Posts Tagged ‘Trafficking’
My NatGeo article on London Summit as turning point
I’m proud of my piece (below) on the London Summit as a possible turning point in the battle against wildlife crime. I’ve been getting great feedback on it, and already it has over 13,000 Facebook shares/likes. Best part is the results of the conference. The final Declaration is stunning in moving the fight against trafficking…
Read MoreNational Geographic: London Summit Intensifies Battle Against Wildlife Crime
World leaders pledge new commitment to fighting the illegal animal trade. Laurel Neme for National Geographic Published February 12, 2014 Bringing together heads of state and government ministers from 50 countries, Thursday’s high-level summit on illegal wildlife trade may represent a turning point in the fight against wildlife crime. The London summit—hosted by the…
Read MoreNational Geographic: New WildLeaks Website Invites Whistle-Blowers on Wildlife Crime
WildLeaks gives whistle-blowers a way to anonymously finger wildlife criminals. Laurel Neme for National Geographic Published February 10, 2014 Wildlife trafficking crimes often go undetected and unchallenged, even though they threaten many endangered species, including elephants, rhinos, and pangolins. Similarly, trade in illegally logged timber continues unabated, destroying forests and wildlife habitat.…
Read MorePoaching incident and rapid response in Botswana
You know it’s bad when….I find it extremely hard to believe that poaching has extended to Botswana, where I spent almost a couple years doing my dissertation research. During the week of May 17th, 5 elephants were found killed with trunks and tusks cut off (likely with a power saw). They were ambushed on a…
Read MoreNational Geographic: A Powerful Weapon Against Ivory Smugglers: DNA Testing
Posted by Laurel Neme in A Voice for Elephants on May 23, 2013 Hong Kong Customs seized 113 ivory tusks in a cargo shipment at Hong Kong International Airport on April 30 this year. Officers detected the ivory when they X-rayed a consignment labeled “spare parts” being shipped from Burundi, Africa to Singapore via Hong Kong. DNA analysis…
Read MoreIt’s been a busy 2013 for Kenya Wildlife Service
On March 26, a Chinese man (Tian Yi) admitted smuggling 439 pieces of ivory from Democratic Republic of Congo to Hong Kong via Nairobi. He was caught at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport on March 10, 2013 while in transit from DRC to Hong Kong. According to the Kenya Wildlife Service, the contraband…
Read MoreAnother paltry fine for ivory smuggling
On March 26, a Chinese man (Tian Yi) admitted smuggling 439 pieces of ivory from Democratic Republic of Congo to Hong Kong via Nairobi. He was caught at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport on March 10, 2013 while in transit from DRC to Hong Kong. According to the Kenya Wildlife Service, the contraband…
Read MoreNational Geographic: A Young Voice for Elephants: Celia Ho
Posted by Laurel Neme in A Voice for Elephants on February 21, 2013 “I take every chance to share my campaign and the difficulties elephants are facing,” says Celia Ho, a 14-year-old student from Hong Kong who launched a campaign to stop ivory consumption after reading Bryan Christy’s “Blood Ivory” article in National Geographic. Her young voice represents a…
Read MoreThe WildLife: Rhino DNA Index System & Role in Anti-Poaching Efforts, Cindy Harper
The Rhino DNA Index System (RhODIS) is a secure database containing DNA profile data of individual rhinoceros. The extraction method has been optimized and is now used to individually identify rhinoceros horns from stockpiles and to link recovered horns to poaching cases. The information contained in this database has assisted in a number of…
Read MoreGoing, Going, Gone! Animal Trafficking Threatens Many Endangered Species
From Living Green Magazine: Going, Going, Gone! Animal Trafficking Threatens Many Endangered Species November 15, 2012 By Erin McLaughlin If you’re like most people, you have read heart wrenching stories and perhaps watched documentaries about the illicit trading of drugs, weapons, women, and children. But how often do you hear about the illegal trafficking of…
Read MoreUS Government pledges to fight Wildlife Trafficking, Remarks by Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton
The U.S. will intensify its efforts to combat the illegal wildlife trade, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said at an event on “Wildlife Trafficking and Conservation: A Call to Action” held on November 8, 2012. “Over the past few years wildlife trafficking has…
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