Burma officials seize 10,000 snakes bound for China (via Herp Digest)

More than 10,000 snakes bound for China were seized recently in Burma.
The Associated Press, 1/20/12

YANGON - Forestry officials in central Burma have seized nearly 10,000 snakes in 400 crates that were to be smuggled to China.

The weekly journal Modern reported Friday that 50 cobras were among the 9,176 snakes seized in Pyin Oo Lwin district near Mandalay on Jan. 12.

Wildlife smuggling is endemic in Asia, where exotic species are used for food and traditional medicine.
The report did not say how many people were arrested but said those involved would be charged under the Protection of Wildlife and Conservation of Natural Areas law, which carries a five-year prison sentence.

It said the 7,000 non-poisonous snakes were released into a wildlife reserve, while the vipers and cobras were sent to the state pharmaceutical company for their venom.

Lizard fans 'traded rare reptile' in China (Via Herp Digest)

Lizard fans 'traded rare reptile' in China (Chinese crocodile lizards)
By Zhao Wen (Shanghai Daily)12/4/11

Reptile enthusiasts accused of trading in endangered Chinese crocodile lizards on the Internet went on trial yesterday at the Huangpu District People's Court.

Huang Wentao and Huang Jie, were charged with illegally selling endangered wildlife while three other men were accused of illegally purchasing an endangered species.

Prosecutors said Huang Wentao, 26, from Guangdong Province, posted a notice at an online chat room for reptile fans in June, offering the protected semi-aquatic lizards for sale.

He then sold three lizards to Huang Jie, a 23-year-old Shanghai resident, for 1,500 yuan (US$236), delivering the animals from Guangdong to Shanghai on June 28, it is claimed. 

According to prosecutors, Huang Jie sold two lizards to friends Yang Lei and Shen Zhenyu, who owned a reptile pet shop on Xitangjia Lane in Huangpu District. The third lizard was sold to fellow reptile enthusiast Sun Yu, the court heard.

In co!
urt, the five accused, all in their 20s, claimed they didn't know the crocodile lizard is listed as a first-class nationally protected species in China.

This was despite having searched online for information on the species found in forests in Hunan and Guizhou provinces and the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, said prosecutors.

Yang and Shen said they had planned to sell the lizards, whose bony scales on their backs and tails resemble those found on crocodiles, but decided to keep them as pets in their shop because they "liked them very much."

Huang Wentao, an advertising company employee, said he bought five lizards in 2008 for 1,400 yuan and had raised them for three years. Wang told the court he decided to sell the animals as he was busy at work and his home was too small for them.

The five were detained following a tip-off in July, the court heard.

Prosecutors said that the accused had broken China's Criminal Law, regardless of whether they planned to keep as pets or sell the animals.

The court did not announce a verdict yesterday.

Those convicted of illegally buying, transporting or selling nationally protected species or products made from them can be jailed for up to 10 years.

The three lizards are now in Shanghai Zoo. An official, surnamed Chen, told Shanghai Daily they are not in good condition and the zoo has not decided whether to let them hibernate.

An estimated 1 million people own exotic pets - such as snakes, lizards and monkeys - on China's mainland, many of which are protected species.

Crocodile lizards spend much of their time in the water or on overhanging vegetation, preying on fish, tadpoles, snails and insects.

Thai officials save thousands of endangered animals

Officials say they have seized nearly 3000 rare animals in one of the biggest wildlife trafficking busts in Thailand this year.

Among the animals are some protected by international conventions on endangered species.

The illegal wildlife trade is said to be rife in Thailand and generates billions of dollars worldwide.

Karishma Vaswani reports.

video here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-14921009

Feds seek resolution to narwhal tusk trade ban

Ottawa wants to resolve a simmering dispute with Nunavut communities over the export of Narwhal ivory, the federal fisheries minister said, during an annual meeting in Iqaluit this week.

Keith Ashfield, the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans, said the restrictions on the international export of narwhal tusks and related from products from 17 communities was partly imposed due to international concern.

The Department of Fisheries and Oceans had said narwhal in certain Nunavut communities were being overhunted.

"Hopefully we can come to some sort of resolution on this issue," Ashfield said during the meeting of the Canadian Council of Fisheries and Aquacultures Ministers.

"This is something that is being driven by other organizations, and hopefully we can come to some common ground on this."

