More bad news … and a message from the
author for regular readers, not to be missed.
Please note: This daily newsletter has evolved from an intended single species, niche target audience news report to a small number of people, into what has become a more general wildlife news report. It is now disseminated to a very large and widespread audience consisting of CITES, EU, UNEP, other government officials with an interest in these issues, as well as media worldwide, NGO’s, zoos, scientists and concerned members of the public. The creation and distribution of the news is done on an entirely voluntary basis.
In recent times the goal has been to reach #500 (which we did yesterday) and then stop. It is very time consuming to produce. I know there is a demand for such news and I’ve been regularly surprised to receive encouraging emails from officials in countries one might otherwise assumed had no interest in what is happening elsewhere in the world. If you find the news helpful or not, and have not yet written to me, I would welcome any comments, critical or otherwise; your email will remain confidential.
From today, all I can say is, when time permits I will circulate more news but the chances are it may be less frequent and less comprehensive. If you would like to take over from me I would be delighted to hear from you. In the meantime I’ll do my best with what time I have available.
Finally: Do you ever wonder what will it take for CITES officials the world over, to grasp the seriousness of the wildlife trade, both illegal and legal? How many more elephants, rhinos, tigers, etc. will be slaughtered before (if) CITES stops talking and begins taking action against the countless countries responsible for the illegal wildlife trade?
It looks as if CITES continues doing the same things now as it did 20 years ago, despite the seismic explosion in the growth of the wildlife trade, doesn’t it? Do you sense anything has changed with CITES? Have you seen any expression of urgency or, a willingness to change? Any emergency meetings held to discuss action against countries like China? Have more countries been sanctioned? No?
Does it not alarm you that the illegal wildlife trade has grown enormously in the last 20 years, but those countries we all read about with monotonous frequency who are known to be responsible for a large part of the trade, have never been so much as warned let alone sanctioned? In other words, have CITES sanctions grown in number in line with the scale of the trade? NO.
If CITES was an international company that refused to change course in the last 20 years in response to new developments and threats, would it still be in ‘business’ today? Extremely unlikely. The difference is, international companies are normally accountable to shareholders, unions, even employees, and poor performing CEO’s are often pilloried in the media and then fired: CITES is only accountable to its member countries, many of whom are the problem. CITES can also be very secretive, protecting its members from embarrassment and maybe even prosecution.
Governments keep giving their citizens money to CITES regardless of how its member countries have broken and continue to flaunt the convention. So there you have it: As long as failure to enforce the convention/law is tolerated and rewarded, you can expect to see the illegal wildlife trade continue unhindered, some would say helped, by CITES, UNEP and EU officials who won’t insist the convention is enforced and seen to be enforced without fear or favour.
Speaking of countries that have broken the convention multiple times and remain secretive about its stockpile of ivory …………….
WILL WE EVER SEE A SIMILAR SIGHT IN MALAYSIA – OR WILL THE GOVERNMENT
KEEP ITS IVORY CONCEALED AND AWAY FROM
ANY INDEPENDENT CHECKS?
Why won’t either the Malaysian government or CITES reveal the contents of its
National Ivory Action Plan?
Why the secrecy? Makes you wonder, doesn’t it?
DOES CITES CARE WHETHER OR NOT THERE REALLY IS ANY IVORY LEFT TO COUNT? WHOSE CHECKING?
Thailand destroying its confiscated ivory.
No 501 Wildlife Trade News: 29th August 2015
Partnerships Breed Success
6-10th October 2015 – Kuching, Sarawak
One easy and pleasurable way to learn new things and network will be to attend this event.
Think of all the potential benefits to you, your zoo, department or organisation.
If you live and work in the region can you afford not to attend and miss out on new opportunities?
7 Conference themes
1: Animals in the Wild (Aquatic & Terrestrial)
2: Domestic Animals (Pets & Farms)
3: Managing Strays
4: Animal Care (Veterinary Care)
5: Animal Care (Rescue & Rehabilitation)
6: Animals in Captivity
7: Animals in Trade
Special sessions:
1: The future of Borneo`s Animals
2: Managing an NGO
SUMATRA / INDONESIA: Vacancy for Wildlife Ranger Coordinator
SCORPION Wildlife Trade Monitoring Group is seeking for a Wildlife Ranger Coordinator to be based in Medan, North Sumatra but with extensive travel to various locations throughout Sumatra. The coordinator will be responsible to develop monitoring system of supply chain of wildlife from Sumatra to major markets in Jakarta. Ultimate goal is to significantly reduce wildlife trade in Indonesia. Applicant should have Bachelor’s degree in forestry, biology, or other related field. Experience in related field is an advantage but not essential. Please send your resume no later than September 15, 2015 to info
Life In Captivity, In One Photograph This is a Sumatran orangutan in the Moscow Zoo.
