Tiger skins traded openly in ChinaNovember 2011. One year on from the International Tiger Conservation Forum in St Petersburg, tiger campaigners have launched an impassioned petition calling on the Premier of China, Wen Jiabao, to end the trade in tiger and big cat skins from so called ‘tiger farms' in his country.
China is still allowing the trade in tiger skins of so-called ‘legal origin', including ‘farmed tigers'. But, a lack of transparency over how authorities determine the legality of the skins coupled with insufficient enforcement and growing corruption is creating a smokescreen for the illegal trade in tiger parts and products in China.
‘Licensed trade' in tiger skins is a disaster
Wildlife artist and outspoken conservationist David Shepherd CBE said: "Tiger farms are barbaric. The sight of hundreds of tigers in small cages being bred just for their parts is repulsive. The Premier of China is on the record as saying he is committed to saving the wild tiger. His government is simply not living up to this commitment. Allowing a so called ‘licensed trade' in skins from tiger farms is a disaster for two reasons. First, it keeps up the scandalous demand for tiger parts by pandering to the market. Second, corruption and this ‘legal' trade make it almost impossible for enforcement agencies to police the situation.
"If Wen Jiabao means what he says about saving tigers, he can clear this up by setting a zero tolerance and end all trade, in all parts, from all sources policy now."
Read more here ...
Showing posts with label illegal animal skin trade. Show all posts
Showing posts with label illegal animal skin trade. Show all posts
Friday, November 25, 2011
Saturday, September 3, 2011
Singapore incinerates seized reptile skins from Indonesia (Via Herp Digest)
Singapore incinerates seized reptile skins from Indonesia, 8/31/11
TRAFFIC in CITES, Enforcement, Herpetological, Smuggling in Asia
Singapore today incinerated more than 800 seized reptile skins-470 of them Reticulated Python skins Click image to enlarge © Mark Auliya / TRAFFIC Southeast Asia Singapore, 31st August 2011-Authorities in Singapore today announced they have destroyed more than 800 reptile skins seized last year.
In September 2010, Singapore's Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority (AVA) seized five packages containing 470 Reticulated Python Python reticulatus and 363 Water Monitor Lizard Varanus salvator skins sent from Indonesia.
According to accompanying documentation, the shipment was bound for China, France, Switzerland and the USA via a courier service and had falsely been declared as synthetic leather. The skins were sent from Jakarta, although it is suspected they originated from Medan, North Sumatra. Both reptiles species are listed in Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) and may be traded internationally under a permitting system, if in accordance with national laws.
This shipment, however, did not have the required permits and was therefore seized. "The authorities in Singapore are to be commended for intercepting this illegal shipment and for destroying the contraband, which will ensure the skins cannot re-enter the global black market," said Chris R. Shepherd, Deputy Regional Director of TRAFFIC Southeast Asia. "TRAFFIC encourages the Indonesian CITES Management Authority to investigate the source of this illegal shipment and to take appropriate action." Illegal trade poses a serious threat to the conservation of several python and monitor lizard species and undermines efforts directed at their sustainable use.
TRAFFIC in CITES, Enforcement, Herpetological, Smuggling in Asia
Singapore today incinerated more than 800 seized reptile skins-470 of them Reticulated Python skins Click image to enlarge © Mark Auliya / TRAFFIC Southeast Asia Singapore, 31st August 2011-Authorities in Singapore today announced they have destroyed more than 800 reptile skins seized last year.
In September 2010, Singapore's Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority (AVA) seized five packages containing 470 Reticulated Python Python reticulatus and 363 Water Monitor Lizard Varanus salvator skins sent from Indonesia.
According to accompanying documentation, the shipment was bound for China, France, Switzerland and the USA via a courier service and had falsely been declared as synthetic leather. The skins were sent from Jakarta, although it is suspected they originated from Medan, North Sumatra. Both reptiles species are listed in Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) and may be traded internationally under a permitting system, if in accordance with national laws.