Court challenge nixed

The federal government is commited to finding a solution that works for both sides, Ashfield said.
Nunavut Tunngavik Inc., which advocates for the territory's Inuit, wanted to challenge the ban in court, but stepped back from legal action in June.

The two-day session that brought fisheries officials from across Canada to Iqaluit focused on Canada's place in the global seafood market and environmental concerns.

Nunavut's environment minister, Daniel Shewchuk, also used the opportunity to press for a greater share of fish stocks off the territory's coast.

Shewchuk said he took time to ask the minister about greater access to turbot quotas in Nunavut waters.

Nunavut turbot quota increases possible

"He is aware that it is very important that we get our share, and be comparable to other jurisdictions," Shewchuk said.

Nunavut fishermen control 100 per cent of the turbot fishery in North Baffin, but off the southern half of Baffin Island, only 41 per cent of the catch is allotted to Nunavummiut.

It was even less two years ago, until Ottawa increased Nunavut's share.

Ashfield said on Thursday that further increases were possible.

But he would not commit to transferring part of existing quotas allotted to other provinces in that area to Nunavut.

"If there are further increases in quota, we'll look very favourably upon Nunavut. Obviously it's very important for the growth of the fishery in this region."

Ashfield says support for Nunavut's fishery fits with the Conservative plan for sovereignty in the Arctic.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/north/story/2011/09/02/north-narwhal-ivory-fisheries-meeting.html

Traffickers in baby gorilla arrested in Congo

Key members of trafficking ring September 2011: Congo Wildlife Authorities have arrested two men believed to be key members of a baby mountain gorilla trafficking group. The arrests follow an undercover investigation by Virunga National Park rangers and other Congolese government security services. The two men, arrested in Goma, have been charged with illegal trafficking an endangered species.

The operation followed the recovery of a baby mountain gorilla last month by the Rwandan Police. The gorilla was seized in the Rwandan border town of Gisenyi , from traffickers believed to be coming from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

Only 790 mountain gorillas left in wildCongo Wildlife Authorities have been working closely with Rwandan authorities to dismantle the baby gorilla trafficking ring that passes through eastern Congo for sale in Rwanda. Baby gorilla trafficking is considered to be one of the greatest threats to the survival of the critically endangered mountain gorillas, of which only 790 remain in the world.

From Rumangabo in Virunga National Park, the park director Emmanuel de Merode said: ‘The arrests are the outcome of a coordinated effort by Rwandan and Congolese law enforcement authorities. While we are pleased to have brought this group of traffickers to justice, we remain worried by what appears to be a significant and growing demand for baby mountain gorillas.'

Conservation successThe effort to protect the mountain gorilla populations in Congo, Rwanda and Uganda represent one of the greatest conservation successes in recent times, with a population that has more than doubled in the past 25 years. However, the threats remain high, both for the gorillas and for those who protect them. More than 130 Congolese rangers have died protecting Virunga National Park over that same period.

 The recently rescued one-year-old female gorilla appears to be in good health, according to veterinarians from Mountain Gorilla Veterinarian Project (MGVP), partners of Virunga National Park. The infant will complete a 30-day quarantine at an orphan-care facility in Kinigi Rwanda before moving to Virunga's Senkwekwe Center to join the four orphan mountain gorillas Maisha, Kaboko, Ndeze and Ndakasi. Senkwekwe is home to the only orphan mountain gorillas in the world.
http://www.wildlifeextra.com/go/news/gorilla-trafficking.html#cr

Snakes and tortoises found in pants of Miami man attempting to board plane

A man in Miami was arrested after transport security officials discovered multiple snakes and tortoises hidden in his pants.

Staff at Miami International Airport found seven exotic snakes and three tortoises stuffed in nylon bags as they used a millimeter wave machine to scan an image of the passenger.

Intending to take a flight from Miami to Brazil, the unidentified passenger was detained while the animals were removed from his trousers and taken away by the US Department of Fish and Wildlife.

The man was later arrested for illegal tracking of wildlife.

The wildlife smuggling industry makes, on average, the equivalent of £6 billion a year, transporting already endangered species.

