Category: Wildlife Trade

The alternative ivory sources that could help save elephants

Adapted from the article written by By Krupa Padhy Originally published by BBC.com (Mon, 11 Sep, 2023) Despite international bans, thousands of African elephants are illegally killed each year for their tusks. Could finding a human-made alternative be the answer? My parents often talk about their safari honeymoon to the Serengeti National Park in 1972. Mum reminds me that they didn’t have “fancy cameras with zoom lenses back then” and that the photos that adorn their album were taken on a basic camera. Among them, are herds of elephants close enough to make any wildlife photographer jealous. More than 1.3 million elephants roamed Africa at the end of the 1970s. Today, there are around 450,000. And as mum said upon our return to Serengeti 20 years ago: “It’s nothing like it used to be.”  At least 20,000 African elephants continue to be illegally killed each year for their ivory tusks. In 1989, international trade in ivory was banned by the Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species (Cites),  but elephant populations have continued to suffer. A resurgence of demand from unregulated markets in Asia and Africa has been a significant driver. And it’s not just elephants who are at risk. Earlier this year, the UK government announced plans to extend the 2018 Ivory Act to other animals and marine life. Pending a vote in the UK Parliament, it will mean the sale of ivory from the tusks and teeth of killer whales, hippos, walruses, narwhals, and sperm whales will also be banned. The good news, however, is that a new market is opening up for man-made ivory, as well ivory-like materials from plants. Ivory, or “white gold” as it is sometimes called, has been one of the most valuable and sought-after global commodities in history. Ivory is a material of luxury, which has been turned into jewellery and weaponry, musical instruments and figurines. It has a catalogue of properties that few other materials can boast: beautiful, durable, homogenous in appearance and easy to carve while retaining a high level of shine. For that reason, evolutionary biologist Fritz Vollrath believes that we should stigmatise the trade of ivory poaching, but acknowledge that the material is coveted for a reason. “Whilst we need to guard against it being a common commodity ending up on mantelpieces, there is something in the material properties,” says Vollrath. “It has a certain touch to it, different to plastic. There’s something there in the ivory that is special.” To meet this demand without harming animals, Thaddäa Rath is one person trying to create a synthetic alternative. Together with her team at the University of Vienna in Austria, she has created a high-tech ivory alternative called “Digory”. The material can be 3D-printed and polished to create deceptively authentic carvings. Rath and her team were looking to mirror the optical and aesthetic properties of ivory whilst achieving a similar strength and density. In addition, they wanted to mimic a visual structure within ivory called Schreger lines, similar to wood. Digory is created using synthetic resin and calcium phosphate particles which are 3D-printed layer by layer into a desired shape. The material is then colour-matched (keeping in mind ivory is translucent), stained and polished to create a believable imitation of natural ivory. Rath recognises there are plenty of challenges when it comes to commercialising Digory. Interest from the likes of jewellery makers and knife handlers has been steady , but she believes it has huge potential by offering a low-carbon, fast and straightforward manufacturing process with convincing results. Despite mimicking the properties of ivory, Digory’s chemical structure is nothing like it, unlike the creation of synthetic ivory by a Max Planck group of scientists in Germany in 2019. The original idea to create synthetic ivory came from the desire to replace the ivory veneers of piano keys Using a phosphate-based composition, Dieter Fischer, Sarah Parks and Jochen Mannhart tried to closely reproduce the chemistry of a real ivory tusk – so much so that they say it is sometimes hard to distinguish between real ivory and their artificial version. Natural ivory is a bone-like material largely made of a mineral called dentine, which lies underneath the enamel of a tooth.  And whilst human teeth are used for eating, ivory tusks are teeth that have emerged beyond the lips, giving elephants an evolutionary advantage. The researchers behind the synthetic ivory mixed particles from a bio-mineral called hydroxylapatite into dissolved gelatine, which is formed from collagen (the organic component of ivory). “What we did not try to reproduce is the microstructure of the tusk, because it turned out that the functional properties we were interested in like touch and grip didn’t depend on the nanostructure,” explains Mannhart. The original idea to create synthetic ivory came from the desire to replace the ivory veneers of piano keys. When recognising the potential of what they had created, the team’s ambition grew, and the material is now being commercialised under a company called Ivortec. “The motivation morphed over time from piano keys to replacing plastics and addressing the microplastic issue. It’s about having a material that is really green, biodegradable and not resource-intensive instead of plastics,” says Mannhart. Others are looking closer to nature when it comes to ivory alternatives. On a stall in St Alban’s market in England, Alison Williams has seen her colourful jewellery business The Happy Elephant grow from strength to strength since it launched in 2020. Nothing surprising there as quirky beads are a standard feature of a weekend bazaar – only Alison’s jewellery is created using tagua, also known as vegetable ivory. “Because of the story of it, people are blown away by what they see and feel,” she says. Tagua was first documented by Westerners in the late 1700s, when two Spanish botanists stumbled across it in the eastern foothills of the Andes, as explained in the book Strange Harvests. They assumed they’d discovered an ivory tree (the scientific name for tagua is Phytelephas, which literally translates from Greek as “plant elephant”). It was so convincing that as its use became more extensive in the 19th Century, the only way to

Wildlife biologist explains bat myths

Article written by Karen Shih Originally published by Phys.Org (Wed, 24 Oct, 2023) It’s officially spooky season: Nights are creeping in earlier. A fall chill has descended. Skeletons and witches and jack-o-lanterns dot every street. So you can expect to see swarms of bats swooping overhead as you greet trick-or-treaters, right? “Unfortunately, the month when we finally stop and think about bats, they’re not as available to see in this area,” said University of Maryland wildlife biologist Shannon Browne, Ph.D. ’21, a bat expert and lecturer in the Department of Environmental Science and Technology. Instead, they’re most active in the summer, when their preferred prey, insects, are plentiful. Browne remembers watching bats dive around her aunt’s swimming pool in Bowie, Maryland, for sips of water. For her doctoral dissertation, she examined bat populations in Maryland, Washington, D.C., Virginia and Delaware to determine the habitats where they’re most active. She discovered that suburban neighborhoods are the favored sports for some of Maryland’s vulnerable bat species, especially during fall mating season. Now, she’s using these findings as she serves as an expert witness on how highway projects or building construction, such as widening the American Legion Bridge and adding toll lanes to I-270, could destroy bat habitats. Browne explains why they’re (mostly) not little Draculas, where they actually sleep, and why you do want them flittering around your backyard during the swampiest months. Myth: They’re after your blood Out of the 1,400 bat species in the world, just three are vampire bats—and they don’t live in Maryland. Instead, they prefer the warm, humid climates of Central and South America, and their preferred meal sources are large, domestic animals like cattle, horses and pigs. “They are super cool and very specialized,” Browne said. With special grooves in their teeth, they create a small nick in the skin. Their saliva has an enzyme that allows blood to continue flowing instead of clotting. Research on these palm-sized bats could help lead to treatments for strokes and other human diseases, Browne said. Myth: They always live in caves During the warmer months, bats can roost in many areas: tucked into the loose bark of a tree, behind a leaf, hanging from the eaves of a church or curled up in the rafters of an abandoned barn. The 10 species that live in Maryland are tiny, weighing as little as a nickel and as much as a quarter, and are about the size of a hand with their wings extended. During the winter, half these species migrate south, and the others head into caves to hibernate. “Caves offer a great winter hibernating habitat,” said Browne. With constant humidity levels and temperatures a degree or two above freezing, they offer a safe environment where bats can huddle together or on their own, out of the elements and protected from predators. Myth: They can’t see While bats are famous for using echolocation, they do have some vision. Echolocation requires a lot of energy, so they use it judiciously. “They’re basically screaming at an extremely high frequency,” she said. They have to think, “Is it worth my effort, the calories, to explore this thing that may be food, or to decide if this is an obstacle or predator I need to avoid, or a potential mate I should explore?” They can use their limited vision to supplement echolocation as they travel familiar paths, she said, much like a human can commute home without stopping to carefully read every road sign. Myth: They’re just scary sky rats Bats get a bad rep for carrying rabies (in fact, less than 1% do), but they play an important role in the ecosystem. In Maryland, they’re one of the primary predators of pests like mosquitoes, stink bugs and crop-destroying beetles. Just one little brown bat, a species common in the state, can eat 1,200 insects in an hour. In other parts of the world, they pollinate plants like bees and feed on fruit and disperse seeds like birds to help rejuvenate entire forests. Bats are under threat themselves, not only from human-induced habitat loss, but from White-nose Syndrome, a fungus that has killed nearly 7 million bats across the country since 2006. Wind turbines also cause mortalities in migrating bats and birds. “We don’t need to fear them. They are not trying to harm us,” Browne said. “They’re just going about their lives and raising families, just like we are.”

We reveal the global investors in traditional medicines made with endangered wildlife

Article written by EIA International Originally published by EIA International (Tue, 23 Oct, 2023) A new EIA UK investigation has found the body parts of threatened leopards and pangolins being used as ingredients in at least 88 traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) products Manufactured by 72 Chinese companies and licensed by the National Medical Products Administration of China, some of those identified also contain tiger and rhino, in contravention of recommendations made by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). The facts are contained in the new EIA report Investing in Extinction – How the global financial sector profits from traditional medicine firms using threatened species.  EIA has also identified 62 banks and financial institutions – many of them Fortune 500 companies and household names – based in Australia, Canada, the EU, Japan, Switzerland, the UK and USA which have invested in three publicly listed Chinese pharmaceutical groups manufacturing nine of the products stated to contain leopard and/or pangolin. They include AXA SA, BlackRock Inc, BNP Paribas SA, Citigroup Inc, Deutsche Bank, HSBC, Legal & General, the Royal Bank of Canada and UBS AG (see below for the full list). Many of the investors are signatories to the Principles for Responsible Investment or are members of the International Corporate Governance Network, which has publicly expressed concerns about biodiversity loss and species extinctions. And seven are members of The Royal Foundation’s United for Wildlife (UfW) Financial Taskforce, which was launched in 2018 to stop the trafficking of wildlife. They are BNP Paribas, Citigroup, Credit Suisse (now owned by UBS), Deutsche Bank, HSBC, Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group and Wells Fargo (which recently divested); it is likely the UfW was unaware of their investments. EIA Legal & Policy Specialist Avinash Basker said: “The use of highly threatened animals such as leopards, pangolins, rhino and tigers in traditional medicine products disregards CITES recommendations made by the international community to protect these species. “This is use on an effectively industrial scale which can only push these species ever-closer to extinction, simultaneously sending mixed messages to consumers, fueling demand for their parts and derivatives and tainting the global reputation of TCM.” “It’s particularly disappointing to see so many major banks and financial institutions effectively endorsing this damaging exploitation, especially as so many have pledged to do otherwise. If their environmental credentials are to have any credibility, they need to divest from TCM manufacturers using threatened species at the soonest opportunity.” Leopards and pangolins are threatened with extinction and are among the most trafficked mammals on the planet; both are listed on CITES Appendix I, which prohibits international commercial trade in them, their parts and derivatives. EIA’s extensive research found no publicly available nor verifiable information on the source of the leopard, pangolin, rhino or tiger derivatives being used in the products identified in Investing in Extinction. Basker added: “We strongly urge the Government of China to fulfil CITES recommendations and prohibit the use of the body parts of leopards, pangolins, tigers and rhinos from all sources for all commercial purposes in its domestic markets.” * Full list of companies named in the report, by country (* denotes in the Fortune 500 highest revenue-generating companies in the USA; † denotes in the Global Fortune 500 highest revenue-generating companies in the world) Australia Sunsuper Fund (Brisbane) Bermuda Lazard Ltd (Hamilton) Canada HSBC Global Asset Management Canada (Vancouver) Manulife Financial Corp (Toronto) † Royal Bank of Canada (Toronto) † Denmark Danske Bank A/S (Copenhagen) Investeringsforeningen (Copenhagen) Finland Lahi Tapiola Asset Management Ltd France Amundi Asset Management (Paris) AXA SA (Paris) † BNP Pribas SA (Paris) † Credit Agricole Group (Paris) † Germany Allianz SE (Munich) † Deutsche Bank (Frankfurt) † Ireland Mediolanum International Funds Ltd (Dublin) Mercer Global Investments Management Italy Azimut Holdings SpA (Milan) Japan Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group Inc (Tokyo) † Luxembourg Robeco Luxembourg SA Casa 4 Funds Lux European Asset Fund Rock Management Co SA Norway KLP Kapitalforvaltning AS (Oslo) Switzerland Credit Suisse Group (Zurich) Now owned by UBS † Pictet Funds SA (Geneva) Swiss Rock Asset Management AG (Zurich) UBS AG (Zurich) † Zuercher Kantonalbank (Zurich) UK Abrdn Plc (Glasgow) HSBC Holdings Plc (London) † Legal & General (London) † Prudential Plc (London) USA Allspring Global Investments Holding (San Francisco) American Century Cos Inc (Kansas City) AssetMark Inc (San Francisco) Bank of New York Mellon Corp (New York) * Black Rock Inc (New York) * Charles Schwab (San Francisco) * Citigroup Inc (New York) * Dimensional Fund Advisors (Austin) Dodge & Cox (San Francisco) Eaton Vance Corp (Boston) Federated Hermes Inc (Pittsburgh) Fidelity International (Boston) FlexShares Trust (Chicago) FMR LLC (Boston) Franklin Resources Inc (San Francisco) * Geode Capital Management LLC (Boston) Global X Management Co LLC (New York) Goldman Sachs Group Inc (New York) * Invesco Ltd (Atlanta) Krane Fund Advisors (New York) LWI Financial Inc (San Jose) Northern Trust Group (Chicago) * Principal Financial Group (Des Moines) * SEI Investments Co (Philadelphia) State Street Corp (Boston) Teachers Insurance & Annuity Association of America (New York) Thrivent Financial (Minneapolis/St Paul) Vanguard Group (Philadelphia) Voya Investment Management LLC (Atlanta) Wells Fargo & Co (San Francisco) * Wisdom Tree (New York)

Labour party promises to halt the badger cull in England

Article written by Kelly Henaughen Originally published by The Scottish Farmer (Sun, 21 Oct, 2023) Labour has vowed to end the badger cull in England if elected. Badgers are being culled to eradicate bovine tuberculosis (bTB) because it spreads to cattle and can eliminate entire herds, causing severe problems for farmers. In April, figures released by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs showed more than 210,000 badgers have been killed since the cull began in 2013. The shadow farming minister, Daniel Zeichner, said: “I’ve spent a long time looking at this. The 2018 Godfrey review, the last piece of work done by the government, found that badger culling is not the answer. We’re going to make England bovine TB free by 2038 but with a range of measures that do not include culling.” Labour’s stance is in stark contrast to the approach of the Conservative government. Although her predecessor, George Eustice, promised to phase out the cull by 2025, the environment secretary, Thérèse Coffey, said her department would continue the cull. She said recently: “But I’ve been very clear in England. I’m not going to be held by some artificial deadline that has already been put in place. We will keep culling for as long as it is the best way to do that.” Zeichner said of Coffey’s comments: “Coffey is trying to make this some kind of dividing line issue, but it’s a false promise. I speak to a lot of farmers and unlike her, I don’t just tell them what they want to hear, I have to have answers. The better promise is to eliminate bovine TB. I think we should be moving to a different approach because we’ve been culling for quite a long time, and it’s still a big issue and we’re still spending £80m a year on compensation, so it’s not exactly working is it?” He added: “We also talk too much just about badgers – it isn’t only about badgers. The mental health issues that come up on this, I’ve met quite a few people, and they’ve absolutely convinced me that this is probably one of the most distressing issues people in the countryside come up against. So I’m hugely sympathetic to that. But I actually want to beat it. And we can do that with vaccines and biosecurity measures.” Ruth Jones, the shadow nature minister, said her experience as a member of parliament in Wales had shown that the badger cull could be brought to an end with a vaccination scheme. Asked if she would vaccinate badgers to eradicate bTB and end the cull, Jones said: “We’ve got some good news on the badgers. It is a massive issue because unless you fund the vaccines we aren’t going to eradicate TB and it’s really, really important we do that. We are doing it in Wales and we will do it across the UK.” In Wales, there is no cull. While there was a targeted cull in Pembrokeshire in 2009 under the Plaid Cymru-Labour coalition government, the Labour Party ended the general cull in 2012. Since then, badgers have been killed in small numbers under individual licences if they are shown to be diseased. Instead, the government has focused on vaccination for badgers and enhanced biosecurity measures for cattle. This has been found to reduce bTB levels effectively without culling. Dr Mark Jones, the head of policy at the Born Free Foundation and author of a paper on the efficacy of the badger cull, welcomed the news. He said: “The government would have you believe that badger culling has played a major part in this decline and is placing a great deal of emphasis on an as yet unreviewed study it has commissioned that relies heavily on complex modelling and comes with many caveats. However, bovine TB has been declining in England since before badger culling began. “The administration in Wales is doing a good job of bringing bovine TB down without culling badgers. We are urging all political parties to commit to following this lead, and ending the cruel, costly and ineffective culling of badgers in England, focusing instead on cattle-based measures and the introduction of cattle vaccination.”