This shipment, however, did not have the required permits and was therefore seized. "The authorities in Singapore are to be commended for intercepting this illegal shipment and for destroying the contraband, which will ensure the skins cannot re-enter the global black market," said Chris R. Shepherd, Deputy Regional Director of TRAFFIC Southeast Asia. "TRAFFIC encourages the Indonesian CITES Management Authority to investigate the source of this illegal shipment and to take appropriate action." Illegal trade poses a serious threat to the conservation of several python and monitor lizard species and undermines efforts directed at their sustainable use.
Saturday, December 18, 2010
Clampdown on wildlife smuggling in Central Africa
Elephant tusks, lion skins and turtle shells all seized
December 2010: An operation by special police forces earlier this month in Central African Republic led to the arrest of a prominent wildlife smuggler and seizure of elephant tusks and cat skins.
This comes amid a series of similar successful operations in Cameroon, Gabon and Republic of Congo. Such concerted efforts have been given a warm welcome by the WWF, as they give a clear warning to wildlife traffickers in the region.
The RALF (French acronym for Strengthening of the Wildlife Law Enforcement) project aims to increase wildlife law enforcement activities and judiciary follow-up of wildlife crimes in the CAR, targeting mainly high-level wildlife traffickers. It works closely with the Ministry of Forests and Wildlife, the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Interior.
‘This shows how successful wildlife law enforcement activities can be when they are supported at the highest level,' said Jean-Bernard Yarissem, WWF country director in CAR. ‘Collaboration between CAR's authorities and WWF's RALF project are paying off.'
Smugglers work as part of an international network
Two elephant tusks, five panther and two lion skins were seized in the operation, which was staged over two days. They were hidden under a pile of cow skins in a truck.
The smuggler - a CAR citizen working within an international network - was en route to Nigeria when he was arrested at a checkpoint some 25 kilometers outside Bangui. He will be prosecuted soon. Judicial authorities in CAR's capital have given their full support to the operation.
The Cameroonian police have arrested three traffickers with 17 turtle shells in two different operations. In Gabon, 16 ivory smugglers were caught with more than 100kg of ivory. All are in jail, awaiting trial.
Another dealer was arrested with 30 kilos of ivory in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
‘We are really moving a step forward as regional wildlife law enforcement is becoming a reality in Central Africa,' said Alain Ononino, the head of the legal department at the Last Great Ape (LAGA), an organisation that fights for wildlife law enforcement in Cameroon and the rest of Central Africa with WWF support.
http://www.wildlifeextra.com/go/news/wildlife-smuggling2010.html
December 2010: An operation by special police forces earlier this month in Central African Republic led to the arrest of a prominent wildlife smuggler and seizure of elephant tusks and cat skins.
This comes amid a series of similar successful operations in Cameroon, Gabon and Republic of Congo. Such concerted efforts have been given a warm welcome by the WWF, as they give a clear warning to wildlife traffickers in the region.
The RALF (French acronym for Strengthening of the Wildlife Law Enforcement) project aims to increase wildlife law enforcement activities and judiciary follow-up of wildlife crimes in the CAR, targeting mainly high-level wildlife traffickers. It works closely with the Ministry of Forests and Wildlife, the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Interior.
‘This shows how successful wildlife law enforcement activities can be when they are supported at the highest level,' said Jean-Bernard Yarissem, WWF country director in CAR. ‘Collaboration between CAR's authorities and WWF's RALF project are paying off.'
Smugglers work as part of an international network
Two elephant tusks, five panther and two lion skins were seized in the operation, which was staged over two days. They were hidden under a pile of cow skins in a truck.
The smuggler - a CAR citizen working within an international network - was en route to Nigeria when he was arrested at a checkpoint some 25 kilometers outside Bangui. He will be prosecuted soon. Judicial authorities in CAR's capital have given their full support to the operation.
The Cameroonian police have arrested three traffickers with 17 turtle shells in two different operations. In Gabon, 16 ivory smugglers were caught with more than 100kg of ivory. All are in jail, awaiting trial.