In 2009 a man was caught smuggling three iguanas by placing them in his hollow prosthetic leg, while in 2007 one man went as far as to send two giant butterflies to his customer by post.

http://www.metro.co.uk/weird/873895-man-tries-to-smuggle-snakes-and-tortoises-onto-plane-in-his-pants

Trove of wild skins and skulls seized in Australia

Orangutan, lion and bear skulls were among hundreds of illegal wildlife products seized in a raid on a property in Sydney, the Australian environment department said on Thursday.

Investigators also discovered the skins of a lynx and an Alaskan wolf, as well as numerous other skulls and pieces of ivory, in the haul of almost 400 items.

"Operation Bonaparte is one of the largest wildlife seizures in Australia, and follows detailed monitoring and investigative work by departmental officers," department spokeswoman Deb Callister said.

The raid at a house in the suburb of Parramatta on Wednesday also uncovered a variety of weapons, including two walking canes containing hidden swords, flick knives and cross bows.

A 41-year-old man was charged with weapons offences and is due to appear in court on August 31. No charges have yet been laid over the wildlife stash.

Trade in many of the items that were discovered in the property is strictly regulated under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora. Offences can carry a maximum penalty of 10 years in jail.

http://uk.news.yahoo.com/trove-wild-skins-skulls-seized-australia-054435907.html;_ylt=AupxYg2fFLEEPUuUsSvBlPYBfcl_;_ylu=X3oDMTM1ZmdlNWh1BHBrZwMxNTAwNTAxZS1mOWViLTM3OTktOGY3ZS0xMWFhYjc4MTdjZTMEcG9zAzEEc2VjA3RvcF9zdG9yeQR2ZXIDZjYzZGQ3OTAtYzNlNS0xMWUwLWJiZmUtMzkwY2JmNzhhN2Fi;_ylg=X3oDMTJjOHBjZmYyBGludGwDZ2IEbGFuZwNlbi1nYgRwc3RhaWQDBHBzdGNhdANzY2llbmNlfGFuaW1hbHMtYW1wLXBldHMEcHQDc2VjdGlvbnMEdGVzdAM-;_ylv=3

 

Illegal trade that’s wiping wildlife off the map

East Asian market has seemingly insatiable appetite

August 2011: Immense and increasingly sophisticated illegal trade in wildlife parts, coupled with antiquated enforcement methods, are decimating the world's most beloved species including rhinos, tigers, and elephants on a scale never before seen, according to Wildlife Conservation Society conservationist Elizabeth Bennett

Ms Bennett says that much of the trade is driven by wealthy East Asian markets that have a seemingly insatiable appetite for wildlife parts.


'We are rapidly losing big, spectacular animals'
According to her report, organised crime syndicates using sophisticated smuggling operations have penetrated even previously secure wildlife populations. Some of the elaborate methods include: hidden compartments in shipping containers; rapidly changing of smuggling routes; and the use of e-commerce whose locations are difficult to detect.

‘We are failing to conserve some of the world's most beloved and charismatic species,' said Ms Bennett, who began her career in conservation more than 25 years ago in Asia. ‘We are rapidly losing big, spectacular animals to an entirely new type of trade driven by criminalised syndicates. It is deeply alarming, and the world is not yet taking it seriously. When these criminal networks wipe out wildlife, conservation loses, and local people lose the wildlife on which their livelihoods often depend.'

For example, South Africa lost almost 230 rhinoceroses to poaching from January to October last year, and fewer than 3,500 tigers roam in the wild, occupying less than seven per cent of their historic range.

'We have taken our eye off the ball'
Bennett says an immediate short-term solution to stave off local extinction of wildlife is through enforcement of wildlife laws, and to bring to bear a variety of resources to supersede those of the criminal organisations involved.

‘We have taken our eye off the ball,' said Bennett. ‘Enforcement is critical: old fashioned in concept but needing increasingly advanced methods to challenge the ever-more sophisticated methods of smuggling. When enforcement is thorough, and with sufficient resources and personnel, it works.'

On a larger scale, Bennett says that law enforcement agencies need to look at wildlife smuggling as a serious crime and its enforcement as part of their job. Encouragingly, Bennett points to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime in Asia, which has recently listed wildlife crime as one of their core focuses, and the potentially powerful International Consortium on Combating Wildlife Crime was signed into effect.

