A total of 50 Tanzanian game scouts are benefiting from training by US military experts to increase their ability to combat wildlife poaching and trafficking in Rungwa Game Reserve in Tanzania. This will also help the wildlife of Ruaha National park which is contiguous with Rungwa.
The training is being conducted the US Army Africa Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa and the North Carolina National Guard Special Forces.
During the training session between July 25 and September 9 the game scouts are being trained in surveillance and patrol techniques, arrest and detention procedures, search and seizure, crime scene investigation, first aid, human rights and rules of engagement.
This program is one part of a major effort by the US Government and other partners to protect the elephant and wildlife corridor between Rungwa and Katavi, thus conserving a critical link between the Ruaha- Rungwa and Katavi ecosystems.
The US Agency for International Development (USAID), in partnership with WCS, is supporting the $8.5-million five-year Southern Highlands and Ruaha-Katavi Protection Program (SHARPP).
Ruaha-Rungwa has been the subject of massive amounts of elephant poaching in the last few years with the population dropping from 35500 in 2006 to around 15000 or less in 2015.
Total No of Rhinos slaughtered in South Africa to End of December 2021 = 451 Official figures. Note: the number of wild rhinos in Kruger has declined from 3,500 to 2,800 in one year. Read my blog below for Headlines from around the World concerning the Global Catastrophe that is causing the biggest mass extinction since the Permian Period, and News of the fight to stop the slaughter of the Planet's Wildlife before it is too late.
Wednesday, 31 August 2016
Monday, 1 August 2016
Thousands of poachers snares removed in one park
Just to highlight the severity of the problem of illegal killing of wildlife for bushmeat let me give some figures.
One year ago today the Management of Liwonde National Park in Malawi was taken over by African Parks.
Bear in mind that this was already Malawi's flagship park and you might have expected it to have received some protection.
Since taking over they have removed over 40 gin traps and over 16000 snares.
That's in one park in one year. Imagine the amount of animal suffering that has been averted. But then think of all the other places in Africa where this is going on, both inside and outside protected areas, and you can see what a massive problem it is.
No wonder lions and leopards resort to cattle raiding. In many areas their prey species are being wiped out.
One year ago today the Management of Liwonde National Park in Malawi was taken over by African Parks.
Bear in mind that this was already Malawi's flagship park and you might have expected it to have received some protection.
Since taking over they have removed over 40 gin traps and over 16000 snares.
That's in one park in one year. Imagine the amount of animal suffering that has been averted. But then think of all the other places in Africa where this is going on, both inside and outside protected areas, and you can see what a massive problem it is.
No wonder lions and leopards resort to cattle raiding. In many areas their prey species are being wiped out.
Monday, 25 July 2016
Kenya: Ivory smuggling Kingpin gets 20 years in jail
After more than 2 years of twists and turns, Feisal Mohammed Ali was sentenced to 20 years in jail by a Mombasa law court for posession of 2 tons of ivory worth 44 million shillings.
The Kenya Wildlife Service issued a statement saying "The guilty verdict is a strong message to all networks of poaching gangs, ivory smugglers, financiers, middlemen and shippers that Kenya will not watch as its elephant population is decimated or its territory used as a conduit for traffickers."
About time a top man was successfully prosecuted. That the case was never quietly dropped was largely thanks to the efforts of the NGO WildlifeDirect, who ensured that it was kept high profile and that justice was not corrupted, despite various irregularities on the way.
The defence is expected to appeal against the sentence so it's not quite all over yet.
Power to the Kenyan people who are now realizing that wildlife is not only their heritage, but also an irreplaceable treasure, job creator and foreign currency earner.
Friday, 22 July 2016
Massive shipment of pangolin scales intercepted in Hong Kong
Hong Kong officials have intercepted 259 bags of pangolin scales weighing 7 tons. It is the biggest seizure in the last five years and was worth around $1.8 million. The scales were found after a routine search and were labeled as recycled plastic particles. They had transited from Nigeria.
Last month another shipment of 4.4 tons of scales was found originating from Cameroon and was also listed as plastic.
Pangolins are also known as scaly anteaters. There are eight species found in Asia and Africa but hunting has largely wiped them out in Asia and now the African species are being decimated. The scales are used in ridiculous Chinese medicine and they are also considered a delicacy.
They have incredibly long tongues - as long as their bodies - which they use to mop up ants with. They are said to be the World's most trafficked mammal.
Although they are widespread in the wild it is still considered a real privilige to actually see one. In all my travels I have yet to get lucky.
Last month another shipment of 4.4 tons of scales was found originating from Cameroon and was also listed as plastic.
Pangolins are also known as scaly anteaters. There are eight species found in Asia and Africa but hunting has largely wiped them out in Asia and now the African species are being decimated. The scales are used in ridiculous Chinese medicine and they are also considered a delicacy.
They have incredibly long tongues - as long as their bodies - which they use to mop up ants with. They are said to be the World's most trafficked mammal.
Although they are widespread in the wild it is still considered a real privilige to actually see one. In all my travels I have yet to get lucky.
Thursday, 21 July 2016
Vietnam is becoming the new centre for illegal ivory processing
A new report from Save the Elephants found that the amount of ivory items on sale in Vietnam has risen by 600% since 2008.
The majority of the tusks are smuggled in from Africa whereas back in 2008 they tended to come from Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos.
The old loophole that it is 'old' ivory obtained pre 1992 is being used to get away with it. That and the usual problems of weak pusuance of the law, pathetic customs control, and corruption are allowing the maket to expand as China slowly, ever so slowly, shuts down its ivory trade.
Most of the ivory is sold to guess who - Chinese tourists.