Two pangolins are DEAD in awful circumstances.

In the past month, we were alerted to some of the most horrific acts of wildlife crime: a pangolin covered in oil and burn wounds after being transported in a car engine by poachers. A pangolin dumped in a pit toilet by heartless criminals. A pangolin and her unborn baby stolen from the wild by thoughtless students for “educational” purposes, only to suffer terribly in captivity. Credit: Ashleigh Pienaar In South Africa, the plight of pangolins has reached unprecedented and heart-wrenching heights. The relentless threats of accidental electrocution, habitat loss and rampant poaching for the illegal wildlife trade are pushing vulnerable and endangered pangolin populations to the brink of extinction. They desperately need every bit of help they can get – and they need it right now. We must ACT NOW to protect pangolins. Credit: TRAFFIC Two pangolins in our partner’s care died within DAYS of each other. Our partner in South Africa, Umoya Khulula Wildlife Centre, alerted us to two particularly horrendous cases of abuse. Paul suffered a vicious snare wound on his leg and arrived covered in human excrement. Sadly, he did not survive the severe infection that followed. Credit: Umoya Khulula Paul, an eight-year-old Temminck’s ground pangolin, arrived covered in human excrement, riddled with infection to a vicious snare wound on his leg. He had been abducted from the wild and dumped in a putrid pit toilet, likely hidden by poachers. After festering in feces for days on end, Paul quickly became severely infected, dehydrated, and emaciated. Despite intensive veterinary care and daily tube feeding after being rescued, Paul was not strong enough to overcome the infection that riddled his small, weak body. Tragically, he was not the only tortured pangolin to lose his life last month. As she fought to break free from her cage, Nova experienced severe claw damage which sadly led to necrosis. Credit: Umoya Khulula Shockingly, Nova – a PREGNANT female pangolin – was snatched from freedom by students and kept CAGED at a local educational institution, just to be poked and prodded at like an experiment. Nova gave birth not in her natural wild environment, but in a cruel cage. The case is currently being investigated by local authorities. A heinous “experiment” cost both Nova and her newborn baby their lives. The situation for pangolins like Paul and Nova is beyond horrific. With your help right now, we can fight to prevent more pangolins from suffering and dying needlessly. Credit: AP Can they count on your help right now? Together with our partner, we are on the frontlines of the battle. Umoya Khulula specializes in the care of sick and injured wildlife, and they receive up to five severely compromised pangolins every month. Our team is experienced in rehabilitating pangolins, even though these sensitive creatures are notoriously difficult to treat, particularly when they have endured prolonged captivity. Tragically, we often encounter scenarios where the survival of rescued pangolins remains beyond our reach. Credit: Umoya Khulula If we can raise $6,000 (£4,900), we will help cover the cost of specialized veterinary treatment and rehabilitation for the rescued pangolins in Umoya Khulula’s care. Please, donate RIGHT NOW and help us reach vulnerable animals who have a slim chance of survival without YOU. Most rescued pangolins require months of specialized care before they can be released into safe, protected areas. When they are ready for release, satellite and telemetry tags are fixed and they are accompanied to the release site for “soft release.” They are monitored for a minimum of six months to a year to ensure their successful reintegration into the wild. Credit: Umoya Khulula Your donation today can make a significant difference in our efforts to save pangolins from suffering and extinction. With your support, we can provide the care and treatment necessary to give these creatures a fighting chance to survive, heal and thrive in safe wild spaces, where they belong. Please, donate generously to Animal Survival International NOW.

World Lemur Day highlights the plight of Madagascar’s critically endangered primates

Today is World Lemur Day but tragically, there is little to celebrate. Lemurs – endemic to Madagascar and some of the world’s oldest living primates – are under terrible and constant threat. Climate change, habitat destruction and the illegal trade in bushmeat and exotic pets is rapidly driving their populations to extinction. Madagascar is home to 70 species of lemurs found nowhere else on earth, except for small neighbouring islands. DNA-based evidence suggests that lemurs first appeared on the island 40 to 50 million years ago, and flourished until human activity burgeoned just 2,000 years ago. Coal mining, illegal logging and slash-and-burn agriculture have led to major deforestation and habitat loss, leaving lemurs confined to just 10% of the land they once roamed. The critically endangered indri lemur, famed for communicating through song, has been of particular concern to us. We are working to help ensure that these beautiful creatures can continue to leap through canopy treetops and sing their songs in a safe and protected environment. Our partner L’homme et l’Environment, a French non-governmental organization that works on lemur conservation and long-term reforestation, recently rescued a breeding pair of indri lemurs whose previous habitat had been destroyed by slash-and-burn agriculture. The pair were relocated to the Vohimana forest where they (and their future offspring) will be carefully monitored by dedicated forest guards who, through your support, we armed with vital GPS trackers and communication devices. Scientists estimate that the probability of extinction for critically endangered species will be more than 50% over the next 50 years. While the exploitation of lemurs is punishable by law, the animals remain in grave danger of becoming extinct, with 31% of all lemur species now critically endangered according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Working with our partners on the ground, we aim not only to support lemurs through protective and reforestation efforts, but also to help prevent hunting by educating local communities about the crucial role the species plays in maintaining Madagascar’s ecosystems. Considered ‘creators of the forest,’ lemurs spread seeds through their droppings, which grow into trees and offer shade and shelter for a wide range of animals. On this World Lemur Day, please join us in fighting for the survival of our planet’s precious remaining lemurs by donating to ASI now, and supporting our efforts to preserve this important species.

Regulations tabled to block new lion breeders and protect wide range of wild creatures in South Africa

Article written by Don Pinnock Originally published by Daily Maverick (Wed, 20 Oct, 2023) The Environment Department has called for public comment on its intention to block future lion breeders and prevent the exploitation of a long list of animals, birds, insects, fish and plants. Environment Minister Barbara Creecy says her department intends to prohibit the establishment and registration of new lion captive breeding, commercial exhibition or rehabilitation facilities or sanctuaries. In a government notice she has called for public comment. She has also published for comment draft regulations on the protection of a wide range of species and an explanation of restricted activities with respect to them. Thirty days have been given for comment before the regulations become law. The moves are in line with increasing pressure from the minister to curb cruelty towards wild animals which began in 2018 with a Parliamentary Colloquium on Captive Lion Breeding which was seen to be harming South Africa’s conservation image. A high-level panel followed in 2019 on the management, breeding, hunting and trade of lions, elephants, rhinos and leopards. It recommended the end of captive lion breeding or using their parts for commercial purposes. This led to a 2023 white paper on the sustainable use of biodiversity which defined the notions of well-being and sustainable use of wildlife. A specialist panel of experts was then formed to propose steps for the closure of captive breeding facilities and a notice was issued seeking information on voluntary closures. This was largely ignored, but the squeeze has now tightened with proposed prohibition on new breeding facilities. The million-dollar question, of course, is what steps can be taken on the future of between 10,000 and 12,000 lions presently in captive breeding facilities as they are unfit to be released in the wild. The Threatened or Protected Species (TOPS) regulations, which were withdrawn following a court challenge, have been redrafted and reissued, covering the permitting of all forms of captive breeding, game farms, scientific use and wildlife translocation. Big protection list In terms of the National Biodiversity Act, the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment has also listed and specified the form of protection for 269 species. These are deemed critically endangered, endangered, vulnerable or threatened. It has, for the first time, listed non-indigenous species which are listed as Appendix 1 by the UN wildlife trade organisation Cites. The new list includes newly threatened species and deletes some that no longer meet the criteria for listing. It also seeks to curb hybridisation. Mammals that classify for protection are only those which do not come from captive breeding facilities and include the well-knowns such as black and white rhinos, lions, elephants, cheetahs, sable antelope, leopards, pangolins, hyenas and aardvarks. African wild dogs and riverine rabbits are unconditionally protected. Any movement of black or blue wildebeest, tsessebe, blesbok, bontebok or any subspecies of zebra to areas where hybridisation is possible will be forbidden. The restrictions also seek to protect (largely from theft by exporters) baboon spiders, 17 species of stag beetle, the geometric and speckled tortoise, a number of snakes and geckos, five species of scorpion, 21 species of bird including several vultures and eagles, and a range of freshwater fish. The longest list is plants, including many species of euphorbia, lily, protea, clivia and all species of cycad. They are restricted from removal from the wild and in many cases also their sale or propagation. The department is awaiting comment on its draft policy issued on 19 September 2023 to end captive lion breeding, close down facilities and sterilise existing populations. The policy paper added that the government will not promote the sale of rhino horn or ivory through the international wildlife trade organisation Cites until certain conditions are “fully addressed”. How the industry which relies on the breeding and sale of these species views these moves will be the topic of an article to follow. Proponents of animal welfare will be concerned about how the sustainable use of these species will be enhanced without killing them. The discussion will undoubtedly raise considerable dust.

Nigeria burns $1.4m-worth of pangolin scales in anti-trafficking stand

Article written by Wedaeli Chibelushi Originally published by BBC News (Tues, 17 Oct, 2023) It is the first time the nation has publicly destroyed seized wildlife products for this reason. The pangolin is one of the world’s most trafficked mammals – their scales are in high demand in traditional Chinese medicine. Nigeria is a major transit hub for African pangolin scales and other wildlife products trafficked to Asia. “These seized items represent the past we leave behind, but the destruction signifies the future we are determined to build for our planet,” Environment Minister Iziaq Adekunle said before the burning took place in Nigeria’s capital, Abuja. “The destruction of these seized items is a powerful statement of our resolve to protect our environment, conserve our wildlife, and combat the illegal trade that drives species to the brink of extinction.” Almost four tonnes of pangolin scales were destroyed alongside seized leopard, python and crocodile skins. The agency had confiscated the scales in collaboration with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and a pan-African alliance named the Elephant Protection Initiative. In August, the leaders of a global wildlife trafficking gang were convicted for smuggling pangolin scales after a four-year investigation and a trial in Nigeria. And last year, Nigerian customs officials seized 1,613 tonnes of pangolin scales and arrested 14 people, Nigeria’s Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency said. Photo Credit: Born Free USA Pangolins are the only mammals in the world to be covered in scales, which are made from keratin, the same substance found in human fingernails. Four species live in Africa, across countries in the the south, east and centre of the continent. The creature is near extinct in Nigeria, so pangolins smuggled from there are likely to be from other countries, UNODC said. Asia is home to the other four species, although they have been totally wiped out in the continent’s vast south-east region. According to animal charity Wild Aid, up to 200,000 pangolins are thought to be taken from the wild every year. It is not known how many are left globally – the animals are notoriously difficult to monitor because they are shy and nocturnal. According to UNODC, seizures of pangolin scales increased tenfold between 2014 and 2018.

Sumatran rhino birth offers glimmer of hope for species almost hunted to extinction

Adapted from article written by Heather Chen Originally published by CNN (Tue, 3 Oct, 2023) A critically endangered Sumatran rhinoceros calf has been born in a national park in Indonesia, the third successful pairing between a local female rhino named Ratu and Andalas, a former resident of Ohio’s Cincinnati Zoo The unnamed female was born on Saturday at the Way Kambas National Park on southern Sumatra island, Indonesia’s Ministry of Environment and Forestry said on X, formerly Twitter. Environment and forestry minister Siti Nurbaya Bakar said it was “happy news not just for Indonesia but the rest of the world.” Sumatran rhinos were once found in great numbers across Southeast Asia but fewer than 80 remain in fragmented areas across Indonesia, according to the International Rhino Foundation (IRF). The calf’s birth represents hope for a species threatened with extinction due to illegal poaching and habitat loss. Photos shared by the forestry ministry showed the newborn calf, weighing about 27 kilograms (60 pounds), covered in black hair and looking bright-eyed next to her mother. In one picture, Ratu was seen giving her baby a gentle nudge. Within 45 minutes of her natural birth, the calf was able to stand and began feeding from her mother within four hours, the ministry said. Hope for the species Sumatran rhinos are the world’s smallest rhinos, standing at roughly 4 to 5 feet tall (about 1.5 meters), with an average body length of around 8.2 feet (2.5 meters). They are more closely related to extinct woolly rhinos than other rhino species and are covered in long hair. Sumatran rhinos typically live in dense tropical forest, both lowland and highland, on Sumatra and are generally solitary in nature, according to IRF. Females give birth to one calf every three to four years and gestation periods can last between 15 to 16 months. Habitat loss has driven them to occupy smaller areas of the Indonesian jungle and conservationists are concerned about the survival of the species. “As this reclusive species seems to disappear further into dense jungles, direct sightings have become rare and indirect signs like footprints are getting harder to find,” the IRF said. “The beacon of hope for the species is the breeding program at the Sumatran Rhino Sanctuary… that has produced three calves and continues its breeding efforts to create an insurance population of rhinos.” The species was declared locally extinct in neighboring Malaysia in 2019. A 25-year-old female named Iman died of cancer on November 24, 2019 at the Borneo Rhino Sanctuary. Her death came months after Tam – the last surviving male rhino – succumbed to organ failure, officials said.

DAYS REMAIN to relocate 15 elephants before its too late.

A herd of 15 hungry elephants who wandered in search of food face being killed. Why? Because in their quest for food across drought-stricken Southern Africa, they stumbled onto residential land. Credit: FreeMe Wildlife The herd, including seven calves, need sanctuary. they need our help right now – without it, they will be killed by authorities. Here is how we plan to help, with your support, right now. We MUST relocate 15 at-risk elephants to safety within TWO WEEKS – before heavy rains close our window of opportunity! Credit: FreeMe Wildlife Please, help now! A few years ago, a large herd of around 80 starving elephants journeyed from their native Zululand in South Africa in search of food. Not only were these poor animals desperately hungry as a result of drought, but members of their herd were being slaughtered by poachers. Under severe threat from all sides, they found their way into Eswatini (formerly Swaziland), where the majority made it safely through residential areas into a protected reserve. However, 15 remained stuck in a residential zone, where right now, they are at great risk of being killed because they are considered dangerous or “competition” for resources.  An elephant carcass floats in a dam. Credit: Daily Maverick. 15 elephants face slaughter as they find themselves trapped in a residential area of Eswatini in Southern Africa. If we can safely drive them out, we can save their lives! In one heart-breaking incident in South Africa, a grieving elephant from the herd went on the attack after a poacher killed her calf. She trampled a resident to death – and because of this, she and the other elephants are considered “problem” animals. This, combined with their inadvertent damage to water tanks and pipes in residential areas, means the authorities are ready to shoot them. Credit: SABC News The process of applying for kill permits – which we know will be granted – has only been temporarily halted because of our pledge made to hire a helicopter and move the elephants. If we cannot do it, the permit WILL be granted and the animals KILLED. Only weeks remain to move 15 elephants, including seven calves, to safety! Please, help us. Their lives depend on it! With your support, and together with our partner FreeMe Wildlife based in Howick, South Africa, we will hire a helicopter to safely and effectively drive the elephants into a fenced and protected reserve in Eswatini, which has agreed to provide a safe space for the elephants, and where no hunting is permitted. Trail camera footage shows these elephants wandering around – unbeknownst to them they are in grave danger of being killed. Credit: FreeMe Wildlife Only an expert pilot with the skills to round up and move a large, elusive herd will be able to pull off this critical mission. In just a few weeks, summer rainfall is expected to begin, causing shrubbery to grow thicker and making it far more challenging to find the elephants from the sky and move them. Trying to move them from the ground presents a far higher risk of injury to our team and increases the chances of the mission failing. We must move them and FAST. The elephants are in grave danger and their lives depend on being moved. The taller the trees and shrubbery grow, the difficulty of finding these elephants increases. Credit: FreeMe Wildlife Please help us hire a helicopter NOW. If we can raise $5000 (roughly £4100), we will hire a helicopter, an expert pilot and logistical support in order to save the elephants’ lives. It is a race against time to help these elephants – some are only young calves – and your donation right now can and will make a life-or-death difference. So please donate now, and we promise to hire a helicopter and help save the animals’ lives.

Animal welfare: UK passes legislation to tackle cruel “wildlife tourism”

Adapted from article written by by EUToday Correspondents Originally published by EU Today (Wed, 20 Sep, 2023) The Animals (Low-Welfare Activities Abroad) Act passed into UK law this week. The legislation – which was introduced by Angela Richardson MP and Lord Black of Brentwood, supported by the government – allows the government to bring forward a ban on the advertising and sale of specific unethical activities abroad where animals are kept in captivity or confinement, subjected to cruel and brutal training methods, forced to take selfies or are ridden, drugged and de-clawed. The independent evidence on these kind of experiences shows that animals used in the tourist trade are often subject to harsh treatment to ensure their compliance in activities. A study by Oxford University’s Wildlife Conservation Research Unit published in 2015 concluded that up to 550,000 animals worldwide suffered for tourist entertainment. Brutal training methods are often used to ‘break in’ Asian elephants to make them safe to be near tourists and partake in unnatural activities like playing football, painting, tourist rides and excessive bathing. The Act – applicable in England and Northern Ireland – means the government, through secondary legislation, can ban the advertising and offering for sale of these cruel experiences and protect these special creatures from unnecessary harm. The Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA) already has published guidelines and a list of activities which they classify as unacceptable. Reputable and responsible tour operators should not be offering activities that support poor animal welfare. This new legislation is part of a wider Government effort to build on our existing world-leading animal welfare standards. Since publishing the Action Plan for Animal Welfare in 2021 we have brought in new laws to recognise animals sentience, introduced tougher penalties for animal cruelty offences, brought forward a ban on glue traps, and introduced tougher penalties for hare coursing.

