A staggering five significant ivory seizures in the weeks leading up
to Vietnam hosting a major intergovernmental event on illegal wildlife
trade highlights ongoing concerns about the nation’s role in illicit
wildlife trade.
In total, Vietnamese authorities confiscated over four and a half tonnes of trafficked ivory during October 2016.
Just how much ivory is going through Vietnam? Is it the new frontier?
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.
Friday, 11 November 2016
Monday, 31 October 2016
Magafuli talks tough on poachers
Tanzania's president on Saturday ordered the security forces to go after top criminals financing organized networks behind elephant poaching, saying no one was "untouchable".
"I am behind you ... arrest all those involved in this illicit trade, no one should be spared regardless of his position, age, religion ... or popularity," Magufuli said in a statement.
"Go after all of them ... so that we protect our elephants from being slaughtered."
Magufuli issued the directive after visiting the Natural Resources and Tourism Ministry in Tanzania's commercial capital Dar es Salaam, where he saw 50 tusks seized from poachers.
Magufuli said he would continue to support the work of Tanzania's National and Transnational Serious Crimes Investigation Unit (NTSCIU) to fight elephant poaching.
"I am behind you ... arrest all those involved in this illicit trade, no one should be spared regardless of his position, age, religion ... or popularity," Magufuli said in a statement.
"Go after all of them ... so that we protect our elephants from being slaughtered."
Magufuli issued the directive after visiting the Natural Resources and Tourism Ministry in Tanzania's commercial capital Dar es Salaam, where he saw 50 tusks seized from poachers.
Magufuli said he would continue to support the work of Tanzania's National and Transnational Serious Crimes Investigation Unit (NTSCIU) to fight elephant poaching.
Wednesday, 14 September 2016
IUCN votes to close down all domestic ivory markets
Honolulu, Hawaii – On Saturday, September 10th world government and
NGO representatives voted at the International Union for Conservation of
Nature (IUCN) World Conservation Congress in Hawaii urging governments
to close down their domestic ivory markets.
Domestic ivory sales in most countries are legal. Many experts believe that domestic ivory markets help fuel poaching by stimulating demand and allowing traffickers a cover for their illegal imports and exports.
A recent survey by Paul G. Allen’s Great Elephant Census (GEC) earlier this month revealed that in just seven years there has been a 30% decline of Africa’s elephant populations due to the enormous demand for ivory.
In response, the IUCN, which has 1,300 members from more than 160 countries, voted in favour of closing domestic markets by an overwhelming majority of 91%.
This was in spite of fierce resistance from South Africa, Namibia and Japan – the latter with a thriving domestic ivory market of its own – who threatened to walk out of the debate and resign from the IUCN in protest.
The three countries then sought to soften the language of the motion by insisting on no less than 20
different amendments. All were rejected.
Credit: Adam Cruise - Conservation Action Trust for this article.
Domestic ivory sales in most countries are legal. Many experts believe that domestic ivory markets help fuel poaching by stimulating demand and allowing traffickers a cover for their illegal imports and exports.
A recent survey by Paul G. Allen’s Great Elephant Census (GEC) earlier this month revealed that in just seven years there has been a 30% decline of Africa’s elephant populations due to the enormous demand for ivory.
In response, the IUCN, which has 1,300 members from more than 160 countries, voted in favour of closing domestic markets by an overwhelming majority of 91%.
This was in spite of fierce resistance from South Africa, Namibia and Japan – the latter with a thriving domestic ivory market of its own – who threatened to walk out of the debate and resign from the IUCN in protest.
The three countries then sought to soften the language of the motion by insisting on no less than 20
different amendments. All were rejected.
Credit: Adam Cruise - Conservation Action Trust for this article.
Wednesday, 31 August 2016
Tanzania: US military trains 50 game scouts in Rungwa Game Reserve
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.
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.
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.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)