conditions these animals are kept in.
photo courtesy Qian Jia. Orangutan caged behind concrete and metal bars. No branches, no enrichment – nothing. Murders and rapists in solitary confinement on death row are treated better, aren’t they? Rumour, a strong one at that, says officials from the Indonesian government want to sell orangutans to China. Can you believe that?
A solitary confinement cell for murderers and rapists. Compare this with how Shanghai zoo and others treat orangutans. see above.
We have asked the Philippines CITES representative Dr. Theresa Mundita S. Lim for details of their orangutan shipments to China, but she has declined. The usual CITES secrecy, which could reasonably be considered a cover up by CITES; do you agree? We used to be quite impressed by wildlife enforcement in the Philippines, but not anymore. In fact, until proven otherwise we believe the Philippines is a key export country for selling orangutans to China etc. But, where do the orangutans come from? This is what we asked CITES in the Philippines…..and they won’t say. What are you thinking?
Very recent visitor comments on TripAdvisor regarding Shanghai Zoo : “Don’t rush there” 
Reviewed 29 April 2015 “ Living in china for over a year I didn’t think that this was going to be anything special. I was right. Sad building conditions this place could do with a good maintenance overhaul. found the zoo to be very untidy litter everywhere and people feeding the animals.Sad to see how the animals have been treated.”
“It made me angry despite great weather”
Reviewed 27 April 2015 Like everyone else, I have little expectation when I go to the zoo. But I still came out upset and depressed. I can accept if the zoo is a bit dirty, or small, or little foreign animals.
But I could not accept kids on school tours screaming at the animals for attention and the teachers do nothing about it. I could not accept no zookeeper or security at sight to stop teenagers from feeding the animal junks such as ready to eat sausages or sweets or crisps. Oh, and having amusement park within the zoo and have lots of screaming kids right next to the animal sanctuary. Why would any zoo need an amusement park?!
Most, if not all animals look depressed and underfed.
SHAME ON THE PHILIPPINES & CHINA
….and remember this, please; Zimbabwe wants to ship, with CITES approval, wild-caught baby elephants to zoos in China. What are you thinking now about this trade and CITES?
No 407 Wildlife Trade News: 13th May
Why did Norway agree to pay US$40 million just before Guyana’s election?
Time to See the Forest for the Oil Palm Trees in Riau Row. INDONESIA http://thejakartaglobe.beritasatu.com/news/time-see-forest-oil-palm-trees-riau-row/
Palm Sustainability Group Puts Expansion Ban on Golden Agri Unit http://thejakartaglobe.beritasatu.com/news/palm-sustainability-group-puts-expansion-ban-golden-agri-unit/
A picture of loneliness: you are looking at the last male northern white rhino
http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/may/12/last-male-northern-white-rhino?CMP=fb_gu
When you look at the headline and photo above and the quote below, what are you
thinking – about CITES and all its officials worldwide?
“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
Glenn Close: Intelligent animals marked for death(NA comment: Thanks in large part to CHINA, VIETNAM and complacent CITES officials worldwide.) http://edition.cnn.com/2015/05/12/opinions/close-elephants-ivory/
CITES SLAMMED BY Paula Kahumbu/ KENYA In a not so surprising move, China has NOT been named by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wildlife and Flora (CITES) among 17 countries that need to pay priority attention to strengthen their laws to tackle illegal wildlife trade. Kenya however ranks right up there. The CITES decision to leave China and South Africa out of the List of 17 is a surprise, everyone knows that China is the main destination for all that illegal ivory. Everyone knows that South Africa is hemorrhaging rhinos which are also flowing to China (and Vietnam which is on the list). wildlifenews.co.uk/…/cites-name-17-countries-that-need-to-…/
By giving China and South Africa a clean bill of Health, CITES intentionally, or unintentionally invites more one off” sales of ivory proposals from South Africa and China at the next CITES conference of the Parties which will take place mid or late 2016 in Cape Town. This will be disastrous for elephants but good for CITES as there will be more money and work for certain people who have dedicated their lives to monitoring the effects of these "one off sales".
Recall that the sale of ivory from four southern African countries to China in 2008 is believed to be single main cause for the explosion in ivory demand and rising price of ivory in China, causing the unprecedented slaughter of elephants across Africa.
https://www.facebook.com/paula.kahumbu
WHY DOES THE CITES SECRETARIAT SHIELD CHINA AND VIETNAM
FROM CRITICAL PRESS REPORTS? WHY?