https://www.thedodo.com/orangutan-moscow-zoo-photograph-1318741300.html
Does Keeping Animals Captive Really Help Kids Learn How to Respect Them? extract: “There is no current evidence, from well-controlled studies in the peer-reviewed literature, supporting the argument that captive animal displays are educational or promote conservation in any meaningful sense. How do I know? I’ve reviewed the literature and published our findings on this issue.” http://www.onegreenplanet.org/animalsandnature/does-keeping-animals-captive-really-help-kids-learn-how-to-respect-them/
THAILAND: Phi Phi gibbon touts arrested
http://www.phuketgazette.net/phuket-news/Phi-Phi-gibbon-touts-arrested-video/61843#ad-image-0
2nd INTERPOL Environmental Compliance and Enforcement Events Singapore, 16-18 November 2015 http://www.interpol.int/Crime-areas/Environmental-crime/Events/Meetings/2nd-INTERPOL-Environmental-Compliance-and-Enforcement-Events
Wild Crimes. by Melanie Flynn is a senior lecturer in criminology at the University of Huddersfield and researches wildlife crime
Lessons from orangutan conservation http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2015/08/28/lessons-orangutan-conservation.html
CITES and IUCN bolster collaboration in tackling poaching and illegal wildlife trade (NA comment: More speeches, photos, and talk, but did you ever see either organisation achieve anything meaningful? If one rhino was saved for every time Mr Scanlon posed for a photo, now that would make a significant difference to the rhino population, wouldn’t it?) http://www.iucn.org/news_homepage/?21814/CITES-and-IUCN-bolster-collaboration-in-tackling-poaching–and-illegal-wildlife-trade
From the Atlantic to the Mediterranean, turtle conservation overcoming similar challenges http://www.birdlife.org/worldwide/news/atlantic-mediterranean-turtle-conservation-overcoming-similar-challenges
Smuggled orangutans prepared for repatriation to Indonesia – in pictures (UK) Thai vets conduct health checks on 14 orangutans before their repatriation to Indonesia. Most of the animals have been confiscated from the entertainment business in Phuket; others were confiscated from smugglers. The orangutans are being examined to ensure they are free from diseases and are expected to return to Indonesia in September http://www.theguardian.com/environment/gallery/2015/aug/28/smuggled-orangutans-prepared-for-repatriation-to-indonesia-in-pictures?CMP=twt_a-environment_b-gdneco
Orangutans found in cages on Phuket to return to Indonesia (Thailand) http://bangkok.coconuts.co/2015/08/28/orangutans-found-cages-phuket-return-indonesia
Photos: Orangutans readied for repatriation to Indonesia (Aljazeera America) http://america.aljazeera.com/multimedia/photo-gallery/2015/8/photos-orangutans-readied-for-repatriation-to-indonesia.html
Thailand conducts health check for Indonesia orangutans preparing them for repatriation (Ukraine) http://uatoday.tv/society/thailand-conducts-health-check-for-indonesia-orangutans-preparing-them-for-repatriation-483320.html
‘Warlords of Ivory’ review: Evil against mankind and elephantkind http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/tv/warlords-ivory-review-evil-mankind-elephants-article-1.2340650
POACHING IN KENYA: The Colliding Worlds of Rangers and Poachers – By Obar Mark http://www.standardmedia.co.ke/ktn/video/watch/2000097471/poaching-in-kenya-the-colliding-worlds-of-rangers-and-poachers-by-obar-mark
CAMBODIA: In Northeast, One Company Controls Nearly All Illegal Logging: Report http://www.khmertimeskh.com/news/15076/in-northeast–one-company-controls-nearly-all-illegal-logging–report/
The many paths towards sustainable palm oil in India http://news.mongabay.com/2015/08/the-many-paths-towards-sustainable-palm-oil-in-india/
On Patrol With the Black Mambas http://www.nytimes.com/2015/08/28/magazine/on-patrol-with-the-black-mambas.html
USA: Brunswick man pleads guilty to poaching sea turtle eggs second time in 3 years http://jacksonville.com/news/crime/2015-08-28/story/brunswick-man-pleads-guilty-poaching-sea-turtle-eggs-second-time-3-years
MALAYSIA: More than 1,000 items made from animal parts seized (NA comment: A rare but welcome arrest. Now let’s see what’s happens with the prosecution in court.)
http://www.thestar.com.my/News/Nation/2015/08/29/Illegal-wildlife-traders-nabbed/
MALAYSIA: MACC arrests 8 Forestry Dept staff http://www.nst.com.my/node/98182
Wildlife Trafficking Hitting New York Hard http://www.financialbuzz.com/wildlife-trafficking-hitting-new-york-hard-322872
Why Life Entertaining Tourists is No Life at all for Lions http://www.onegreenplanet.org/animalsandnature/why-life-entertaining-tourists-is-no-life-at-all-for-lions/
barbaric Johor Zoo in 2015 MALAYSIA exploitive Sunway Zoo 2015
Haze plagues Sumatra, fires destroy forests in Central Java – See more at: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2015/08/29/haze-plagues-sumatra-fires-destroy-forests-central-java.html#sthash.UerE0MaA.dpuf
Indonesian village opts to protect mangroves, preserve livelihoods sw
