More bad news about environmental and wildlife
crimes from around the world …
in the spotlight today……………
Sabah’s wildlife law enforcement abysmal
Look at the photo above and ask yourself, how can anyone claiming to be ‘human’ keep two wild-caught sun bears in cages like this?
You might very well go on to ask yourself why the Sabah Wildlife Department (SWD) has not yet confiscated both bears and taken them to the nearby state-approved sun bear rescue centre.
Both are perfectly valid questions. Answers, though, are as elusive as ever.
Rumour has it SWD have previously granted, illegally, a licence to the self-proclaimed owner of the bears allowing him to keep his ‘trophy’ animals.
Licence or not the cages break every relevant section of the Wildlife Conservation Act.
Plus, the cages are downright cruel, as is the treatment of the bears.
Not forgetting mother bears don’t donate their cubs to hunters and wealthy individuals.
First, the mothers must be killed so the babies can be captured, tormented and tortured for the rest of their lives.
Numerous pleas to Masidi Manjun in recent weeks to exert his authority have not worked.
We are left to wonder why he allows the bears’ suffering to continue.
The Sabah Wildlife Department is no stranger to criticism for its relaxed attitude towards law enforcement.
No one will ever forgive them for the mass slaughter of baby elephants they have failed to fully investigate and arrest the guilty people.
When did you last hear of anyone being prosecuted in Sabah for a wildlife law violation?
What makes matters worse, even depressing, concerning these bears, is the total silence of all NGOs in Sabah.
I’ve not seen one speak up in defence of the bears.
People making a comfortable living from wildlife not coming to the help of two bears unable to help themselves.
What do you think of them and the Sabah Wildlife Department?
https://www.malaysiakini.com/letters/317203
No 547 Wildlife Trade News: 27th October 2015
Indonesia’s forest fires threaten a third of world’s wild orangutans http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/oct/26/indonesias-forest-fires-threaten-a-third-of-worlds-wild-orangutans
Sick, Hungry Orangutans Fall Victim to Indonesia Fires Crisis
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https://www.thedodo.com/babies-found-in-burning-forest-1414609890.html?utm_source=iarfb
Wildfires decimate orangutans (and all other forest species) in Indonesia http://www.scidev.net/global/disasters/multimedia/wildfires-decimate-orangutans-indonesia.html
Smear campaign against Indonesian palm oil underway: GAPKI – See more at: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2015/10/26/smear-campaign-against-indonesian-palm-oil-underway-gapki.html#sthash.3ZEft42K.dpuf (For those not familiar with the palm oil industry; they have spent their lives in denial and when anyone highlights their destructive business practices they cry ‘smear campaign’. Is there a more environmentally destructive business on the planet?)
Desperation in Palangkaraya, the epicentre of Southeast Asia’s haze crisis
http://jakarta.coconuts.co/2015/10/27/desperation-palangkaraya-epicentre-southeast-asias-haze-crisis
Environment Minister Calls for Law Revisions, Rejects Task Force as Haze Thickens Over Jakarta http://jakartaglobe.beritasatu.com/news/environment-minister-calls-law-revisions-rejects-task-force-haze-thickens-jakarta/
Indonesia haze: Crime against humanity http://www.ibtimes.com.au/indonesia-haze-crime-against-humanity-1478113
INDONESIA: Editorial: Protecting peatland http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2015/10/27/editorial-protecting-peatland.html
INDONESIA: Your letters: Fire razing Kalimantan forests http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2015/10/27/your-letters-fire-razing-kalimantan-forests.html
INDONESIA: Thousands of hectares of land in Jambi burned down – See more at: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2015/10/27/thousands-hectares-land-jambi-burned-down.html#sthash.uVQzgVOi.dpuf