Update on Ljubo the captive bear in Montenegro

Montenegro continues in a state of political flux, as attempts continued to form the new government by the end of September. The effect of this has been more delays on decision-making regarding the bear cub recently acquired by the same sanctuary where six-year-old Ljubo is kept, and any action plan to improve and monitor the care of Ljubo. This is because the responsibilities of different government agencies is changing, with new portfolios being shared between different agencies.  We continue to be heavily involved in all meetings and discussions regarding Ljubo and the cub, and there has been some good progress within the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), who have now seconded a large mammal/bear expert to work within their team. We are hopeful that the Ministry of Ecology and EPA, who are committed to working with us and our partners and moving the bear cub to a specialist sanctuary, will be given a clear remit to deal with all issues relating to wild animals and will be able to act soon.   We are lobbying senior ministers to ensure that the EPA takes the lead in the process as they have the experience and now also the necessary expertise in their team. They have committed to organising an expert veterinary assessment for the bear cub. We are also implementing another media and billboard campaign to urge Montenegro to stop the exploitation of wild animals and not to support zoos where they are incarcerated. The bear cub is now being kept in part of the larger enclosure that was provided for Ljubo, separated by a fence, which is not a sustainable solution for either bear.  We have no choice but to work with the authorities and at their pace. Please bear with us, and please understand that we are working on this situation constantly and will not give up our fight for either bear. Read more

Rhino numbers rebound as global figures reveal a win for conservation

Article written by Patrick Greenfield Originally published by The Guardian (Fri, 22 Sep, 2023) Tally rises to 27,000 but is still a far cry from former half a million, and Javan and Sumatran rhino remain critically endangered Global rhinoceros numbers have increased to 27,000 despite populations being ravaged by poaching and habitat loss, new figures show, with some species rebounding for the first time in a decade. Rhinos numbered about 500,000 across Africa and Asia in the 20th century but their populations have been devastated. Last year, they began showing signs of recovery in some areas, although two species – the Javan and Sumatran – remain close to disappearing. Figures released by the IUCN African Rhino Specialist Group, the conservation body, indicate that the global rhino population increased to about 27,000 at the end of last year, with southern white rhino numbers increasing for the first time since 2012, from 15,942 at the end of 2021 to 16,803. In 2021, the world’s rhino population was estimated to be 26,272. Black rhinos, native to east and southern Africa, have been heavily depleted by poaching for their horns but last year increased by nearly 5%, rising from 6,195 at the end of 2021 to 6,487 at the end of 2022. This increase has happened despite a rise in black rhinos killed by poachers, and has been aided by conservationists establishing new populations that have grown in size. “With this good news, we can take a sigh of relief for the first time in a decade,” said Dr Michael Knight, the chair of the IUCN rhino group. “It is imperative to further consolidate and build on this positive development and not drop our guard.” The Javan and Sumatran rhino, meanwhile, remain critically endangered, in steady decline, and appear likely to go extinct. Officially, about 80 Sumatran rhinos remain, but experts believe there may be as few as 34, often in small fragments of forest where it is almost impossible for them to find each other and breed. In March last year, a female was born in captivity in Indonesia after several miscarriages. There were 561 rhinos killed in Africa during 2022, a rise from 501 in 2021 and 503 in 2020. While these numbers remain concerning, they represent a marked decline from the peak of the crisis when 1,349 African rhinos were poached in 2015 amid a huge rise in killings from the early 2000s. “We are reassured to see long-term investment into collaborative conservation actions result in increased numbers of white, black and greater one-horned rhinos,” said Dr Jo Shaw, the CEO of Save the Rhino International. “Similar interventions must be amplified to continue to address the critical situation facing Javan and Sumatran rhinos. We remain steadfast in our commitment to the future of all five rhino species.” In India and Nepal, the greater one-horned rhino population is stable at about 4,000 but conservationists remain concerned about poaching and habitat loss. The Javan rhino population is about 76, all of them found in Ujung Kulon national park in Indonesia, but there have been signs of illegal activity in the area.

LAST CHANCE to save 29 tigers and critically endangered leopards from CAPTIVITY!

A tiger farm that has kept big cats cruelly caged in appalling conditions in Thailand has been shut down by the authorities. Now, the big cats who live there are in urgent need of rescue. If we do not help get them to safety as soon as possible, a caged zoo existence is likely to be their fate. Credit: WFFT We have a plan, and critically endangered leopards and tigers need your support. Abused and neglected in Asia: 29 caged tigers and critically endangered Indo-Chinese leopards have a ONCE-IN-A-LIFETIME chance at freedom. HELP NOW, before their window of opportunity closes! Thailand is notorious for keeping wild animals captive. Big cats are bred to be cruel tourist attractions, or for their body parts which are used in “traditional Chinese medicines.” Whiskers are worn as “protective” charms and the animals’ penises are peddled as “sexual tonics.” Skins are trophies, worn as ostentatious shows of wealth. Credit: Amanda Mustard/New York Times The cycle of tiger abuse is bitterly cruel. Cubs are snatched from their mothers as infants and hand-reared so they can be habituated for human interactions and photo ops. They are caged, their natural behaviors inhibited, and their breeding patterns interrupted, all so that tourists can take selfies with them. Or, they are bred in horrendously cruel conditions to be slaughtered for their body parts. Today – and only with your help – we have the opportunity to help save 29 of these precious, sentient beings from a death sentence behind bars. Credit: VietnamNet Please, will you help them? Operations at the captive facility in northern Thailand have already been ordered to stop. Very soon, it will be shut down altogether. At that point, any animals who have not been relocated will be turned over to the government – who will likely send them to zoos. We MUST stop that from happening! Two of the tigers who were rescued by WFFT, now living their best possible lives. Credit: WFFT Our partner, the Wildlife Friends Foundation Trust (WFFT), has been given permission to take in 29 of the facility’s 53 captive animals: 25 tigers and 4 critically endangered Indo-Chinese leopards. They hope to get approval for more. The WFFT sanctuary has spacious, stimulating enclosures and a team of wildlife experts. They allow no public interaction or experiences. Here, the animals will have the best chance at a new life, and the closest possible experience to being free. Credit: Chaz McGregor For every $8,200 (roughly £6,575) we raise, we can save a big cat and get it to freedom. Please help right now. For each big cat rescued, we need to help build a spacious enclosure, pay for the relocation, and commit to its lifelong care – the gut-wrenching reality is that tigers and leopards rescued from captivity will NEVER be able to live in the wild. We’ve asked you before to help us save wild animals from the brutalities of zoos and breeding facilities, and you have helped save and change many big-cat lives. Today we are asking you once more to show these precious creatures the human kindness and compassion they have never experienced before. Can they count on you today? We cannot save their lives without your support right now. Credit: Amanda Mustard/New York Times This is a rare and enormous opportunity. Every life is precious, and these animals deserve a chance at happiness and freedom. With your support, they can finally run around on natural ground, claw at trees, swim in lakes, and socialize with other big cats. We know we can help give these tigers and leopards a good life, but we cannot do it without your help. Please, donate immediately and generously now.

Tourists taking selfies and feeding dingoes blamed for rise in K’gari attacks

Article written by Eden Gillespie and Andrew Messenger Originally published by The Guardian (Sat, 22 Jul, 2023) A cull has been ruled out in the wake of dingo attacks but authorities are faced with protecting what locals say are a ‘national treasure’ on the world’s largest sand island For thousands of years, the Butchulla people coexisted with dingoes, which were brought over to K’gari by Asian fishers. The “wat’dha” or camp dingo were Butchulla companions, helping them hunt and protecting them from bad spirits. The “wongari” were wild dingoes that roamed the sweeping coastline hunting for wallabies, lizards and rodents. When the last Indigenous people were removed from the island, all the dingoes became wild. But a string of recent dingo attacks has rangers worried the animals are no longer scared of humans and that tourist behaviour is causing escalations in their aggression. One particularly “high-risk” animal was killed by injection on Wednesday after an attack on a 24-year-old woman who was hospitalised after being mauled by four dingoes while jogging down the beach. The dingo had also been “responsible” for four “very severe” attacks, including one on a child this year, according to principal ranger, Danielle Mansfield. A department of environment spokesperson said the dingo that was put down weighed 17 kilograms, “which is heavy for a dingo and indicated it had been fed”. “It was also clear from its behaviour that it had become habituated, either by being fed or from people interacting with it for videos and selfies.” ‘In the past they’d never approach you’ Sinclair’s father, John, was a renowned local campaigner who spent decades on the successful fight to end sand mining and logging on the island before his death in 2019. Sinclair estimates he’s visited the island hundreds of times and says he first detected a shift in dingo behaviour in the mid-90s. “I was sitting on the beach observing one of the lakes, and a dingo came and walked around my picnic blanket. It was stalking me. It was quite disturbing,” he said. “We went for a swim and then it came down and just pulled the lid off the esky and grabbed some things and ran away.” This year, a dingo ran towards Sinclair and his wife while they were taking photos of birds on the beach. “In the past, they’d never approach you. But it’s ridiculous the number of times I’ve seen humans hand-feeding dingoes,” he says. Nobody knows for sure exactly why attacks are becoming more frequent, but almost everyone Guardian Australia spoke to believes it is linked to the growth in tourism on the island. This week, two women were fined $2,300 each for taking selfies with the animals in a blatant breach of “dingo safety” protocol repeated at length in signage and brochures available to tourists on the island. Visitors are told never to walk alone, leave children unattended or go running. It’s an offence to feed or intentionally attract or disturb the dingoes whose presence creates the authentic Australian experience many tourists seek. Animal behaviourist Bradley Smith blames visitors in search of the perfect social media shot for changes in the animals’ behaviour. “We don’t have a dingo problem on the island, we have a people problem,” he says. “If you want to go for a run on the beach, go to the Gold Coast. If you go to Africa or the Rocky Mountains, you respect the fact that you’re around wildlife that can kill you.” Smith says people are ignorant to the danger of dingoes because they are small and puppy-like, prompting tourists to give them a “cheeky bit of fruit” to get a great photo. “That might be a benign incident for you, but that’s setting the scene for the future. It’s like a death sentence for a dingo when you start feeding.” Sinclair agrees. “I hear people say all the time ‘but I want to feed them because they’re so skinny’ … but dingoes are a naturally lean animal,” he says. “You could literally feed them a lot of food and in a day they’d be skinny again, like a greyhound.” Sinclair believes there should be further enforcement of fines, and potentially a one- or two-strike rule implemented to exclude problem visitors from the island. K’gari attracts two distinct types of tourists: those who head to the resorts and go on organised tours, and independent campers who relish the opportunity to take a four-wheel drive on the wide open sands. Since the pandemic, senior ranger Linda Behrendorff says she’s seeing worsening behaviour from people who’ve recently joined the latter group. They’ve recently bought their first four-wheel-drive and they’re hitting nature reserves all across Queensland, often with too much alcohol, she says. And they won’t be told the rules. “I’ve actually booked someone for feeding once. Ticket in their hand, they looked me fair in the eye and went: ‘It was worth it’. “What do you do with that? They paid for the experience that they wanted with a wild dingo at the expense of that dingo. Arrogance.” Butchulla woman and community engagement officer Tessa Waia says locals were “in tears” at the loss of a dingo this week. “The Butchulla have been very generous [in] sharing their country with people that are respectful. It’s so disrespectful – those that do not want to heed the requests [of the people] that own and manage the country for the benefit of the next generations.” ‘We need the dingoes’ After a deadly attack on a nine-year-old in 2001, the Queensland government ordered a cull of the animals, wiping out 20 or so dingoes at random across the island. It is estimated fewer than 200 remain. A spate of dingo attacks in 2019 saw the state roll out higher fines, and in 2021 a $2m fence stretching 7km was erected around the Orchid Beach township. Fencing is also in place around the Happy Valley and Eurong townships, as well as major camping spots. In response to questions about a repeat cull this week, the state government

Gabon takes down international ivory trafficking network

Article written by Ngala Killian Chimtom in Yaounde Originally published by All Africa (Sun, 10 Sep, 2023) Authorities in Gabon have dismantled a broad network of international ivory traffickers who smuggled the prized elephant product from Gabon to Cameroon and on to lucrative Asian markets. The operation involved the Gabonese judicial police and government directorates of forestry and wildlife, with the support of the NGO Conservation Justice. In early August, police in the province of Moyen-Ogooué arrested a Gabonese man of Cameroonian origin, along with his wife. A search of their vehicle revealed a cache of 19 tusks and four pieces of ivory, weighing a total of 120kg. For context, 19 tusks mean at least nine elephants had been killed. The search also led to the confiscation of several rifle cartridges used for shooting big game, nearly 1 million CFA francs (about 1,500 euros) in cash, illicit substances and an expired residence permit belonging to a well-known Cameroonian ivory trafficker, according to Stephan Ekore Eko, an anti-poaching specialist at Gabon’s Ministry of Water and Forests. Using fresh information from the suspect, the investigators were able to track down more traffickers. A total of ten people were arrested in separate locations, and nine of them were charged with involvement in “international ivory trafficking”, according to Jean Donald Ulrich Mbadinga, a legal expert with Conservation Justice. From Africa to Asia He said it took ten days for the operation to unravel the “vast network of international ivory traffickers in Gabon”. “The ivory is taken from Gabon, is trafficked across the border to Cameroon, and from Cameroon to Nigeria and from Nigeria to the Asian market,” he said in a video sent to RFI. He explained that the network functioned like a pyramid: “At the top, there is a leader who resides in Cameroon, and this leader works with collaborators who can be divided into two categories: the poachers’ canvassers and the transporters.” Canvassers comb the whole of Gabon in search of villagers who can kill elephants, Mbadinga explained. Then when the ivory is available, transporters to go with the canvassers to collect it. The ivory is then transported to Cameroon, he said. “This type of operation is vital and should be repeated to dismantle the few large ivory trafficking networks that have managed to survive in Gabon, where the political will to protect the environment remains strong,” says Luc Mathot, founding director of Conservation Justice. Hundreds of tusks seized In Gabon, trafficking in ivory is punishable by up to ten years in prison. But when it comes to international ivory smuggling, the penalty is heavier: offenders can spend up to 20 years behind bars. Hundreds of traffickers in Gabon have already met such a fate, according to Ekore Eko. “Collaboration between Conservation Justice and the Ministry of Water and Forests has led to the arrest of over 500 ivory traffickers. Eighty percent of them have been condemned to prison terms of up to five years,” he said. “This partnership with the Ministry of Water and Forests led to the seizure of 800 ivory tusks weighing in total 3.5 tonnes.” That number of tusks could be an indication that at least 200 elephants had been butchered. Critically endangered species Despite the risks, the lucrative market in Asia remains tempting for would-be smugglers. Prices have fallen since China banned the ivory trade in 2017, prompting prices to drop from 208 US dollars per kilo to about 92 dollars/kg by 2020. But even at that price, the 120 kg seized in the recent operation would still mean that the traffickers would be getting over 11,000 dollars (10,000 euros) on the black market – no small sum in a region where the majority of the people still live below the poverty line. Preventing poaching is all the more urgent given that Gabon is the world’s largest remaining stronghold of African forest elephants, a species separate from the bush elephants that live on the continent’s savannahs. While both species are at risk, forest elephants are classified as “critically endangered” on the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s Red List of species in peril, having seen their numbers fall by more than 86 percent over roughly 30 years. Gabon is home to some 95,000 forest elephants, which represent between 60 and 70 percent of the entire global population, according to a 2021 survey conducted by the Wildlife Conservation Society and Gabon’s National Park Agency.

UK gov orders removal of animal cruelty content from social media

Originally published by Mirage News (Fri, 8 Sep, 2023) Social media firms will be forced to remove online content facilitating animal torture in a further push to make the UK the safest place in the world to be online. Under new proposals, social media platforms will be required to proactively tackle the illegal content and have it swiftly removed, or face fines of up to £18 million or 10% of their global annual revenue. The amendment, which will be tabled in Parliament today, will require platforms to put in place systems and processes to tackle content that encourages or facilitates animal torture. The amendment comes after untiring campaigning by Baroness Merron to further strengthen the Online Safety Bill’s laws around animal torture content. It also means even if the activity takes place outside the UK but is seen by users in the UK, tech companies will be made to take it down as part of a zero-tolerance approach. Recent examples of facilitating this includes the Monkey Haters case, a year-long BBC investigation which uncovered a sadistic global monkey torture ring stretching from Indonesia to the United States. This demonstrates how social media can be used to pay for or give instruction to others on the torture of animals. Today’s amendment will force social media companies to put in place proactive steps to tackle this. Technology Secretary Michelle Donelan said: “This kind of activity is deeply disturbing and not something an animal-friendly nation like the UK should ever tolerate. Social media sites must not be used as platforms to promote the sadistic and harrowing actions of some deeply depraved internet users, and today we’re taking steps to make sure it is swiftly removed so both animals and users can be protected. The Online Safety Bill will make the UK the safest place in the world to be a child online, and it will now stop the proliferation of animal abuse too.” Today will see the UK Government list section 4(1) (unnecessary suffering) of the Animal Welfare Act 2006 as a priority offence in the Bill. The changes will work alongside other recent government amendments to protect children from content showing real or realistic serious violence or injury against an animal. Environment Secretary Therese Coffey said: “We are a nation of animal lovers and the UK has some of the highest animal welfare standards worldwide. Animal abuse is abhorrent and should not be circulating online, so these new rules will ensure social media platforms act swiftly to remove this content.” New strengthened protections will force social media companies to proactively tackle instances where their services are being used as part of the process of animal torture. The Online Safety Bill is a new set of laws to protect children and adults online. It will make social media companies more responsible for their users’ safety on their platforms.