Another dealer was arrested with 30 kilos of ivory in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
‘We are really moving a step forward as regional wildlife law enforcement is becoming a reality in Central Africa,' said Alain Ononino, the head of the legal department at the Last Great Ape (LAGA), an organisation that fights for wildlife law enforcement in Cameroon and the rest of Central Africa with WWF support.
http://www.wildlifeextra.com/go/news/wildlife-smuggling2010.html
Clampdown on wildlife smuggling in Central Africa
Elephant tusks, lion skins and turtle shells all seized
December 2010: An operation by special police forces earlier this month in Central African Republic led to the arrest of a prominent wildlife smuggler and seizure of elephant tusks and cat skins.
This comes amid a series of similar successful operations in Cameroon, Gabon and Republic of Congo. Such concerted efforts have been given a warm welcome by the WWF, as they give a clear warning to wildlife traffickers in the region.
The RALF (French acronym for Strengthening of the Wildlife Law Enforcement) project aims to increase wildlife law enforcement activities and judiciary follow-up of wildlife crimes in the CAR, targeting mainly high-level wildlife traffickers. It works closely with the Ministry of Forests and Wildlife, the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Interior.
‘This shows how successful wildlife law enforcement activities can be when they are supported at the highest level,' said Jean-Bernard Yarissem, WWF country director in CAR. ‘Collaboration between CAR's authorities and WWF's RALF project are paying off.'
Smugglers work as part of an international network
Two elephant tusks, five panther and two lion skins were seized in the operation, which was staged over two days. They were hidden under a pile of cow skins in a truck.
The smuggler - a CAR citizen working within an international network - was en route to Nigeria when he was arrested at a checkpoint some 25 kilometers outside Bangui. He will be prosecuted soon. Judicial authorities in CAR's capital have given their full support to the operation.
The Cameroonian police have arrested three traffickers with 17 turtle shells in two different operations. In Gabon, 16 ivory smugglers were caught with more than 100kg of ivory. All are in jail, awaiting trial.
Another dealer was arrested with 30 kilos of ivory in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
‘We are really moving a step forward as regional wildlife law enforcement is becoming a reality in Central Africa,' said Alain Ononino, the head of the legal department at the Last Great Ape (LAGA), an organisation that fights for wildlife law enforcement in Cameroon and the rest of Central Africa with WWF support.
http://www.wildlifeextra.com/go/news/wildlife-smuggling2010.html
December 2010: An operation by special police forces earlier this month in Central African Republic led to the arrest of a prominent wildlife smuggler and seizure of elephant tusks and cat skins.
This comes amid a series of similar successful operations in Cameroon, Gabon and Republic of Congo. Such concerted efforts have been given a warm welcome by the WWF, as they give a clear warning to wildlife traffickers in the region.
The RALF (French acronym for Strengthening of the Wildlife Law Enforcement) project aims to increase wildlife law enforcement activities and judiciary follow-up of wildlife crimes in the CAR, targeting mainly high-level wildlife traffickers. It works closely with the Ministry of Forests and Wildlife, the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Interior.
‘This shows how successful wildlife law enforcement activities can be when they are supported at the highest level,' said Jean-Bernard Yarissem, WWF country director in CAR. ‘Collaboration between CAR's authorities and WWF's RALF project are paying off.'
Smugglers work as part of an international network
Two elephant tusks, five panther and two lion skins were seized in the operation, which was staged over two days. They were hidden under a pile of cow skins in a truck.
The smuggler - a CAR citizen working within an international network - was en route to Nigeria when he was arrested at a checkpoint some 25 kilometers outside Bangui. He will be prosecuted soon. Judicial authorities in CAR's capital have given their full support to the operation.
The Cameroonian police have arrested three traffickers with 17 turtle shells in two different operations. In Gabon, 16 ivory smugglers were caught with more than 100kg of ivory. All are in jail, awaiting trial.
Another dealer was arrested with 30 kilos of ivory in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
‘We are really moving a step forward as regional wildlife law enforcement is becoming a reality in Central Africa,' said Alain Ononino, the head of the legal department at the Last Great Ape (LAGA), an organisation that fights for wildlife law enforcement in Cameroon and the rest of Central Africa with WWF support.
http://www.wildlifeextra.com/go/news/wildlife-smuggling2010.html
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