DOES THIS CONCERN YOU?
HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THE CITES SECRETARIAT?
They got the tusks from a KWS ranger in Tsavo!
For the Animals, the Zoo Is the Unhappiest Place on Earth http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/miriam-porter-/zoo-animals-treatment_b_7241878.html
A Tiny Fraction of the Baby Chimpanzees Illegally Smuggled into Egypt. CITES have been aware of this trade for years. How many times does this have to happen and how many chimps must suffer and die before CITES takes action against Egypt?
Like all criminals, illegal wildlife traders make loads of money when law/convention enforcement is non-existent, don’t they? Why would they stop their crimes when there is zero deterrent?
Buying caged birds encourages illegal trade: Activists. INDIA http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/Buying-caged-birds-encourages-illegal-trade-Activists/articleshow/47257527.cms
Chinese Owl hunters granted Bail. ZAMBIA. EXTRACT: Police last week arrested four Chinese nationals for poaching on Mr Muijis’ farm in Makeni after he complained that some people had been shooting animals on his farm. Two of the four Chinese were shot and wounded while trying to escape from the pol43 Sunda pangolins rescue in Hoa Binh
VietNamNet Bridge – 43 Sunda pangolins (Manis javanica) have arrived safely at the Carnivore and Pangolin Conservation Program – Save Vietnam’s Wildlife (SVW) after being rescued from animal traders in Hoa Binh provincice. http://www.lusakatimes.com/2015/05/13/chinese-owl-hunters-granted-bail/
Namibia: Napha Welcomes SAA Hunting Trophy Transport Ban http://allafrica.com/stories/201505121645.html
Sri Lanka first nation to protect all mangrove forests (NA comment: Listen up Malaysia and learn from Sri Lanka) http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-32683798
EIA’s report ‘Sin City: Illegal wildlife trade in Laos’ Special Economic Zone’ is now available in a Chinese language version. The report, released in March to international media coverage, documented how the Golden Triangle Special Economic Zone (GT SEZ) in Bokeo Province, Laos, has effectively become a hub for trade in illegal wildlife products and parts. Read and download ???? – ?????????? ???????? at http://eia-international.org/…/sin-city-illegal-wildlife-tr…
Interpol joins Kenya in ivory probe http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2015-05/11/c_134229921.htm
Paul Allen donates $339,000 to endangered-species initiative http://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/politics/paul-allen-donates-339000-to-endangered-species-initiative-politics-nw-now/
Federal Govt., States Need to Act Now to Restrict Ivory Trade. USA http://blog.humanesociety.org/wayne/2015/05/federal-govt-states-need-to-act-on-ivory.html
Endangered Elephants Could Find Savior in Chinese Chat Sites (Op-Ed) http://news.yahoo.com/endangered-elephants-could-savior-chinese-chat-sites-op-132311490.html
MACC freezes 375 accounts worth RM569 million in Sarawak
Read more at: http://english.astroawani.com/malaysia-news/macc-freezes-375-accounts-worth-rm569-million-sarawak-59524?cp
TO ILLEGAL LOGGERS, IT’S A DROP IN THE OCEAN: MACC freezes accounts worth RM560mil.
Full article: http://www.malaysia-chronicle.com/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&id=511001:to-illegal-loggers-its-a-drop-in-the-ocean-macc-freezes-accounts-worth-rm560mil&Itemid=2#ixzz3ZzTLQoEh
Incidence of illegal logging increases in Lam Dong. VIETNAM
http://vietnamnews.vn/environment/270173/incidence-of-illegal-logging-increases-in-lam-dong.html
Money disbursed, but elephant protection project at a standstill. VietNamNet Bridge – The project on protecting and conserving Dak Lak elephants kicked off in 2010, but more and more elephants have died since then. http://english.vietnamnet.vn/fms/environment/130184/money-disbursed–but-elephant-protection-project-at-a-standstill.html
DENR 13 holds special confab on Zero Illegal Logging Drive – See more at: http://news.pia.gov.ph/article/view/1721431333008/denr-13-holds-special-confab-on-zero-illegal-logging-drive#sthash.DQnpqynb.dpuf
Suspected rhino poachers shot. SOUTH AFRICA http://www.iol.co.za/news/crime-courts/suspected-rhino-poachers-shot-1.1857482
Mastermind among three more arrested in poaching of panthers http://www.hindustantimes.com/jaipur/mastermind-among-three-more-arrested-in-poaching-of-panthers/article1-1346418.aspx
Monkeys stolen from French zoo are ‘extremely rare and fragile’ http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/may/12/monkeys-stolen-from-french-zoo-are-extremely-rare-and-fragile
Kenya: Two Malindi Men Deny Ivory Charge http://allafrica.com/stories/201505120615.html
National Ivory Action Plan for Democratic Republic of the Congo now available in English & French. See: http://cites.org/eng/niaps
The Mozambique National Ivory Action Plan is now also posted in Portugese, see: http://cites.org/eng/niaps
Indian airport officials seize 700 smuggled tortoises in just two months. EXTRACT; Around 11.30am on March 24 this year, officials noticed some suspect baggage during screening at the Mumbai airport. When they called the owner, Thimarayappa Murthy, he initially said these were normal packets. However, when Customs officials and Central Industrial Security Force officials opened it, they found 161 tortoises stacked inside. According to Customs officials, Murthy was supposed to smuggle these tortoises to Malaysia by Malaysia Airlines flight number MH-195. Similarly, Customs department staff seized two suitcases filled with 183 turtles at the Mumbai airport on April 10. They were being smuggled to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. NA COMMENT: For years CITES has known of the blatant as well as illegal wildlife trade condoned by its officials in Malaysia. Despite which, Malaysia is allowed to remain a member of CITES – which actually enables the trade to continue. It’s very, very wrong, isn’t it?