Elephant calf rescue in South Africa.

Africa is in the midst of a horrifying elephant poaching crisis. For every mother elephant killed, a calf is left behind – traumatized, helpless and alone. There are many knock-on effects. When poachers lay wire snares to trap elephants, calves are often caught, and they become orphaned when their mothers abandon them after fruitless hours and days of trying to free them. These critically vulnerable orphans stand almost no chance of survival without your help today. Credit: AP Every 15 minutes, an elephant is killed for its ivory tusks. This amounts to a loss of nearly 100 elephants every day – and an orphan crisis. Extensive studies have shown that elephants feel emotions including grief, joy, love and compassion. Mothers are fiercely protective and nurturing of their young, and females stay with their mothers for life. Credit: HERD Friend, imagine the distress of a baby elephant who watched its mother brutally slaughtered by poachers, its tusks hacked from her face. Or the agony of a mother forced to abandon her trapped, terrified baby – to see the infant she birthed and raised die before her eyes. Tragically, this is the daily reality for elephants in South Africa. Alone, helpless, and without their mothers’ milk, most elephant calves will die within DAYS of being displaced or orphaned. Their survival depends on you. Please, can baby elephants count on you today? Credit: HERD We are working with the Hoedspruit Elephant Rehabilitation and Development (HERD), a dedicated elephant orphanage in South Africa. Their mission is to provide critical, around-the-clock care and specialized nutrition to rescued elephant calves orphaned through poaching or snaring. Calves like Khanyisa, a rare albino calf. Khanyisa fell victim to a wire snare when she was just four months old, suffering for at least four agonizing days as the wire wrapped around her cheeks and cut into her mouth and ear. Credit: HERD Her mother was forced to abandon her. After being rescued from South Africa’s Kruger National Park, Khanyisa was transferred to HERD for life-saving treatment. Thankfully, through extensive stem cell treatment and rehabilitation, Khanyisa has made a miraculous recovery. But she still has a long road ahead of her. Elephant calves are extremely sensitive, and a gradual milk-weaning process must be followed. If the weaning process is rushed, the calf will die. Credit: HERD Little Khanyisa and many other orphans like her require a special milk formula to support their survival. It is the closest thing to their mothers’ milk, and absolutely critical to their survival. HERD is continually taking in orphaned elephants whose care and treatment is intricate and specialized. What the calves need most right now is special milk formula. It effectively supports their survival and brings them comfort because it so closely mimics their mothers’ milk. As a species, elephants’ strong family bonds and delicate social dynamics are integral to their well-being. Thus, once fully healed, HERD’s orphans are gradually introduced to the Jabulani Herd – a unique and close-knit family of 16 rescued and orphaned elephants from Zimbabwe and South Africa, who are always accepting of new calves. Credit: HERD If we can raise $7,000 (£5,615), we can provide enough special milk formula for little Khanyisa and other orphaned elephants like her for the next three months. Please, help little Khanyisa by donating now. Elephants – especially orphaned calves – are highly vulnerable and dependent on the correct nourishment, care and companionship. Many rescued by HERD are injured, dehydrated, and traumatized. It is critical that we provide these poor creatures with a special milk formula that replicates the vital nutrients they would receive from their mothers. With your support right now, we can rush this life-saving milk to orphaned baby elephants in need immediately. Can orphaned elephant calves count on you now?

WARNING: Graphic images! Critically endangered pangolins FOR SALE at Nigerian meat markets!

A growing appetite for “bushmeat” in Nigeria is seeing hundreds of thousands of animals – many of them endangered – slaughtered to feed the demand for “exotic” meat. Primates, bushbuck, turtles and critically endangered pangolins are just some of the species strung up at markets, often alive, and then brutally killed when they are purchased for the pot. Credit: GWCI Can you imagine “browsing” a selection of live, anguished animals, stolen from the wild, ripped from their families and familiar surroundings, and restrained in filthy, chaotic, disease-ridden markets? We cannot fathom it either – but you will be relieved to know WE ARE HELPING SAVE these tortured animals. Read on… Bushmeat – the meat of Africa’s wild animals used for human consumption. Credit: GWCI Butchered for their meat and body parts or sold to be PETS, the desperate wild animals of Nigeria need your help now. We are working with a brave partner on the ground who ventures into these places of horror, often with police reinforcement, to confiscate terrified, injured animals. Greenfingers Wildlife Conservation Initiative (GWCI) in Lekki, Nigeria, makes regular visits to illegal bushmeat markets and rescues wild animals in the nick of time before they are killed and sold for their meat and body parts. Tragically, it is often too late for some – usually adult animals – but GWCI is usually able to confiscate orphaned infants from blood-thirsty meat sellers. Credit: GWCI Stitch – a small, helpless potto – was saved after being so badly beaten by meat sellers in Nigeria that he can NEVER live a normal life. Recently, our partner received an alert that a potto – a small, slow-moving creature similar to a lemur – was in serious trouble at a bushmeat market. When they arrived, they discovered the animal bleeding profusely from the head and barely able to move: he had been axed so severely with a hatchet that he was almost dead. The intention had been to kill him for food. Credit: GWCI Pottos are gentle, solitary ‘tree-hugging teddy bears’. When threatened, they will freeze in place for hours, and this, combined with their slow-moving nature, makes them an easy target for humans. Later named Stitch, the animal was evacuated and given emergency care. Miraculously, he survived, but even after months of rehabilitation, it is clear he will never be able to return to the wild due to the severity of his injuries. Stitch is just one example of the countless terrified, traumatized, wounded animals our partner saves from brutal meat markets. The craving for bushmeat among Nigerians severely threatens helpless animals against humans, and their trade is rapidly depleting their numbers. Credit: GWCI Critically endangered animals like pangolins and red-bellied monkeys and endangered animals like lions, chimpanzees, elephants, gorillas, vultures, and manatees are all helpless targets of poachers. They stand NO chance without our help right now. Around 10 to 15 animals are rescued by our partner every month. Many – like pangolins and bushbuck – are ripped away from their mothers by poachers at just a few days old. Tragically, most will NEVER be reunited with their mothers, who are usually beaten, stabbed and butchered to death and sold for their meat (to be eaten) and body parts (used in fake “medicines” on the Asian and African markets), or sold to be pets. Credit: GWCI Poached animals are stuffed into dirty sacks, then poked, prodded, beaten and tortured, and kept in appalling and traumatizing conditions. We simply CANNOT stand by and do nothing! Today, we need your help to save as many of these animals as possible. Most require months of specialized care and rehabilitation before being released back into safe, protected wild areas. Those who cannot be released, like Stitch, remain in our partners’ care for the rest of their lives. Right now, we urgently need funds for milk formula, veterinary care for orphaned animals and urgent animal rescue missions. Credit: GWCI If we can raise $11,000 (around £8,662), we can support 30 rescued animals for three months and also help fund critical rescue missions. Please, will you help provide critical care to wild animals who desperately need our support right now? They could really use your help, and your donation right now will change their lives – and their fates.

Lions are still being farmed in South Africa for hunters and tourism. They shouldn’t be, say researchers

Article written by Neil D’Cruze and Jennah Green Originally published by The Conversation (Wed, 9 Aug, 2023) A man was arrested at the OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg, South Africa, on 23 June 2023 with five lion carcasses in his luggage. He was about to board a flight to Vietnam, where the use of lion bones in traditional medicines is practiced. The seizure is commendable but highlights South Africa’s controversial legal industry of breeding lions in captivity. Wildlife researchers Neil D’Cruze and Jennah Green, who have studied lion farming in South Africa, share their insights into the industry and explain why it should be shut down. Why are lions being farmed? Lions have been intensively farmed for commercial purposes in South Africa since the 1990s. These wild animals are exploited as entertainment attractions for tourists, like cub petting and “walk with lions” experiences. Others are used for “canned” trophy hunting, where the lion is hunted in an enclosed space, with no chance of escape. They are also used for traditional medicine both in South Africa and internationally, where their body parts, particularly their bones, are exported to Asia. They’re used as ingredients in traditional Asian medicine, such as “wines” and tonics. These would usually contain tiger bone, but lion bones are being used as a substitute. They’re also sold live. What does the lion farming industry look like? According to official records in 2019, around 8,000 lions are being held in over 350 facilities in South Africa. In contrast, the current wild population in the country is estimated to be about  3,500 lions. Some farms also breed other big cats, including tigers, cheetahs, leopards, jaguars and hybrids. The exact number of lions and other species on commercial “lion farms” across South Africa, however, is unknown. The industry has never been fully audited and not all farms are officially registered. In addition, corruption and a lack of proper record-keeping make it difficult for authorities to manage the industry and ensure facilities comply with the law. How is the industry regulated? A major problem is how the lion farming industry is being regulated in South Africa. At a national level, governance of this industry has fallen under a patchwork of legislation including the National Environmental Management: Biodiversity Act and regulations around threatened or protected species. With national and provincial concurrence, the regulation of the industry falls to the provincial nature conservation authorities. But, as there is no centralized national system, transparency and enforcement is difficult. This results in gray areas that cloud the legality of the industry and its associated activities, contributing to confusion and noncompliance throughout. Likewise, at an international level, lion bone exports are regulated under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). But the industry has been under scrutiny since 2019, when a high court in South Africa declared the lion bone export quota unconstitutional—due in large part to animal welfare concerns. Consequently, since that time, the CITES export quota has been deferred, resulting in a “zero quota.” This means that lion skeletons cannot be legally exported for commercial purposes. And any subsequent exports originating from lion farms are illegal. Why is this industry a problem? Lion farming in South Africa is controversial. The industry has been estimated by some to contribute up to R500 million (US$42 million) annually to the South African economy. However, in 2021 a high level report compiled by relevant experts (including traditional leaders, lion farmers and scientists) highlighted that the industry posed a risk to public health (because of the potential transmission of zoonotic disease and lion attacks), “does not contribute meaningfully to the conservation of wild lions,” and was tarnishing the country’s reputation with “political and economic risks.” This led to the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment announcing its intention, which cabinet later adopted, to immediately halt the “domestication and exploitation of lions, and to ultimately close all captive lion facilities in South Africa.” But nothing has changed. The captive breeding and canned hunting of lions has continued. What should be done about the industry? The minister’s public announcement of South Africa’s intention to stop lion farming was a defining development regarding this controversial industry and its future. However, in late 2022, a ministerial task team was asked to “develop and implement a voluntary exit strategy for captive lion facilities.” This was the first time the word “voluntary” had been used in public government communications on this issue. It raised serious questions about whether the government was wavering in its stated intention to end commercial captive lion breeding. It is highly doubtful whether a voluntary phasing out alone can halt the commercial exploitation of lions and establish a process to close lion farms as recommended in the high level panel report. Instead, it should only be considered as an initial step. There should be a strategy which includes a mandatory time bound termination of the lion farming industry in its entirety. Until then, to aid enforcement agencies and their efforts, lion farms should be required to stop breeding more lions and stop their canned hunting operations.

More than a ton of endangered pangolin scales seized in Thailand

Article written by The Associated Press Originally published by abc NEWS (Thu, 17 Aug, 2023) Thai authorities say they have seized more than a ton of pangolin scales worth over 50 million baht ($1.4 million) that are believed to have been headed out of the country through a land border BANGKOK — Thai authorities said Thursday they have seized more than a ton of pangolin scales worth over 50 million baht ($1.4 million) that are believed to have been headed out of the country through a land border. The scales that cover a type of anteater were found Wednesday night in the northeastern province of Kalasin, and apparently were meant to be transported out through Mukdahan province, which shares a border with Laos, Thai police said at a news conference in Bangkok on Thursday. Two male suspects, who were on a truck with the scales, were arrested and charged with the illegal possession of carcasses of protected animals, according to Ariyapol Sinsorn, the deputy chief of the Natural Resources and Environmental Crime Division. The two men confessed to the charges, he said. The pangolin scales, which have an estimated price of around 40,000 baht ($1,129) per kilogram, are suspected to have been brought from Malaysia to Thailand, to be transported to Laos. From there, it was apparently headed for sale to clients in China, said Kamnuan Chan-anan, a regional deputy chief of the environmental crime division. He said a further investigation is being conducted to determine the route of transport. The scales, displayed during the news conference in Bangkok on Thursday, were dried and contained in fertilizer sacks bearing a Chinese character and different numbers. The authorities said they suspect the numbers are used for marking the quality of the scales. The amount of scales is estimated to come from at least 3,000-4,000 dead pangolins, wildlife protection official Prasert Sonsatahpornkul said, adding that the scales will be tested to find out the species of the pangolins. Pangolins are endangered and it is illegal to trade them. The animal’s scales are used in traditional Chinese medicine and contain keratin, a protein also found in rhino horn, though there is no scientific proof that they provide any medicinal value. Pangolin meat is considered a delicacy in Vietnam and some parts of China. Demand for pangolin scales and meat has led to rampant poaching that is decimating populations across Asia. In 2017, the authorities revealed two major operations that successfully busted about three tons of pangolin scales and more than 100 live pangolins in Thailand.

9 rescued lions and a leopard saved from forced breeding.

Captive lion breeding is one of wildlife’s biggest scandals in South Africa. Forced breeding sees lion cubs born in cages, petted by tourists until they are too big, and then shot by trophy hunters who think it’s clever to shoot a defenseless animal. If not hunted, they are slaughtered so their body parts can be exported to Asia for worthless ‘medicines’ or used to make trinkets such as lion-claw key rings. Credit: Louise De Waal Today, we are thrilled to tell you that one less breeding facility exists in the country after our partner, the Lions Foundation in Limpopo, South Africa, bought one of these facilities and promptly stopped all breeding and exploitative activities, effectively saving all the big cats in it from unending suffering and ultimate cruel death. The facility will now be used exclusively for rehabilitation. But we urgently need your support to feed these abused animals, give them medical care and sterilize them. Already, one newborn cub has died. We MUST protect the other cats at all costs. Please, will you help us? South Africa has over 300 lion-breeding hells where around 12,000 lions and other wild cat species are imprisoned. Closing them down one by one would be a massive victory for big cats, and the process has started. But the surviving animals can never be returned to the wild. They have to be cared for forever. Captive lions have their bones, paws, teeth, and heads cut off and sold to mostly Southeast Asian countries for trinkets and potions. Credit: SAPS The ghastly lion breeding trade sees animals exploited for human gain from the very beginning of their lives. Usually, the cycle begins with newborn cubs stolen from their mothers at just a few days old. They are hand-reared and habituated for human-wildlife interactions like cub petting. In the wild, a female lion will reproduce every two years; however, in captive facilities where cubs are removed from their mothers almost immediately, the lionesses’ natural reproduction cycles are disrupted, and they breed far more often. Credit: Tom Cocks/Reuters As cubs grow into sub-adults, they are kept for breeding purposes or used in paid walking tours to entertain tourists. Horrifically, mature lions may end up on farms where hunters pay exorbitant prices to shoot them, or they are slaughtered and butchered for their bones and body parts, falsely marketed as ‘traditional Chinese medicine’. We are delighted that nine fewer lions and a leopard have been saved from this fate. Now your help is needed to care for them. Credit: Lions Foundation Heartbreakingly, a newborn lion cub died soon after our partner took over the breeding facility. This was not only because the environment was entirely unsuitable for the cub – not a blade of grass in sight, just hard cement ground – but also because the mother did not know how to care for her baby. She had only ever had her babies stolen from her and did not know how to look after her helpless offspring. Her confusion underscores the severe damage that breeding facilities cause to animals and their natural instincts. Despite the tragic loss of the cub, the remaining animals will, with YOUR help, now live as close to wild as possible. They will be safe from human interference, abuse, and trophy hunters. Credit: Lions Foundation Because of human interference, these rescued wild animals will never be able to hunt or fend for themselves. We need your help to ensure they can receive the care they need to recover and thrive in a beautiful, safe and spacious sanctuary. As you can imagine, feeding 10 more big cats, in addition to the 23 the sanctuary already cares for, is a real strain on finances – especially in light of a 25% price hike in food over the last year. Critically needed sterilization and vet care for these animals have already begun in order to prevent them from breeding and adding to the ever-increasing number of big cats at the sanctuary. Credit: Lions Foundation Please help us raise $10,000 (roughly £7,859) to help feed 33 big cats for a month and cover the cost of sterilization and vet care for the six remaining unsterilized animals. This critical care and nutrition will set them on the long path to recovery, and your support is crucial in helping them thrive after only knowing lives of misery and suffering. Credit: Lions Foundation Please, help us give these wild animals the care and rehabilitation they desperately need, so they can live the lives of freedom and peace they deserve.