‘Unless we start taking wildlife crime seriously and allocating the commitment of resources appropriate to tackling sophisticated, well-funded, globally-linked criminal operations, populations of some of the most beloved but economically prized, charismatic species will continue to wink out across their range, and, appallingly, altogether,' she warned.

http://www.wildlifeextra.com/go/news/wildlife-smuggling2011.html

Huge pangolin seizure in China

Pangolins being decimated by illegal trade

Customs officers in Guangdong, China, have seized more than 7.8 tonnes of frozen pangolins and 1,800 kg of pangolin scales from a fishing vessel after it was stopped for inspection.

International trade in Asian pangolin species is banned under CITES (the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora). Two of the four species are classified as Endangered by IUCN.

2090 frozen pangolins
The suspect fishing vessel was sighted by a Guangdong Customs patrol and, when boarded, customs officials found 2090 frozen pangolins each weighing between 1-10 kg as well as 92 cases of pangolin scales.

The crew of 5 Chinese and 1 Malaysian national were arrested; they claimed they had been hired to sail the vessel from Xiangzhou Port, Zhuhai, to South-East Asia to pick up the illicit cargo.

The Malaysian crew member was said to have received instructions by satellite phone on where to rendezvous at sea to pick up the contraband. The smugglers were intercepted before they could transfer the cargo to another vessel off Gaolan Island.

Organized crime
"The use of satellite phones and trans-shipment of cargo at sea are indicative of the increasingly sophisticated methods being used by the organized criminal gangs involved in wildlife crime," said James Compton, TRAFFIC's Asia Pacific co-ordinator.

The Chinese authorities have shared intelligence on the seizures with enforcement agencies operating in the region, including INTERPOL, World Customs Organization (WCO) and ASEAN-Wildlife Enforcement Network and CITES, and are seeking co-operation with Malaysia's Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment on a joint investigation.

"Guangdong Customs are to be congratulated on this important action against wildlife smugglers operating between South-East Asia and China," said Professor Xu Hongfa, Director of TRAFFIC's China Programme.

26 tonnes of animal parts seized since 2007
A China Customs official quoted by the State news agency, Xinhua, noted that between 2007 and the end of June 2010 a total of 292 cases involving the smuggling of endangered species had been investigated in China. In total, 38,599 animal parts had been seized, weighing a total of 26.63 tonnes plus more than 55 tonnes of 2,753 rare plant varieties.


http://www.wildlifeextra.com/go/news/pangolin-trade.html

Illegal Animal Trade: Eskimo Hunters Plead Guilty

ANCHORAGE, Alaska -- Eskimo hunters on an island in the Bering Sea were offered not only cash but firearms, ammunition, marijuana, cigarettes and snow machines for walrus ivory tusks and polar bear hides that were illegally sold, according to federal prosecutors.


When investigators totaled the take, the marine mammal peddling ring was responsible for the illegal sale and transport of approximately 230 pounds of walrus tusks valued at about $22,000 and two polar bear hides for $2,700, not to mention the tusks, skulls, teeth, jaw bones and other animal parts found in the home of the couple charged in the case. They also sold machine guns.

"This case demonstrates that there is significant volume of illegally taken wildlife parts being transferred in violation of federal law," said Kevin Feldis, chief of the criminal division of the U.S. Attorney's Office in Anchorage. "Unfortunately that world wildlife problem is an issue for Alaska."

Federal law allows Indian, Aleut or Eskimos who reside in coastal Alaska to hunt and kill walrus and polar bears without a permit for subsistence purposes. But, they can't turn around and sell the animal parts to non-Natives. They can make money by turning the parts into a Native handicraft to be sold.

In this case, the parts were sold to non-Natives in a "raw" or unaltered state.

Loretta Audrey Sternbach, a 52-year-old Eskimo with closely-cropped grey hair, pleaded guilty this week in U.S. District Court to violating several federal laws, including the Marine Mammal Protection Act and the Endangered Species Act. The petite woman in prison garb with "prisoner" in large black letters on the back was asked by the judge if the facts of the case were true.

"Yes," Sternbach said.

Sternbach is the only Alaska Native of the three. Her two co-conspirators, Jesse Joseph LeBoeuf and Richard Blake Weshenfelder, have already acknowledged their guilt.

LeBoeuf reached a plea agreement calling for nine years in prison. Sternbach and Weshenfelder have no such agreements but are expected to get less time. Violating the Lacey Act, which prohibits the illegal sale of wildlife, can carry a $250,000 fine.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/07/24/illegal-animal-trade-eskimo_n_908076.html?ir=Weird News