CITES STILL ISN’T WORKING IS IT?
CAN YOU THINK OF A SINGLE THING ACHIVED
BY CITES IN THE LAST 10 YEARS?
THE WORLD’S WILDLIFE IS IN A STATE OF CRISIS ….
AND CITES KEEPS ON DOING WHAT IT HAS ALWAYS DONE – HOLD MEETINGS AND, CONFERENCES, POSE FOR PHOTOGRAPHS, MAKE SPEECHES ………but have things got better or worse? Are more, or less, countries now sanctioned?
HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT CITES ENFORCEMENT? (It employs an Enforcement Officer)
Namibia offers cash gift for information on poachers http://en.starafrica.com/news/namibia-offers-cash-gift-for-information-on-poachers.html
Cambodia forest communities confront illegal loggers as authorities look away. Deforestation threatens one of the largest evergreen forests in south-east Asia but local patrols are powerless to stop loggers whose livelihoods rely on the timber http://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2015/may/13/cambodia-forest-communities-confront-illegal-loggers-as-authorities-look-away
Satellite data shows how deforestation is impacting our weather and our food http://news.mongabay.com/2015/0512-mrn-gaworecki-deforestation-affecting-weather-patterns-food-production.html
Masing sees red in product label with picture of orang utan (Palm oil/Malaysia)
Read more: http://www.theborneopost.com/2015/05/13/masing-sees-red-in-product-label-with-picture-of-orang-utan/#ixzz3ZzUI0iei
5 cited in slaughter of snow geese in Marion Township, authorities say. USA
– See more at: http://readingeagle.com/news/article/5-cited-in-slaughter-of-snow-geese-in-marion-township-authorities-say#sthash.kBM6N9le.dpuf
No more Trophy hunted animals on Emirates Airlines
State Forestry Administration Announcement. CHINA
2015 No. 9
According to "the State Forestry Administration on further strengthening the ivory and its products and standardize management of the notice" (2 Corinthians conditioner 258 [2008]) requirements, according to the ivory processing operations supervision and inspection of law enforcement, as well as practitioners and provincial forestry organizations apply administrations audit opinion, a unified assessment by experts, now allow in ivory and ivory products processing units and sales activities place to be announced (see Annex 1), valid until December 31, 2016. Among them, only the units listed in Annex 1 in worked ivory products designated places, only the designated places sales processing and sales of ivory products listed in Annex 1 the integration of designated areas and units listed in Annex 2, are not allowed to change.
Where before this announcement about the ivory designated processing, marketing places and this announcement does not conform to this announcement.
Notice is hereby given.
Accessories: 1. Allow list processing activities in Ivory units and processing establishments
2. Allow ivory sales activity in the list of establishments and affiliated units
State Forestry Administration
April 29, 2015
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.
Please note: This daily newsletter has evolved from an intended single species niche target audience news report, into what is now a more general wildlife news report to a very large and widespread audience consisting of CITES, EU, UNEP, and other government officials with an interest in these issues, as well as media worldwide, NGO’s scientists and concerned members of the public. Our aim is to keep as close as possible to collating and distributing reports related to deforestation and the illegal wildlife trade.
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