Can you imagine a world without elephants? It could happen in SEVEN YEARS?

Every year, tens of thousands of African elephants are killed, and their ivory tusks are used for trinkets and ornaments. This out-of-control slaughter means the species faces the urgent threat of extinction. A world without elephants is a real and harrowing possibility – which is why we are using advanced AI technology to track every moment an elephant makes, ready to act at the first sign of danger. Credit: Magnus News/Justin Sullivan. Will you support this vital project? Approximately 97 elephants are KILLED DAILY by poachers. NEARLY 100 elephants alive when reading this will be dead within 24 hours. By 2030, there could be no elephants left in the wild. Credit: EFE/EPA African savanna elephants are listed as endangered on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, with populations rapidly declining and in grave danger of total annihilation. Our South African partner, the Addo Elephant National Park (AENP) recently alerted us to a herd of elephants living dangerously close to a poaching hotspot and in imminent peril of being taken out by poachers. Park rangers patrol the vast 180,000-hectare area regularly; however, there is only so much ground they can cover on foot and by vehicle. Credit: Vic Dobry/ASI With the help of powerful tracking devices, we can provide Addo’s elephants with much-needed protection. During a two-day tracking device fitting operation using emergency funds, we and a team of skilled wildlife vets successfully fitted one elephant family with tracking devices powered by artificial intelligence (AI). We located the animals by helicopter, darted them, and worked quickly and carefully to fit them with brilliant new technology that will completely revolutionize the way our team monitors and protects endangered wildlife species. We have protected one family but so many other elephant families with young calves need protection too. Credit: AP/Alistair Nelson The old tracking devices sent geographical locations infrequently, meaning that it would take hours or days to detect an elephant in danger. The new devices invented by South African engineer Dr. SP Le Roux change all this. Their built-in AI monitors every movement an elephant makes, continuously monitoring its vital signs and even learning its behavioral patterns via smart algorithms. At the first sign of anxiety or abnormal activity, the AI tracker sends a real-time alert via network towers placed at various points across the park to AENP’s anti-poaching unit, which can be dispatched immediately. Credit: Vic Dobry/ASI Response time to elephants in crisis has been shortened from hours to a matter of minutes – this could be the difference between life and death for an elephant in danger! BUT – only a handful of elephants currently have this protection. We MUST help the remaining animals! Addo’s anti-poaching unit, which we support financially, has already received multiple real-time alerts thanks to these new devices, allowing the team to save each one of them, and it is thanks to your generous donations. But our work is far from over. Right now, there are over 600 endangered African savanna elephants roaming Addo, and they all desperately need the same level of protection from poachers and other threats to their survival. After great herds of elephants were wiped out by hunters in the 19th century, Addo was established in 1931 to protect the surviving 11 elephants in the area. Today, elephant numbers have swelled to over 600. They are perhaps the best placed to survive the threat of extinction. We must do everything in our power to ensure they survive. Credit: Zara King/ASI Revolutionary new tracking devices will save elephant lives, but we need YOUR support to purchase and fit them! Apart from the loss of a culturally significant wildlife icon, elephant poaching threatens the vital role that elephants play in maintaining healthy ecosystems as keystone species. Please donate as generously as you possibly can RIGHT NOW. If we can raise $20,000 (around £15,600), we can continue our life-saving work to fit AI-enabled tracking devices to the endangered elephants of the Addo Elephant National Park. Please, will you help us?

BREAKING: Montenegro’s shame, illegal zoo gets another illicit BEAR CUB.

The man who keeps Ljubo, a brown bear we have been fighting to relocate to a specialist sanctuary for almost a year, has this week acquired a new bear cub. The man – keeper of the six-year-old Ljubo in Montenegro – claims the cub was left on the doorstep of his unlicensed “zoo”. Incredibly, Montenegrin authorities did not investigate the circumstances but walked away. We CANNOT allow another bear to SUFFER the same fate as poor Ljubo. We need you to stand with us TODAY. We need you to fight for both bears. We discovered this disgrace yesterday and are in urgent talks with local and international authorities to have the cub immediately removed from the illegal zoo. We know that if this does not happen right away, the cub will be subjected to the same fate as our tragic Ljubo: a cruel caged existence as a living exhibit for tourists – stressed, depressed and utterly hopeless. Authorities are assuring us they will act, but they said the same thing about Ljubo, and it was only because of our work that Ljubo has been given a larger enclosure, and the fight to move Ljubo to a sanctuary continues while authorities drag their heels. What makes this situation even worse is an assessment of the cub by Montenegro’s veterinary inspectorate says the animal is already habituated to humans. At just six months old, it shows no fear or aggression towards people, and it seems likely that the infant has already been used for entertainment purposes. This means the bear will never be able to be released into the wild – his fate was sealed by the cruel people who stole and caged him. The best that can happen is that he and Ljubo can be moved to a recognized bear sanctuary. The cub – robbed of its natural life in the wild – will need to live at a bear sanctuary for the rest of its life. Please, help us secure safe, temporary shelter for the cub until we can find it a permanent sanctuary away from exploitative people. We must continue exerting pressure on the authorities to ensure the cub is moved right away. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) of Montenegro has confirmed to our lawyers that it has made an agency decision to remove the cub, and it is working with an international bear sanctuary to expedite the cub’s removal and relocation. BUT, the Montenegrin government Inspectorate is the one in charge of actually moving the bear, and in the past, and TODAY, they have refused to act, claiming there is no other place available. Do NOT let this baby bear be consigned to the same fate as Ljubo! What is going on at this “zoo” in Montenegro is illegal, inhumane, and goes against international standards and Montenegrin laws. It is a place where 13 animals died under mysterious circumstances in a single day last year, but yet no official investigations have been completed. It is a place of cruelty, suffering and death for wild animals, and as animal lovers we cannot and will not stand for it. We know you will not stand for it either. This cub needs you. Your donation right now will help us to urgently fund a temporary shelter with a spacious, appropriate enclosure while it is prepared for travel, and its relocation to a specialist sanctuary for a permanent home, a process that will take six months. We must fight to remove the cub, and we must do it FAST – and we must be primed and ready the moment it is possible. Your donation will enable exactly this.

Avian flu may have killed millions of birds globally as outbreak ravages South America

Article written by Victoria Milko Originally published by The Guardian (Sat, Jul 22, 2023) Virus has spread around the world, with 200,000 wild birds dead in Peru alone and concerns Australia could be next Millions of wild birds may have died from bird flu globally in the latest outbreak, researchers have said, as the viral disease ravages South America, with 200,000 deaths recorded in Peru alone. The highly infectious variant of H5N1, which gained momentum in the winter of 2021, caused Europe’s worst bird flu outbreak before spreading globally. The disease reached South America in November 2022, and has now been reported on every continent except Oceania and Antarctica. Working out how many wild birds have died is difficult because so many carcasses are never found or counted. Michelle Wille, from the University of Sydney, co-authored research that is believed to be the first attempt to assess numbers on a global scale. It documents deaths since October 2021. “We estimate the scale of mortality among wild birds is in the millions rather than tens of thousands reported,” the paper says. “The outbreaks among wild birds are causing population and species level concerns which may drive extinctions and jeopardise decades of conservation efforts,” it adds. More than 40% of all Peruvian pelicans dying over a period of a few weeks in early 2023. More than 100,000 boobies have died and 85,000 cormorants, according to Peruvian government data. Wille said: “South America has been incredibly hard hit and the numbers are staggering … Outbreaks are having very real species and population-level effects, such that there is concern that some populations may never recover. The situation is extremely distressing. “We are extremely concerned for what will happen in spring [in the southern hemisphere] as the virus has now been detected in Tierra del Fuego, which implies an increased risk for the virus to emerge in Antarctica.” Peru has been very active in recording deaths from bird flu, but other countries have been less open about what is happening, said Ian Brown, director of scientific services at the UK’s Animal and Plant Health Agency (Apha). For example, Brazil – the world’s biggest chicken meat exporter – was one of the last countries to confirm it had cases in wild birds, six months after reports from Peru. There is also an issue with countries not having enough resources to report on the impact of the virus, Brown said. “I would be cautious about saying Peru is a particular hotspot … it’s probably not alone.” He added: “What’s happened is that this virus has found its way into South America for the very first time. In Europe, and to some extent North America, we’ve had cases like this in the last few years … so they will build up some immunity. But birds in South America have not seen this virus before.” This may explain why mortality rates are so high. Elsewhere, significant population impacts around the world include 17% of sandwich terns dying in Europe in 2022; 40% of south-east European Dalmatian pelicans dying in 2021, and 62% of Caspian terns breeding on Lake Michigan dying in 2022. Data shows the disease has also been detected in Indonesia, with concerns its next stop could be Australia. “That’s the first time in the history of this virus, or group of viruses, that we’ve seen that global spread on such a scale. It’s a gamechanger,” said Brown. Europe is now on its second breeding season with H5N1. The virus hasn’t changed, but it has affected different birds in Europe this year compared with last year. Black-headed gulls across the continent and in the UK have been hit badly, as well as terns. Nationally, 10% of black-headed gulls have died since the end of March, which means at least 30,000 dead individuals, not including the many thousands of dead chicks, according to James Pearce-Higgins, director of science at the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO). “There have been tragic tales of people seeing dead black-headed gulls with chicks trying to nestle up to them.” The two species, terns and black-headed gulls, nest in similar places and close together, making for easy disease transmission between them. “The picture I’ve given you is a microcosm of what is happening across Europe,” said Pearce-Higgins. Other birds have been less badly affected. Northern gannets and great skuas – which were severely hit in 2022 – appear to have had very few deaths this year. Early research suggests some have immunity but others simply may not have been exposed. Researchers still don’t know what proportion of individuals are able to recover from bird flu, how long that immunity lasts and how much protection it gives. In gannets, it appears darker eyes indicate the bird might have some immunity. Although UK seabird breeding colonies have not been as badly hit as last year, a number of outbreaks have occurred in recent weeks. Earlier this month rangers described their “heartbreak” at discovering more than 600 dead chicks at Britain’s largest mainland Arctic tern colony in Long Nanny on the Northumberland coast. There has also been an increase in cases in north Wales, with reports of dead terns, herring gulls and puffins. Hundreds of birds have washed up on the east coast of Scotland. Last year, there were widespread impacts on a number of species, with data collected by the Guardian showing H5N1 had killed at least 50,000 wild birds – double previous estimates. The effects of last year’s outbreak are now being felt on the number of birds returning this year. Early signs from Scotland suggest great skuas in Shetland have been hit particularly hard, according to Nature Scot. At one reserve, Hermaness in Shetland, 90% may have been lost, suggesting “significant breeding population declines” compared with last year, the agency said. Scotland has 60% of the world’s population of great skuas. Looking at UN surveillance data it appears Europe still has more cases than anywhere else but that will be down to reporting. Brown said: “Gaps on the map do not mean the virus is not there. Look at central Asia [where] there are big holes, in parts of

75 suspects arrested in 106 rhinoceros poaching cases in Namibia during 2022: report

Originally published by news.cn (Tue, Jul 18, 2023) WINDHOEK, July 14 (Xinhua) — Namibia’s anti-poaching and crime prevention initiatives managed to apprehend 75 suspects in 106 cases related to rhinoceros poaching in Namibia during 2022, according to a report released Friday. The year 2022 saw the most rhinoceros poached in the country since 2015 when the first major poaching wave in independent Namibia peaked, the National Report on Wildlife Protection and Law Enforcement in Namibia revealed. The report is based on data compiled via the Integrated Database of Wildlife Crime in Namibia, as well as related firsthand information and observations by personnel from the Blue Rhino Task Team, the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism, the Namibian police, and the Office of the Prosecutor-General. The report noted that the number of rhinoceros known to have been poached in Namibia during 2022 increased by 97.9 percent from 2021, reaching the highest losses since 2015. “Anti-poaching and crime prevention initiatives form the front line for our rhino ranges,” the report noted, adding that to counter the unprecedented threat of ongoing, highly organized poaching of high-value species, the Namibian Defense Force continues to play a unique role within its mandate of defending the state and its resources against threats. According to the report, rhinoceros are not the only resources being targeted. “Elephant ivory and pangolin products continue to be trafficked, and we are experiencing an expansion in the criminal onslaught into new sectors, such as trafficking of our rare and endemic plants. In all, 693 suspects were arrested in 430 wildlife cases in 2022. Meat poaching continues to make up around half of all registered cases,” the report said. The report said while crime prevention is the ultimate goal, the prosecution of suspects, leading to appropriate sentences for perpetrators, is the immediate aim of law enforcement in response to crimes that have been committed. The report also noted that the finalization of rhinoceros cases remains frustratingly low. “Only four rhino cases were finalized during the past year. To compound matters, suspects released on bail in drawn-out rhino trials have been re-arrested in new cases.” On the positive side, the report said, the sentence passed in one prominent rhinoceros-poaching case finalized in 2022 is highly commendable, making a loud and clear statement that wildlife crime will not be tolerated, regardless of whether it is perpetrated by influential individuals or the rural poor. Meanwhile, in April this year, Namibian authorities arrested eight suspects in connection with rhinoceros poaching incidents in the country’s flagship Etosha National Park and surrounding areas.

It’s heartbreaking: Two elephants could die as snares cut deep into their flesh. We have a plan to help.

Two elephants in Zimbabwe are in life-threatening situations as you read this. Each has fallen victim to cruel wire snares – torture devices that cut dangerously deep into the flesh, cause severe tissue damage and likely leave the animal in agony. Credit: KAWFT The elephants – members of two separate herds roaming the vast Lake Kariba region – were spotted by our partner, the Bumi Hills Anti-Poaching Unit (BHAPU), and the team they are working with, Kariba Animal Welfare Fund Trust (KAWFT). One of the animals is an eight-year-old female with a snare around her ear and tusk, while the other is a calf – estimated to be just a year old – who has a snare wound tightly around its back leg and probably causing great pain. Credit: BHAPU Already, the snare has caused significant damage to the elder elephant: there is a terrible wound behind her ear where the snare is embedded, affecting its use and causing the ear to collapse forward.  Credit: BHAPU If these elephants are not rescued and treated SOON, they could suffer life-altering injuries, be captured by predators, or die as a result of infection. We need your help right now – and here is why… It is a race against time to help two snared elephants – one still a calf – and your donation right now could make a life-or-death difference. Donate now! Credit: BHAPU To help these animals, our team must dart and tranquilize them first – but the elephants are extremely difficult to target from the ground. They are wild, elusive, and largely hidden in the vast, densely wooded area they are roaming. The most effective way to dart them, therefore, will be from above. Our team urgently needs to charter a helicopter and pilot so they can spot the animals from the sky and dart them, but they cannot fund this alone. And this is where we need your help as fast as possible. Credit: BHAPU A helicopter approach is the safest way to track and dart the injured, skittish elephants. Trying from the ground means being attacked by an irate mother who does not know we are there to help and will kill to protect her injured calf. To save the calf, a helicopter is the only option we need help to hire one. Please, donate now for the elephant rescue. Snares act like nooses, slowly cutting into the flesh and causing more damage every day. With each passing moment, these elephants are at great risk of losing body parts, making them vulnerable to predators, infection and even death. Credit: BHAPU Your support right now could be the difference between life and death for these snared animals – integral members of their herds. Elephants live in tightly bonded, female-led herds, and the death of this individual would devastate the herd. Elephants have been proven to grieve their dead, and if it is the matriarch who dies, the herd may dissolve. Credit: BHAPU If we can come together to raise $12,000 (roughly £9,469), we can hire a helicopter and a pilot and provide the critical capture kits and supplies needed to undertake the emergency treatment these elephants urgently need. The greater the delay, the greater the risk to their survival. We anticipate that the other elephants in the herds will try to protect their kin from human interference, which means our team must execute the rescue with military precision and the highest level of care. Once an elephant has been successfully darted from the air, our team will rush in, carefully remove the snare and treat the injury. The sedative drug will then be reversed, and the elephant will be monitored until it is steady on its feet and ready to rejoin its herd. Our teams are preparing to mobilize at a moment’s notice and are monitoring both elephants’ movements, so they do not lose sight of them. All they need now is the funding to charter the helicopter. It is critical that we raise the funds because these badly injured elephants really need our help. Please, donate right away so that we can get the team in the air to save the lives of these majestic animals.

Ljubo, the bear, suffering in a cage in 93-degree heat. Why won’t authorities act?