Palm oil’s new frontier is the vast rainforest covering the world’s second-largest island http://qz.com/530649/palm-oils-new-frontier-is-the-vast-rainforest-covering-the-worlds-second-largest-island/
Eaten to extinction? India’s purple frog faces another threat http://news.mongabay.com/2015/10/eaten-to-extinction-indias-purple-frog-faces-another-threat/
Scandal of rare falcons being smuggled out of Russia ‘as playthings of rich Arab sheikhs’
ZimFour arrested with over 100kg of ivory. It’s not clear where the ivory came from but was said to be on its way to Singapore. http://ewn.co.za/2015/10/26/Four-arrested-with-over-100kg-of-ivory-in-Zim
NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC: As Tiger Numbers Dwindle, Will Smugglers Target a Different Cat? A new study reveals dramatic growth in the commercial trade of the rare clouded leopard http://news.nationalgeographic.com/2015/10/151026-clouded-leopards-wildlife-trade-conservation/
Uganda: US Gives U.S.$1.6 Million to Uganda Wildlife http://allafrica.com/stories/201510262099.html
Man arrested in KZN for suspected rhino poaching http://ewn.co.za/2015/10/26/Man-arrested-in-KZN-for-suspected-Rhino-poaching
IAG Cargo transports six white rhinos from Johannesburg to Miami http://www.supplychaindigital.com/logistics/4148/IAG-Cargo-transports-six-white-rhinos-from-Johannesburg-to-Miami
CONGO: Warlord Kony killing elephants, selling ivory http://www.news24.com.ng/World/News/Warlord-Kony-killing-elephants-selling-ivory-20151027-2
Zimbabwe: 22 more elephants killed in Hwange Park by cyanide – See more at: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2015/10/27/zimbabwe-22-more-elephants-killed-hwange-park-cyanide.html#sthash.mH32o5Tn.dpuf
INDIA: Government Decision to Ban Jumbo Trade in Bihar to have Ripple Effect on State http://www.nyoooz.com/kochi/242610/government-decision-to-ban-jumbo-trade-in-bihar-to-have-ripple-effect-on-state
Lions Heading Quickly Towards Extinction http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/lions-africa-extinction_562eaf7ae4b00aa54a4aef64
Wildlife body directs OLX to withdraw sale of animal products http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/wildlife-board-directs-olx-to-withdraw-sale-of-animal-products/article7809153.ece
Experts?Strategize on Wildlife Reintroduction https://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/experts%E2%80%88strategize-on-wildlife-reintroduction-98393/
How Can the Endangered Species Act Protect Wildlife That Lives Outside the U.S.? https://www.audubon.org/news/how-can-endangered-species-act-protect-wildlife-lives-outside-us
Impossible to completely wipe out illegal logging in Sarawak, CM says – See more at: http://www.themalaymailonline.com/malaysia/article/impossible-to-completely-wipe-out-illegal-logging-in-sarawak-cm-says#sthash.llgFW8aB.dpuf
CAMBODIA: Prey Lang patrol yields illegal loggers’ chainsaws http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/prey-lang-patrol-yields-illegal-loggers-chainsaws
PAKISTAN: Corruption in Wildlife Department unearthed http://nation.com.pk/national/27-Oct-2015/corruption-in-wildlife-department-unearthed
Australia Zoo crisis: Humans and animals both mis treated, say ex-staff
Nearly 300 Bears Killed In Controversial Florida Hunt http://malaysiandigest.com/world/575843-nearly-300-bears-killed-in-controversial-florida-hunt.html
Indigenous anti-dam activists converge in Sarawak from around the globe http://news.mongabay.com/2015/10/indigenous-anti-dam-activists-converge-in-sarawak-from-around-the-globe/
Costa Rica issues 1-year moratorium on export of hammerhead shark products http://www.ticotimes.net/2015/10/26/costa-rica-issues-one-year-moratorium-export-hammerhead-shark-products
Hong Kong’s illegal ivory trade still alive, despite pledge to ban sales http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/hong-kongs-illegal-ivory-trade-still-alive-despite-pledge-ban-sales/