The majority of the tusks are smuggled in from Africa whereas back in 2008 they tended to come from Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos.
The old loophole that it is 'old' ivory obtained pre 1992 is being used to get away with it. That and the usual problems of weak pusuance of the law, pathetic customs control, and corruption are allowing the maket to expand as China slowly, ever so slowly, shuts down its ivory trade.
Most of the ivory is sold to guess who - Chinese tourists.
Tuesday, 12 July 2016
Tanzania police arrest 9 people in connection with ivory smuggling
Dar es Salaam — Police in collaboration with Interpol in Southern and Eastern zones have arrested nine people in possession of 1.2 tonnes of ivory with a value of Sh4.6 billion. These are part of a group of 256 people being held for various crimes including human trafficking, drug abuse, illegal migration, trading in minerals, possession of firearms and vehicles.
Code-named 'Operation Usalama III', the operation was part of the wider mission of eradicating crime.
The operation was a by-product of a two-day meeting held in Matola, Mozambique, between May 26-27, by 27 member countries of the Southern Africa Regional Police Chiefs Co-operation (SARPCCO) and Eastern Africa Police Chiefs Co-operation Organization (EAPCCO).
Code-named 'Operation Usalama III', the operation was part of the wider mission of eradicating crime.
The operation was a by-product of a two-day meeting held in Matola, Mozambique, between May 26-27, by 27 member countries of the Southern Africa Regional Police Chiefs Co-operation (SARPCCO) and Eastern Africa Police Chiefs Co-operation Organization (EAPCCO).
Thursday, 9 June 2016
China will have a timetable for the ivory ban by the end of this year
By the end of this year China will set a timetable to phase out
commercial trading in ivory, a Chinese official said during a meeting
with a U.S. delegation on Monday.
The comments were made by Yan Xun, deputy general director of the Department of Wildlife Conservation and Nature Reserve Management of the State Forestry Administration, during the eighth session of the U.S.-China Strategic and Economic Dialogue held in Beijing
.
China’s promise follows the announcement by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service on June 2 that it will implement a “near-total” ban on ivory trade.
Cristian Samper, president of the Wildlife Conservation Society, said in a statement that a ban in both China and the U.S. will send a message to the world that ivory markets are shutting down. “Elephants now have a fighting chance,” said in written statement to Sixth Tone.
The population of African elephants, poached for their tusks, has dropped to around 500,000 from more than 1 million in the 1970s.
The comments were made by Yan Xun, deputy general director of the Department of Wildlife Conservation and Nature Reserve Management of the State Forestry Administration, during the eighth session of the U.S.-China Strategic and Economic Dialogue held in Beijing
.
China’s promise follows the announcement by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service on June 2 that it will implement a “near-total” ban on ivory trade.
Cristian Samper, president of the Wildlife Conservation Society, said in a statement that a ban in both China and the U.S. will send a message to the world that ivory markets are shutting down. “Elephants now have a fighting chance,” said in written statement to Sixth Tone.
The population of African elephants, poached for their tusks, has dropped to around 500,000 from more than 1 million in the 1970s.
Ivory haul worth millions of shillings stopped at Mombasa
Kenya Revenue Authority officials have intercepted a container containing Ivory estimated to be worth millions of shillings this morning at the Mombasa Sea Port barely a month after President Uhuru Kenyatta set ablaze 105 tonnes of Ivory at the Nairobi National Park.
The ivory was intercepted at a Container Freight Station by custom officials on Tuesday morning and investigation and verification procedures are underway, involving a joint effort by KRA and KWS officials.
The ivory was intercepted at a Container Freight Station by custom officials on Tuesday morning and investigation and verification procedures are underway, involving a joint effort by KRA and KWS officials.
Wednesday, 8 June 2016
Poachers sentenced to 120 years in jail in Southern Tanzania
Five people have been sentenced to a total of 120 years between them and must pay a fine of 335m/- for being found with two pieces of elephant tusks and nine tails of the wild animal, among other government trophies.
The sentence was imposed last Friday by Senior Resident Magistrate Pili Mande at Manyoni District Court in Singida Region, after convicting the five on the offence of poaching and various other related crimes.
The offences include being in unlawful possession of government trophies, which are two elephants tusks, two elephant tails, being in unlawful possession of firearms, that is three SMG, one Riffle and one homemade gun (gobole) and dealing with poaching.
They were caught by rangers in the Runwas Game Reserve which is part of the hard hit Ruaha-Rungwa ecosystem.
The sentence was imposed last Friday by Senior Resident Magistrate Pili Mande at Manyoni District Court in Singida Region, after convicting the five on the offence of poaching and various other related crimes.
The offences include being in unlawful possession of government trophies, which are two elephants tusks, two elephant tails, being in unlawful possession of firearms, that is three SMG, one Riffle and one homemade gun (gobole) and dealing with poaching.
They were caught by rangers in the Runwas Game Reserve which is part of the hard hit Ruaha-Rungwa ecosystem.
Government of Tanzania requests an immediate global ban of ivory trade
The government of Tanzania has submitted a special request to a United Nations council responsible for controlling illegal wildlife trade, pushing for permanent and immediate ban of ivory business in the world.
The Minister for Natural Resources and Tourism, Prof Jumanne Maghembe, has said here that it was hard for the country to curb poaching without a combined effort from other international bodies. He was speaking during the Tanzania National Parks (TANAPA) annual meeting with editors and senior journalists from different media houses.
Prof Maghembe, who was the chief guest at the meeting, pointed out that the demand for government trophies was high in Asia, being sold as an essential commodity in China, further pointing out that the anti-poaching war needed collective efforts.
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