Our worst fears have been realized. After briefly being rehomed to an enclosure, Ljubo, a six-year-old brown bear, in the Balkan nation of Montenegro is back in a cage. We have proof that he is being exhibited to the public with no valid zoo license and while his permission to exhibit the bear is under legal challenge. Animal Survival International (ASI) has been fighting to free Ljubo since we discovered his nightmare existence in 2022. At our urging, the Montenegrin veterinary administration allowed an international group of bear experts to visit Ljubo in June. Shortly before the experts arrived, Ljubo’s captor hastily constructed an enclosure adjoining the cage. The bear experts said the enclosure had highlighted many deficiencies in his care, but it was better than the cage. Just this week – in the middle of a blazing hot day – Ljubo was shut in his cage again with no way to reach his larger enclosure or his den to hide from visitor’s eyes. Now the experts have left, the bear is back in a cage. Ljubo has nowhere to escape from visitors or cool down and is exposed to harsh sunlight in the enclosure. Visitors said he seemed to be suffering from the heat and was visibly panting heavily, pacing and holding the cage bars. They reported he seemed hungry and sad – and they were charged $6.00 (£4.30) to his captor for food for him. A mountain of evidence shows neglect and lack of proper care. The bear experts found in their report that there is a complete lack of any previous regular veterinary care or proper record-keeping relating to Ljubo, and it is clear the facility falls far short of meeting any internationally recognized guidelines regarding ongoing veterinary care provided to any animal in its care. The experts clearly state that if the facility cannot meet the necessary legal requirements – and there is no sign of this being possible – then a professional and accredited bear sanctuary is a solution. Ljubo needs a bear sanctuary where ALL his needs can be met. The more we investigate the situation, the worse it gets. Worryingly, an investigation by the prosecutor’s office in Montenegro into the deaths of 14 animals at the facility is underway. Some of our supporters are asking why it is proving so difficult to do the right thing and move Ljubo. The answer is indifference from the authorities and a lack of political will from the government to actually pay attention to Ljubo’s plight. We are increasing our lobbying efforts and pushing legal action, the latest evidence makes this even more urgent. We need your help, we are faced with a man who seems to break the laws with impunity. Put these facts together, and you will understand why it is so important that we keep up the fight for Ljubo and why we so earnestly ask you to stand with us. Please donate right now if you possibly can. What must be done is clear. Knowing there is no way in the foreseeable future to implement the experts’ recommendations in Montenegro, the authorities must immediately work to move Ljubo to a proper bear sanctuary, and we have offered to help – with your continued support. However, it is clear there are those in Montenegro’s officialdom who, for reasons known only to themselves, are opposed to this and who are not committed to changing the situation. To those people, we say: LJUBO HAS SUFFERED ENOUGH. Let reason prevail and allow Ljubo to be moved somewhere where he will be able to live as naturally as possible, cared for by experts. It is your donations that have allowed us to get this far, and it is your donations that allow us to continue the fight. Please donate generously right now. LJUBO DESERVES A BETTER LIFE.

Your urgent help is needed, a young rhino battles for his life!

As the African rhino poaching crisis continues to wipe out animal populations across the country, its latest victim – just 18 months old – is fighting for his life. Credit: Care For Wild Now named Bavati, the young calf was orphaned when his mother was slaughtered by poachers, effectively leaving him for dead as rhino calves can suckle for up to two years and cannot fend for themselves without their primary caregiver. Defenseless and surely confused, he was then pursued by a clan of hyenas who sensed his weakness. Without his mother to protect him, Bavati was attacked, his face and tail badly injured by the pack. It is miraculous that the calf survived the attack, but now, he needs more than a miracle to pull through – he needs YOU. Credit: Care For Wild The young bull calf was already experiencing unimaginable pain following the traumatic loss of his mother. As if he had not suffered enough, he was then chased and severely injured by hyenas! Please, will you help him? When a mother rhino is poached, her calf will often die soon afterward due to injuries inflicted by poachers, attacks by lions or hyenas, or starvation. This compounds an already escalating crisis as rhino numbers fall and further hampers the regeneration of this widely hunted species. As soon as our partner, the Care for Wild Rhino Sanctuary (CFW), was alerted to Bavati’s case, they rushed to the scene with a team of wildlife vets. They found that the hyena wounds to his face and tail had become infected, and he was in critical condition. He was given emergency on-site treatment before being carefully loaded into a transportation crate for his journey back to Care for Wild (in an undisclosed location – for his safety). Credit: Care For Wild Bavati was found alive with a raging infection from his hyena-inflicted wounds and is currently fighting for his life. The calf is still extremely vulnerable at this stage and has a long road to recovery ahead of him. With your support right now, we can cover the cost of his urgent veterinary care and long-term rehabilitation. His will be a long road to recovery, and for a species under immense threat from poaching, every life counts. Bavati is the latest in a long line of poaching victims in South Africa. Official poaching statistics from South Africa’s Department of Forestry, Fisheries, and the Environment (DFFE) reveals that 448 rhinos were killed in 2022 alone. Research shows a rhino is killed in South Africa every 20 hours. Credit: Inverdoorn Private Game Reserve In 2021, you stood with us and helped rush emergency, life-saving funds to CFW following their rescue of FOUR rhino calves orphaned by poaching within just days of each other, including 12-hour-old Daisy, who, thanks to your support, received the care she needed to pull through. Right now, Bavati urgently needs the very same support if he is to have a chance of recovery. Can he count on you today? Credit: Care For Wild If we can raise $7,000 (£5,650), we can cover Bavati’s costly medical treatment, including wound care, pain relief, antibiotics, and ongoing blood tests to help CFW monitor his health and prolonged recovery. With your help, we are determined to give this orphaned and suffering calf the same chance that countless other vulnerable young rhinos (like Daisy!) have received at CFW. Please donate to Animal Survival International today.

Iceland suspends annual whale hunt in move that likely spells end to controversial practice

Article written by Agence France-Presse Originally published by The Guardian (Wed, Jun 21, 2023) Decision comes after a government report found the hunt does not comply with Iceland’s Animal Welfare Act Iceland’s government has said it is suspending this year’s whale hunt until the end of August due to animal welfare concerns, a move that is likely to bring the controversial practice to an end. Animal rights groups and environmentalists hailed the decision, with the Humane Society International calling it “a major milestone in compassionate whale conservation”. “I have taken the decision to suspend whaling” until 31 August, food minister Svandis Svavarsdottir said in a statement, after a government-commissioned report concluded the hunt does not comply with Iceland’s Animal Welfare Act. Recent monitoring by Iceland’s Food and Veterinary Authority on the fin whale hunt found that the killing of the animals took too long based on the main objectives of the Animal Welfare Act. Shocking video clips broadcast by the veterinary authority showed a whale’s agony as it was hunted for five hours. “If the government and licensees cannot guarantee welfare requirements, these activities do not have a future,” the minister said. The country has only one remaining whaling company, Hvalur, and its licence to hunt fin whales expires in 2023. Another company stopped for good in 2020, saying it was no longer profitable. Iceland’s whaling season runs from mid-June to mid-September, and it is doubtful Hvalur would head out to sea that late in the season. Annual quotas authorise the killing of 209 fin whales – the second-longest marine mammal after the blue whale – and 217 minke whales, one of the smallest species. But catches have fallen drastically in recent years due to a dwindling market for whale meat. Iceland, Norway and Japan are the only countries in the world that have continued whale hunting in the face of fierce criticism from environmentalists and animal rights’ defenders. “There is no humane way to kill a whale at sea, and so we urge the minister to make this a permanent ban,” the Humane Society International’s executive director for Europe, Ruud Tombrock, said. “Whales already face so many serious threats in the oceans from pollution, climate change, entanglement in fish nets and ship strikes, that ending cruel commercial whaling is the only ethical conclusion.” Robert Read, head of Sea Shepherd UK, said the decision was also “a huge blow” to other whaling nations. “If whaling can’t be done humanely here … it can’t be done humanely anywhere.” “Whales are architects for the ocean. They help boost biodiversity, they help fight climate change by affecting the carbon cycling process,” he added. Opposition to whaling has been on the rise in Iceland with a majority now in favour of dropping the practice. A survey published in early June indicated that 51% of Icelanders were opposed to the hunt and 29% in favour, with over-60s those most in favour. Iceland has depended heavily on fishing and whaling for centuries. But in the past two decades its tourism industry, including whale watching tours, has blossomed – and the two key sectors of the economy have diverging interests. Japan, by far the biggest market for whale meat, resumed commercial whaling in 2019 after a three-decade hiatus, drastically reducing the need for imports from Iceland.

Giraffes are extinct in SEVEN African countries. This is why (and how we plan to help).

In Zimbabwe, there is a poaching crisis! Amid the region’s lush vegetation, criminals lay hard-to-see snares which trap and kill giraffe and other wildlife. Once snared, excruciating death is inevitable: the animal dies from starvation, the injuries sustained, or the cold steel of a poacher’s blade. Sickeningly, giraffes are being killed for no better reason than to use their body parts to make trinkets like giraffe tail flywhisks or giraffe horn keyrings while their meat is illegally sold in markets. It is horrific and it is destroying giraffe wildlife populations across Zimbabwe. But we have a plan to help, and we urgently need your support. June 21 is World Giraffe Day, but there is little to celebrate. Giraffes are facing severe threats to their survival as a result of habitat loss and rampant poaching. Giraffes are extinct in SEVEN African countries. It has never been more urgent that we help them RIGHT NOW. Read on to see how we plan to help and why we need your support so urgently today. Zimbabwe is home to two species of giraffe – the Cape or South African giraffe, found mostly in the south, and the Angolan or Namibian giraffe, found mostly in the west – but poachers care nothing about which species they are slaughtering. Every giraffe is a target and, without protection, no animal is safe. Despite heavy penalties and lengthy jail sentences for culprits, poaching remains rife in Zimbabwe, where an estimated 8,000 wild giraffe remain – down a staggering 70% since 1998. Poachers are becoming more ruthless all the time, but with your help, we can stay a step ahead of them. Credit: The Star Once captured and killed, giraffes are skinned for their pelts, chopped up for their meat, and dismembered for their body parts to be used in jewelry and fake ‘medicines’. Our partner, the Matetsi Anti-Poaching Unit (MAPU), patrols the vast wilderness of the Matetsi Unit 7 (MU7) conservation region near Victoria Falls, which is home to herds of giraffes and other wild animals. This highly-trained unit comprises 50 skilled scouts and a K9 dog unit. Credit: MAPU MAPU patrols day and night to cover every part of the reserve and its islands on foot, by vehicle and by boat, which you recently helped us to pay for after their previous boat was destroyed by a crocodile. They work in collaboration with Zimbabwe National Parks (ZNP), and over the past two years, the team – established in 2021 – have stamped out poaching in the entire reserve, but not in the surrounding areas. MAPU has noticed a massive increase in snares in the conservancies bordering Matetsi, which are unprotected, and they know they MUST stay a step ahead of criminals to keep their borders secure and their wildlife safe – and to alert authorities to illegal activity happening in neighboring reserves. Credit: MAPU Our anti-poaching team urgently needs a drone to protect animals from poachers, help make arrests, and identify and remove lethal snares. High-tech drones can detect criminal activity anywhere in the park, day or night. This is critical because the conservancy spans more than 212 square miles (55,000 hectares / 550 square kilometers) – a huge area to cover on foot or by vehicle. Drones use infrared technology to detect the presence of humans through body heat, which means that teams can accurately identify and locate criminals and dispatch teams to intervene before they can slaughter animals. Drones also allow for covert monitoring, which means the rangers, and their K9 dog partners, cannot be detected, and won’t find themselves nose-to-nose with dangerous criminals. An added advantage is that a drone also helps to monitor wildlife and will enable the team to spot any animals who are in distress. Credit: MAPU Please help us raise $4,500 (approximately £3,500) to equip MAPU with a drone to protect vulnerable giraffes and other wildlife. Animal lives depend on it! According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), giraffes are vulnerable, indicating they are at great risk of facing extinction in the wild. Over the past 30 years, giraffe numbers have decreased by up to 40% in Africa, and estimates put giraffe numbers at as low as 68,000 in the wild. The fate of Africa’s giraffe lies in OUR hands, and if we do not take action right now, this iconic species will disappear forever. Credit: The Star Please help us get a drone to protect threatened giraffes as quickly as possible. The future does not look good for these iconic mammals if we do not step in and help right away. So please, donate as much as you possibly can now, and help us ensure our anti-poaching team stays ahead of criminals, stops giraffe slaughter, and helps apprehend poachers.

UK diverges from EU rules with cosmetics animal testing ban

Article written by Vanessa Zainzinger Originally published by Chemistry World (Fri, Jun 09, 2023) UK will no longer allow Reach-required animal tests intended to prove worker safety The UK has taken another step away from EU policy by re-enforcing a ban on animal testing for ingredients used exclusively in cosmetics. Such tests can be permitted under EU regulations, but only when required to prove safety for manufacturing workers or the environment. Secretary of state Suella Braverman informed the UK Parliament on 17 May that the government will no longer grant licences for animal testing of chemicals that are intended only to be used as ingredients in cosmetic products. The move comes after animal rights group Cruelty Free International (CFI) challenged the government over allegedly hiding a policy change which led to the ‘weakening’ of the UK’s long-standing ban on animal testing of cosmetics ingredients. In February 2019, the Home Office aligned UK policy with two controversial decisions by the European Chemicals Agency’s (Echa) board of appeal, the body that handles disputes over the agency’s decisions. Symrise, a cosmetics ingredient producer, had clashed with Echa over being asked to conduct animal testing for the registration of two cosmetics-only substances: homosalate and 2-ethylhexyl salicylate. Marketing cosmetic products with ingredients that have been tested on animals is banned in the EU under the cosmetic products regulation. But the Echa board confirmed that under the registration, evaluation, authorisation and restriction of chemicals (Reach) regulations, substances that are used solely in cosmetics may sometimes be tested on animals, as a last resort, to prove their safety for workers or the environment. According to Braverman, the UK’s alignment with this ‘has been reflected in the issuing of a small number of time-limited licences’ for animal testing under UK Reach between 2019 and 2022. The decision to stop issuing licenses comes despite the UK high court dismissing CFI’s challenge. In a ruling on 5 May, the judge said it was ‘regrettable’ the government did not publicly announce a change in policy, but overall there were no breaches of legal duties. Under the UK’s new rules, companies will still have to follow the same data requirements as under EU Reach. However, the government will no longer issue licences for animal testing, as Echa does in the EU. Divergence The UK’s quick implementation of a new policy comes in stark contrast to a long and inconclusive debate in the EU. However, it raises questions about how the policy will be implemented. The dispute over animal testing of cosmetic ingredients under EU Reach has a long history, spanning several court cases and public disputes. In May, members of the European parliament discussed the issue after a European citizen’s initiative (ECI), ‘Save Cruelty Free Cosmetics’, received more than the one million signatures required to be formally considered by the European commission. CFI, which was one of the groups that launched the petition, said the ECI is essentially asking for an EU-wide implementation of the animal testing policy that was in place in the UK from 1998 to 2019. ‘We want to see a commitment to ending tests on animals conducted for any purpose for all cosmetics substances,’ said CFI’s director of science and regulatory affairs, Emma Grange. Animal rights groups hope the UK policy might influence an ongoing dispute at the European court of justice against Echa’s decisions from 2019, which questions whether animal testing of cosmetics-only substances under Reach is compatible with the EU cosmetics regulation’s animal testing ban. While Grange is hesitant to comment on how likely the UK move is to affect the outcome of that dispute, she says that ‘the UK’s partial reinstatement of the ban on animal testing for cosmetics is a step in the right direction, which the EU should follow’. Humane Society International (HSI) agreed the UK’s decision could serve as a precedent for the EU to follow suit. ’Echa’s use of Reach information requirements to justify tests on animals (…) is a clear illustration of the problems created by the Reach “tick-box” approach to toxicology, rooted in inflexible animal data requirements rather than real-world chemical safety,’ said Donna Macmillan, HSI senior strategist, regulatory science. Echa, which has often come under fire for requesting in vivo testing for cosmetics-only ingredients under Reach, has been increasingly active in promoting the uptake of alternative test methods. The agency held its first new approach methodologies (NAMs) workshop on 31 May–1 June, focused on speeding up the transition to an animal-free regulatory system. Published in the same week, Echa’s latest analysis of alternative testing methods, which it submits to the European commission every three years, recorded a steadily positive trend towards in vitro studies. The UK cosmetic, toiletry and perfumery association (CTPA) welcomed both the UK’s policy, and Echa’s efforts, as steps in the right direction. ‘We hope to see regulatory environments in the UK and EU which are harmonised in their adoption and acceptance of NAM approaches,’ the trade body told Chemistry World. For now, the UK will have to carefully implement the animal testing ban under its national Reach framework, CTPA said. ’The UK government is working on a new registration model for UK Reach, and the cosmetics industry is working closely with the government to advocate for non-animal safety assessment methods to be enshrined within the framework. ‘For chemicals exclusively used as cosmetic ingredients, it is essential that both industry and regulators can confidently use, assess and interpret NAM approaches for ensuring chemical safety,’ CTPA said. Banner credit: Siqui Sanchez

Report raises alarm over state of provincial nature reserves in South Africa

Article written by Paul Geiss Originally published by GroundUp (Fri, May 23, 2023) Protected areas critical to the country’s biodiversity and conservation efforts are being badly mismanaged, says the Endangered Wildlife Trust For a long time there has been grave concern among conservationists over declining standards in South Africa’s provincial nature reserves. Now a recent report by the Endangered Wildlife Trust (EWT) says many provincial reserves are in a shocking state, compromising the long-term survival of wildlife and ecosystems. If biodiversity is to be conserved, it will require urgent management interventions. The newly approved White Paper on Conservation and Sustainable Use of South Africa’s Biodiversity has as its goal “an inclusive, transformed society living in harmony with nature, where biodiversity conservation and sustainable use ensure healthy ecosystems, with improved benefits that are fairly and equitably shared for present and future generations”. But it is inconceivable how such goals can be accomplished given the current state of collapse in many provincial reserves. Protected land accounts for 112,807km2 of South Africa’s mainland. Provincial reserves account for 44.5% of this, and the EWT says they are not fulfilling their conservation objectives. The report found cases where 80−90% of park funding was allocated to salaries, leading to a lack of spending on essential maintenance. There has also been a significant loss of institutional knowledge since an assessment was done in 2010. Experienced staff have left only to be replaced by less capable appointees or not replaced at all. In some provinces, half the unfilled vacancies were in scientific support roles, making it difficult to record data on species declines or to provide science-based solutions to managers.   A sample of provincial reserves showing their Management Effectiveness Tracking Tool (METT) score which is based on a survey devised by the WWF to assess how effectively wild areas are being managed. It consists of a series of questions given to the managers of protected land. Each answer is given a score so that the results can be compared over time to see if management standards are improving or declining.   At Songimvelo Nature Reserve in Mpumalanga, home to 28 animals of conservation concern, the researchers found part of the reserve abandoned, its rhino population being poached, vehicles no longer operational, and cattle invading the land because fences have not been maintained. Rhino, hippo and crocodile populations were found to be declining in many reserves due to poaching. Ntsikeni Vlei Nature Reserve (a Ramsar site) in KZN was found to be losing three to four wildebeest a week to poachers. Fencing neglect is often the first visible sign that management is failing. There are many reports of domestic livestock entering reserves and people living nearby have even planted crops in some reserves. Problems also arise when animals are able to easily leave protected areas. Where predators such as lion and hyena interact with local communities they are often killed by angry residents before reserve management can react. In some locations, a vicious circle has arisen where the poorly-maintained tourism infrastructure has caused visitor numbers to decline, resulting in the closure of a potential revenue stream that could have been used to maintain both the tourism facilities and park boundary fences. The EWT report identified KwaZulu-Natal as the province of most concern. Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park was the protected area in most urgent need of support and attention. The park recently made headlines regarding several incidents directly related to poor management. This includes the poaching of 275 rhino in the first half of 2022, and human-wildlife conflicts resulting from degraded fences. In 2020, the entire board of the Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife conservation agency was suspended, after the well-documented political appointment of an inexperienced ANC youth league official as director of the underperforming nature conservation agency. There is concern that provincial reserves will become what the EWT terms “paper parks”, existing as conservation protection areas on paper only. Although many are under-resourced financially and lack adequate capacity, they retain the potential to play a meaningful role in the conservation of valuable habitats. Although it often presents a disturbing picture, the EWT report does highlight the opportunities and practical actions – from recruiting experienced staff to innovative funding models – that could still turn the provincial reserves around. Under-resourced reserves could establish strategic partnerships and outsource critical services to bodies with a proven conservation track record – NGOs, the private sector or research institutions. Conservationists are looking to the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment for leadership in the financing and upskilling of reserve management to ensure that the department’s own stated aims can be delivered. The EWT report concludes: “There is a strong need for provincial reserves to be managed by entities with a conservation or ecological mandate, with appropriate expertise in this area, and with the support of financial and infrastructure experts, and not the other way around”. Unless this type of management is established, South Africa’s protected areas will fail to meet their conservation mandates. If that happens, the Biodiversity White Paper will be dead.

Treatment of kiwi bird at Miami zoo enrages New Zealand

Adapted from article written by Tess McClure Originally published by The Guardian (Wed, May 24, 2023) The zoo apologized after footage emerged of the bird being handled and petted under bright lights by members of the public. The treatment of a kiwi at a Miami zoo has enraged thousands of New Zealanders, who launched a furious campaign to bring their national bird home and prompted the zoo to apologise. Videos of Pāora – a kiwi bird housed by Zoo Miami – being handled and petted by guests under bright lights emerged last month, to almost immediate uproar in New Zealand. Reclusive and nocturnal, kiwis are beloved in New Zealand to the point that the flightless, rotund, nocturnal ground-dweller has become the country’s national icon. The footage went viral within hours – sparking a 9,000-person petition, a flood of complaints to the zoo, a government intervention from the Department of Conservation and comments from the prime minister. Zoo spokesperson Ron Magill said the zoo had “made a huge mistake here” and that, after receiving a flood of complaints, he “immediately went to the zoo director, and I said, we have offended a nation.” Later that day, prime minister Chris Hipkins weighed in on the incident, saying it “shows a lot of Kiwis take pride in our national bird when they’re overseas”. Americans may have been surprised by the immediacy and volume of the fury on behalf of the kiwi – but New Zealand is unusually dedicated to the welfare of its endemic birds. Credit: The Edge The country’s early breakaway from other land masses means that it has no native land mammals, and is instead populated by a vast array of birds. Many are now endangered, and there are ongoing national campaigns to wipe out predators and save them. The kiwi holds a special place in the hearts of New Zealanders. It is considered a taonga (cultural treasure) by Māori. Pāora, the Miami bird, was hatched in the US as part of a breeding program. The zoo had begun charging guests US$25 (around £20) for a “kiwi encounter” to meet the bird. In a video posted to the zoo’s social media, a handler cuddles Paora, scratching his head and showing him off to a group of visitors, who feed him worms. “He loves being pet, he’s like a little dog and he loves his head being pet,” they say. One viewer immediately launched a petition to “Help Save This Mistreated Kiwi,” arguing that he was “subjected to bright fluorescent lighting 4 days a week, being handled by dozens of strangers, petted on his sensitive whiskers, laughed at, and shown off like a toy”. Within less than a day, more than 9,000 people had signed. Others launched an email campaign to the zoo, with some calling for prime minister Chris Hipkins to speak directly to the US ambassador and intervene. New Zealand’s department of conservation stepped in, saying in a statement “We would like to thank everyone who has raised concerns about Paora, the kiwi at Miami zoo”, and that the department would be “discussing the situation with the American Association of Zoos & Aquariums”. Less than 24 hours later, Paora was returned to darkness. While the bird would not be repatriated to New Zealand, the “kiwi encounter” would be ended immediately, and Paora no longer exposed to fluorescent lights, the zoo said. “We listened to everyone who wrote to us – and there were a lot,” Magill said. In a lengthy apology to one complainant, the zoo said they were “deeply sorry” and that the kiwi encounter “was, in hindsight, not well conceived”.

Electrocuted pangolin struggling to survive after colliding with an electric fence.

In the town of Hoedspruit in South Africa, a young Temminck’s ground pangolin recently suffered horrific injuries after being repeatedly electrocuted by an electrified farm fence. A fence that cuts through her natural environment. The shock was so severe that it almost cooked the creature alive, tearing through her scales and flesh, and exposing the bone beneath. What makes the situation even more devastating is that when a pangolin comes into contact with electric fencing, its head or unprotected underbelly usually receives the initial jolt. The animal will instinctively adopt its natural defense mechanism – rolling into a ball – and inadvertently wrap itself around the live wire, getting repeatedly electrocuted. This usually leads to death – brutal, excruciating and often slow – but miraculously, Electra survived. The WORST case of pangolin electrocution our partner has EVER seen: Electra’s injuries were so severe, she appeared to have been cooked alive. Please help us rush her emergency care to save her life and alleviate her suffering. Electra was rushed to our partner, the Umoya Khulula Wildlife Center, for life-saving emergency care. Umoya Khulula specializes in the treatment of sick and injured wildlife. They told us this is the most horrific case of pangolin electrocution they had EVER seen. Even though Electra is in excellent hands, her survival hangs in the balance, and she urgently needs your help today. Pangolins are notoriously difficult to treat, as they are easily stressed and often die within a few months of being in captivity. However, our partner is highly experienced in treating these vulnerable animals, and with the right medical supplies, they are optimistic that Electra’s life can be saved… Electra is in critical condition and requires regular visits to a specialist vet for sedation, wound cleaning, and intensive care. She is also receiving daily (and COSTLY) pain and inflammation medication following her horrific ordeal. With your help to provide intensive care, in time, her wounds will heal. Please donate generously if you possibly can. Credit: Xiao Shibai/Wild Wonders China Accidental electrocution, habitat loss and rampant poaching are destroying pangolin populations in Africa. These endangered animals need every bit of help they can get. Electra is the latest in a long line of pangolins we have saved with your help. In this increasingly vicious world, they really need our support to save them from injury and the horrific wildlife trade – pangolins are often stripped of their scales and boiled alive in restaurants in Asia. Credit: Traffic If we can raise $5,000 (£4,050), we can rush emergency funds to Umoya Khulula to cover Electra’s long-term veterinary care and rehabilitation, medication and a GPS tracking tag so that she can be carefully monitored and protected when she is ready to be released back into a protected wild area. Please, will you help us save the life of this vulnerable creature? The Temminck’s ground pangolin, also known as the Cape pangolin, is the only pangolin species found in Namibia and South Africa and is currently listed as ‘Vulnerable’ on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. If they were to go extinct, researchers say it would have a cascading impact on the environment. Pangolins play an important ecological role in regulating insect populations and are said to save farmers millions of dollars each year by protecting crops through their consumption of termites and ants. They also contribute to a healthier ecosystem by ventilating the soil and spreading nutrients when they use their long claws to dig for insects. Every pangolin life counts, and we are committed to doing everything in our power to save as many of these gentle, unique creatures as we can. Today, Electra is our top priority, and we hope that she will be yours too. Please donate to Animal Survival International now.

We must move this captive leopard to a spacious sanctuary – his relocation permit is about to expire!

Today we come to you with an urgent plea for help: a captive wildlife facility in South Africa is shutting down. They have found new locations for most of their animals, but a hand-reared 13-year-old leopard remains. He has just days to be rehomed, which is why our partner, Panthera Africa Big Cat Sanctuary, has turned to us for help. Panthera Africa, an expert big-cat sanctuary and rehabilitation facility in the Western Cape, has the space for the cat but not the funds to relocate him. Another complication is that the leopard’s transport permit expires in less than a week, so the funds to relocate him must be found immediately. Panthera Africa’s sanctuary will allow the cat – named Gabriel – to live as close to ‘free’ as possible – something we know every wild animal deserves, but tragically doesn’t always get. Gabriel deserves to live out his days in an environment as close to his natural habitat as possible. Credit: Panthera Africa Please, help us relocate Gabriel to a spacious new home. With your help, we will relocate Gabriel, a 13-year-old hand-reared leopard, from a captive facility in South Africa to a new home where he will finally experience life as close to freedom as possible. Will you help us? Gabriel has lived in a small, captive facility for his entire life, and because he was hand-reared as a cub, he can never be released into the wild. Tragically, human interference in this wild animal’s life means he will never be able to hunt or fend for himself. A big risk Gabriel faces now is that if he is not transferred to Panthera Africa within the next few days, he could be snapped up by a breeding facility. In South Africa, captive breeding facilities exist with their nefarious activities taking place under the radar, all in the name of financial gain. Here, big cats are bred in captivity, and the cubs are removed from their mothers almost immediately, to be used for exhibition purposes, petting zoos, or sold, often to people who have not the faintest idea how to care for a wild animal. Trophy hunting contributes to the decline in leopard numbers. Credit: US Sun In the wild, a female leopard will reproduce every two to two-and-a-half years. However, in captive facilities where cubs are removed from their mothers almost immediately, females go into heat much faster, which means they can breed far more often. We cannot allow Gabriel to end up at a breeding facility. No wild animal should be kept and bred in captivity, and while we work hard to fight this scourge around the world, sometimes we must focus on one animal at a time – like Gabriel. Leopards in captivity are exploited by the entertainment industry around the world. Leopards everywhere are in trouble – and we must do everything we can to help. Leopards, the smallest of all big cat species, are in serious trouble. Habitat loss and human activity, such as trophy hunting and the illegal wildlife trade, have caused a significant decline in their numbers in recent decades. Around the world, they are exploited by the entertainment industry, forced to perform tricks in circuses, caged in zoos or bred for human ownership or interaction. Wealthy people, often in Middle Eastern countries, buy leopard cubs as pets as a show of their wealth – usually with no knowledge of how to care for them – and it almost always ends in disaster for the animal. This is why we must fight to preserve every leopard life we can. Panthera provides appropriate enrichment in specially designed enclosures for all their rescued big cats. Credit: Panthera Africa We have ONLY DAYS remaining to move this beautiful wild cat, and we urgently need your help to make it happen. The Panthera Africa sanctuary offers the ideal environment for a wild cat: a spacious 6,500-square-meter, semi-wild enclosure with natural vegetation, hiding places and shelter – in stark comparison to Gabriel’s current home, which is less than a tenth of the size. Their expert team is working with a specialist wildlife veterinarian and relocation team to prepare Gabriel for relocation to their sanctuary, 932 miles (1,500 km) away from where he currently is – they hope to relocate him at the end of this week. Prior to his relocation, he must have a full health check to determine his current physical state and physiological needs. This includes vaccinations, sterilization, bloodwork and a full body X-ray to check for any abnormalities like arthritis due to his age. He will also have an assessment of an old injury to both front legs, which is causing him to limp. At PABCS, Gabriel will be looked after by a team of specialist veterinarians and wildlife experts. Credit: Panthera Africa If we can raise $4000, (￡3,213), we will be able to cover the costs of Gabriel’s relocation, his veterinary care, and the right nutrition to support his health for the first months in his new home. Please, help us give Gabriel his freedom and well-being! Panthera Africa cares for big cats and other wild animals that are emotionally, physically or genetically impaired and cannot be fully rehabilitated and released into the wild. Once at their sanctuary, animals receive expert care for the rest of their lives. The sanctuary allows no hands-on interaction and ensures that animals live as close to the wild as possible. This is what Gabriel deserves – and with your help right now, it is what he will have, for the rest of his life. Please, help us get Gabriel to freedom by donating now.

Islamabad Supreme Court disallows import of elephants for zoo

Adapted from article written by Nasir Iqbal Originally published by Dawn (Tue, May 09, 2023) ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Monday rejected a plea seeking an approval for import of African elephants for a zoological garden in Peshawar. A three-judge SC bench comprising Justice Ijazul Ahsan, Justice Athar Minallah and Justice Shahid Wahid dismissed the plea. During the hearing, Deputy Attorney General Raja Shafqat Abbasi, through a concise statement, cited a July 24, 2020 meeting of the CITES (Conve­ntion on International Trade in Endan­gered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) Management Authority, in which it was held that the zoo cannot provide an environment conducive to survival of the wild African elephants. The court had taken up an appeal moved by a firm challenging the Sept 17, 2020 order of the Peshawar High Court, which had also dismissed the case. Filed through Advocate Niaz Wali Khan, the petitioner argued it had already purchased two elephants from the Zimbabwe government, besides bearing the cost of their food and upkeep, but was being denied permission to import them to the Peshawar Zoo. Image credit: AAJ TV Official The DAG recalled how the Ministry of Climate Change was earlier directed by the PHC to convene a meeting of the CITES Management Authority of Pakistan during the first round of litigation under Section 15 of the Pakistan Trade Control of Wild Fauna and Flora Act 2012 to assess whether the Peshawar Zoo was suitably equipped to house and care for elephants. In compliance with the directive, a meeting was held on July 24, 2020 in which it was concluded that the zoo could not provide the required environment. The petition, however, claimed that officials of the Zimbabwe’s National Parks and Wildlife Department visited the Peshawar zoo, thoroughly inspected the site and found it conducive and favourable for the elephants. Earlier in 2020, the Islamabad High Court had ordered the relocation of Kaavan, an elephant, from Islamabad’s Marghazar Zoo due to the poor state of the facility.

There is one thing standing between these orphaned pangolins and death (and YOU can provide it!).

A little while ago, we appealed to you for help in purchasing critically-needed milk formula for eight infant pangolins in Nigeria. Today, we really need your help once again. Our partner in Nigeria, Pangolins International, has 15 fragile pangopups all rescued from the horrific illegal trade. They must have special milk formula to survive – please, will you help us save their lives? Credit: Taylor Weidman Pangolins are relentlessly poached from the wild because they are eaten as a delicacy in Asian countries, including Vietnam and China, and their scales are used in baseless ‘traditional’ medicines. Often they are strung up, alive, in illegal meat markets and advertised for purchase. Juvenile pangolins – known as pangopups – are generally of no “use”, so they are ripped from their mothers and discarded, either in the wild or quite literally in rubbish bins. They will be at most a few months old – have no chance of survival without help. Our partner, Pangolins International (PI), helps to rescue, rehabilitate and release these abandoned infants into safe, protected areas. They urgently need our help right now, because pangolins are so endangered that every life saved will lessen the chance of extinction. Credit: Monga Bay News Pangolins are the most trafficked animal in the world. The illegal wildlife trade is annihilating their populations. ALL species are highly endangered and at least two are thought to be critically endangered. We cannot watch another wild animal go extinct – please, help now! Credit: Pangolins International and Nigerian Partners With our help, PI and its partners have been caring for eight young pangolins, now they need our help with an additional seven. These 15 rescued, traumatized pangolins, between five and nine months of age, need a special milk formula to survive. It is the closest substitute to their mothers’ milk and is the only nutrition that can help ensure their survival. Pangolins are believed to stay with their mothers for anything from four to eight months. Pangolin scales are used in useless traditional Chinese medicines. Credit: Dan Challender You already helped us feed and nurture the first eight. Will you please help us rush urgently-needed milk formula to the additional seven pups? Every pangolin life lost is accelerating the species towards extinction. Some species are already at risk of going extinct in as little as ten years. The 15 pangopups urgently need our ongoing support, and the specialized milk is critical to their survival – it can be the difference between life and death. Credit: Pangolins International and Nigerian Partners Pangolins are extremely sensitive creatures, notorious for being difficult to care for and keep alive outside their natural environments. Many of the pangolins rescued by PI and its partners are either injured, malnourished or dehydrated, and they can easily succumb to the effects of stress and trauma if they do not receive expert care and regular monitoring with a carefully planned feeding schedule. Credit: Pangolins International and Nigerian Partners PI also cares for other injured, orphaned mammals caught in snares – barbaric traps laid out to catch ‘anything that moves’ – including genets (catlike carnivores), civets (small, mostly nocturnal mammals), monkeys, and pottos (nocturnal tree-dwelling primates). All of these rescued creatures rely on the same milk formula to survive, grow strong, and ultimately be released into protected reserves. Credit: Pangolins International and Nigerian Partners If we can raise $6,000 (roughly £4,700), we can keep feeding the pangolins and other small mammals and, the more we raise, the longer we can support their recovery. So please, donate as much as you possibly can right now, and help us give hope to a species under terrible pressure from poaching. Together, we have the power to make a difference.

Unbelievable! Three arrested with a stolen Nile CROCODILE

Article written by Michelle Swart Originally published by The South African (Mon, April 24, 2023) Three people were arrested after they were found to be in the possession of a stolen Nile CROCODILE worth around $1,300 (£1,050) On 24 April, three suspects aged between 20 and 35 are expected to face charges before the Klerksdorp Magistrates’ Court for being in possession of a stolen Nile crocodile. SUSPECTS FOUND IN POSSESSION OF STOLEN CROCODILE The suspects were arrested on 20 April by Stilfontein Stock Theft and Endangered Species (STES) Unit members. They acted on a tip-off that a crocodile was stolen from a farm in Hartebeesfontein. Along with Nature Conservation officials, they located an abandoned farmhouse where they discovered the crocodile hidden under tree branches. The police returned the crocodile, valued at $1,300 (£1,050), to its rightful owner. They also seized the vehicle used in the commission of the crime. The crocodile was returned to its owners. Credit: South African Police Services ANOTHER INCIDENT OF STOCK THEFT Stilfontein STES investigated a separate incident and presented Thatho Nhlapo before the Stilfontein Magistrates Court on 19 April for being in possession of suspected stolen cattle. After a shepherd witnessed three men chasing two cows in an open field along the R509 road, close to Khuma, and alerted his employer, they arrested Nhlapo on 17 April. Farmers in the area mobilized and arrested Nhlapo before handing him over to the police. The suspects abandoned two cows in the field, while they were caught with two others, and the authorities are still searching for one that is missing. Initial investigations revealed that the cattle belong to a farmer in Free State Province. The Provincial Commissioner of North West, Lieutenant General Sello Kwena, commended the police officers, Nature Conservation officials, farmers, and members of the community for their cooperation, which led to these successes. Nhlapo will remain in custody until his next court appearance on 26 April. Meanwhile, the two remaining suspects in the Nile crocodile theft are still at large. Banner credit: African Insider

This holiday island hides SICKENING wildlife brutality – flying foxes beaten to death and turned into DINNER!

The Seychelles is one of the world’s most beautiful and exclusive holiday destinations, but behind the scenes, sickening wildlife brutality is taking place. Flying foxes, a species of fruit bat, are hunted from the wild using crude and cruel nets and hooks – so they can be eaten by locals and tourists. Once caught, flying foxes are beaten with sticks and stabbed if they are found alive, and then skinned and turned into curry. Bat meat has been eaten by locals for decades, and now, profiteering restaurants are billing it as a dinner-plate delicacy to tourists – a ‘must-have’ cultural experience. Flying foxes are granted no protection by the local government which means beating them with sticks, stabbing them and butchering them for their meat is legal. The only people who can do anything to help these important mammals are concerned custodians of wildlife like you, and us. And we have a plan to help them. Please, will you help? Image credit: Protect Paradise Tourists visiting the pristine Seychelles islands pay $35 to $40 (roughly £28 to £32) for a stomach-churning ‘traditional’ delicacy: fruit bat curry. Flying foxes play a vital role in seed dispersal and the pollination of flowering plants, and they are critical to the health of forests. But this fact is ignored by those Seychellois people who are only interested in profiting from their meat. ‘Kari sousouri’, or bat curry, is eaten on many islands in the Seychelles, but in particular on Mahé, Praslin and La Digue, where flying foxes are being over-hunted and killed for the pot. Every month, hundreds of these important and harmless creatures are slaughtered. It’s sickening! Seychelles tourism websites actually promote fruit bat curry as one of the islands’ signature dishes, urging visitors to try it! The animals are caught, sold by hunters for around $7.50 (roughly £6) each, then skinned and curried. There are roughly 60 known species of flying foxes globally, and it is estimated that six species have already gone extinct. We cannot let Seychelles’ flying foxes be next! Flying foxes weigh between 400g and 800g (0.88 to 1.7 pounds), and subsist on fruit, seeds and nectar. Tragically, this makes them easy prey for hunters: fishing lines and hooks are strung up in fruit trees or between bamboo poles so that the hungry bats get trapped while hunting for food. These torture devices cause terrible injuries and suffering to the animals, and those who do not die right away often succumb to slow and painful deaths due to infection or the severity of their injuries. Those trapped and still found to be alive are beaten with sticks or stabbed until they are dead – a brutal and excruciating way to die. Most distressing of all, mothers are sometimes killed, and their pups – who weigh just 70 to 90g (2.4 to 3.1 ounces) – will be left to fend for themselves in the wild. Most will die because pups rely entirely on their mothers for the first year of their lives. Image credit: Protect Paradise Mother flying foxes carrying pups get caught in hunters’ nets and suffer slow, excruciating deaths. Their pups are left lying helpless and defenseless on the ground, or still desperately clutching their mothers’ dead bodies. Please, help us rescue and rehabilitate them now! We are working with Protect Paradise (PP), the only licensed rescue and rehabilitation wildlife center on the island of Mahé, Seychelles. Image credit: Protect Paradise Protect Paradise rescues flying foxes caught in traps and rehabilitates those left sick, injured and orphaned. They treat around 10 flying foxes every month, caring for the pups sometimes for as long as eight months, after which they are released into areas where hunting is less likely to occur. Rescued pups need dedicated 24-hour care and regular feeding every 2 to 3 hours. They also need help in maintaining their body temperature, for which heating pads are used, as well as special wraps that mimic their mothers’ wings. Without these, they would succumb to hypothermia and shock. Without 24-hour care, hurt and traumatized flying foxes and their pups have no hope of survival, and would likely end up cooked into a curry! You can help us keep flying foxes out of the pot by donating now. Please, will you help them? Protect Paradise cares not only for flying foxes, but also vulnerable and critically endangered animals, including giant tortoises and yellow-bellied mud terrapins – endemic to the Seychelles – and critically endangered hawksbill turtles. Caring for these delicate creatures is time-consuming and costly, but we – like you – believe that every life counts on a planet where almost every species is under pressure from human activity. If we can raise $5,000 (roughly £4,014), we can help provide food, critical medicines and life-saving rehabilitation for the flying foxes, their orphaned pups, and other delicate wildlife in Protect Paradise’s care. Image credit: Protect Paradise Will you donate now to help us rehabilitate and preserve these important and defenseless creatures? Bats are vital to our ecosystems and do not deserve to die in cruel nets or on dinner plates.

Africa’s painted dog are racing to extinction. Please help them.

Africa’s painted dogs are among the most endangered mammals in the world. Half a million of these extraordinary predators once roamed African plains – but now, there are fewer than 7,000 left in the wild. They are facing the very real threat of extinction. The biggest threat to painted dog populations was once lions – but now, it is humans. It will come as no surprise to you that the greatest threat to these unique creatures – named for their colorful, patchwork-like coat – is human activity. Illegal hunting, habitat destruction and road collisions are catastrophic for painted dog populations. Painted dogs become victims of snares left out for other wildlife by poaching syndicates. Image Credit: Nick Dyer Poaching is a particularly severe threat. Snares – crude and cruel devices often made from wire – trap an unsuspecting painted dog, and if they are not rescued, they may die slowly, in excruciating pain, over several days. Criminals are not aiming to trap painted dogs, they are after animals to sell in illegal bushmeat markets – antelopes, elephants, giraffes and buffalo – but painted dogs become unwitting victims, caught in snares or killed by poison. Snaring is devastating populations of these endangered animals, but we have a plan to help protect them – and for that, we need your support right now. Painted dogs are tragically endangered, but with your help, we can help bring the species back from the brink of extinction. Around 700 painted dogs live in the wild in Zimbabwe – 10 per cent of the world’s population. Their lives are in danger every single day because of an epidemic of snaring in wildlife areas. Zimbabwe’s struggling economy has caused an increase in poaching: wild animals are illegally caught, killed, chopped up and sold for their meat – known as ‘bushmeat’. A painted dog caught in a snare may die a slow and agonizing death. Image Credit: Nick Dyer We work for the rescue, rehabilitation and release of injured painted dogs – if you are able to support our work for this unique species, please donate now! We are working with Painted Dog Conservation (PDC) near Hwange National Park in Zimbabwe, home to some 200 painted dogs, all of them at risk of being snared every single day. PDC’s highly trained anti-poaching unit works closely with Zimbabwe National Parks and the Forestry Commission to patrol the park every day, finding and removing snares that would otherwise cause intense agony and suffering to painted dogs and other animals. The Painted Dog Conservation (PDC) anti-poaching unit works tirelessly to remove and destroy lethal snares left out by poachers. Image Credit: Nick Dyer The team has retrieved 50,000 snares since 2001– saving perhaps 5,000 animals. When the team is notified about trapped animals, it responds immediately. They are treated onsite or evacuated to the PDC sanctuary clinic, where they are treated and cared for until they can be returned to the wild. Those with injuries or disabilities severe enough to prevent their release become permanent residents at the sanctuary, where they live in an environment as close to the wild as possible. The PDC responds immediately to reports of injured painted dogs and administers expert care. Image Credit: Nick Dyer If we can raise $6,000 (£4,700), we can provide painted dogs with medical care and supplies. There is no exaggeration in saying painted dogs are so endangered that saving a single life is important for the survival of the species. A painted dog is treated after a snare is removed from its neck. Image credit: Nick Dyer Painted dogs are intelligent and highly sociable animals, with each one bearing a unique pattern. They are extremely caring to their packmates and if one dog is elderly, hurt or ill, the pack will take turns caring for it. Only the alpha male and female breed and the rest of the pack supports the raising of the pups. If one dog dies due to snaring or road collision, it affects the hierarchy of the entire pack, and can be the difference between the family structure surviving or collapsing, and the pups dying. We understand the importance of helping every painted dog we can – and we believe you do, too. Please donate as much as you can right now, and help us protect this precious and important species.

Fox rescued after being ‘bagged’ and trapped underground for illegal hunt

Members of the Cirencester Illegal Hunt Watch and Three Counties Hunt Sabs have rescued a fox which hunters had tied up in a bag and stored under the ground. According to a report by the Hunt Saboteurs Association, the ‘Sabs’, as they are known, rescued the animal during the Cotswold Hunt Meet in Gloucestershire last month, after hearing its cry. Sabs approached a wood where hounds were hunting, and after driving them away, discovered the fox in an ‘artificial earth’ – a network of underground chambers and pipes which hunters use to encourage foxes into an area so they can ensure there are animals to be hunted on the day. When Sabs uncovered one of the chambers, they discovered a tied-up sack that moved when they tried to lift it. Inside was a live fox which, following a careful examination, was released. Experts say she likely had dependent pups. “A vixen with cubs somewhere, trapped and tied up in a sack, buried in a purpose-built torture chamber… Whenever we think we’ve seen the worst of fox hunting’s sickening savagery, it gets worse,” said naturalist and BBC television presenter, Chris Packham, who speaks out against hunting. “It’s time these dog-shooting, hound-whipping, badger-baiting, horse-kicking criminal monsters were shut down forever. Please help us end hunting now.” Image credit: Hunt Saboteurs Association According to the article, a terrierman was overheard saying to another, “Get the sack, it’s evidence [that] the fox was kept at your place”. Sabs had already retrieved the sack to use as evidence. Following the Avon Vale being caught digging out foxes, the British Hound Sports Association (BHSA), the governing body for hunting, advised all its members, including the Cotswold Hunt, that terrier work should be suspended pending a review. The discovery of the fox proves that not only are hunts ignoring this ban, but they are also breaking the law by keeping captive foxes to be chased and killed. “We were shocked and sickened by what we found whilst out sabbing the Cotswold Hunt [on] 18 March 2023. The small, terrified vixen had been tied up in a bag, stuffed into a chamber under the ground called an artificial earth awaiting her cruel fate,” said the Cirencester Illegal Hunt Watch in a statement. “Hounds were marking the ground where she was buried and we believe she would have been released and hunted by the blood thirsty psychopaths out with the hunt if we hadn’t been there. This poor fox would be disorientated away from her territory and could possibly have cubs dependent on her elsewhere. We hope this wildlife crime is taken seriously by Gloucestershire police and those responsible for her suffering get the punishment they deserve.” Meanwhile, spokesperson for the Hunt Saboteurs Association, Lee Moon, said, “The BHSA attempted to assert their authority over their member hunts by banning the Avon Vale. They must now do the same to the Cotswold Hunt if they don’t wish to appear toothless to the British public. Fox hunting has been illegal for over 18 years, yet hunts are still actively using artificial earths and keeping live foxes to be chased and killed. “These organised criminal gangs have shown time and again that they are unwilling and unable to obey the law and so clearly the only option is the disbanding of all hunts, starting with the complete abolition of terrier work.” Banner credit: Hunt Saboteurs Association

Ljubo the caged bear is STILL suffering. Here is the progress we have made so far.

We promised our supporters we will not stop fighting to free Ljubo, a five-year-old brown bear who has been held captive in Montenegro his entire life. We are working tirelessly to have Ljubo relocated to a bear sanctuary, but the fight to free him is fraught with challenges. Here is the situation.   Firstly, his owner profits from exhibiting him to the public and refuses to free him, and secondly, until we became involved, the Montenegrin government turned a blind eye to this blatant cruelty. Now, Montenegro’s Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has endorsed Ljubo’s rescue, but the Veterinary Inspectorate has not, dragging its heels, seemingly finding nothing wrong with bears suffering in cages. Ljubo belongs to the nation, but the nation’s rulers turn a blind eye to his suffering. We will never turn our backs on him – please help us FREE HIM! Under Montenegrin law, the bear belongs to the nation, not to Milan Milickovic, the man holding him captive. Yet the situation continues regardless of the will of the people, most of whom do not know about the situation and would be horrified at such cruelty. The urgency of Ljubo’s situation cannot be overstated. He is DESPERATELY UNHAPPY. For 24 hours a day, every day, Ljubo is confined to a cage. He spends his days being bombarded by food, thrown at him by selfie-seeking tourists. He is so stressed he self-harms, biting himself and the bars of his cage. It is a sickening disgrace that Montenegro allows this to happen and we are doing our utmost to rescue Ljubo from an intolerable situation.   It is a tough battle, but one that we must not lose, for the sake of Ljubo and ALL animals treated abominably. Stand with us. Don’t give up on Ljubo – we will not. We are making progress, but we have no illusions: it will be a tough fight. Milickovic makes money from the bear and is refusing to let him go, aided by government inertia and officials who should know better. We urge animal lovers to help us FREE LJUBO and get him to a sanctuary where he will live a better life, in appropriate conditions with expert care. Here is where we are now: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has revoked Milickovic’s license to keep the bear and other wild animals to exhibit them for financial gain. This is because he broke requirements for reporting ‘changes in circumstances’ at his ‘zoo’, including the deaths of 13 animals in one day in December 2022. Milickovic now has no valid zoo license, which means he should close down. He hasn’t done so. At our urging, in February 2023, Montenegro’s veterinary inspectorate, which falls under the Ministry of Agriculture, agreed that a qualified bear expert could visit Ljubo to assess his health, but this did not happen. On April 10, our continued lobbying paid off and we met with the Minister of Agriculture, Vladimir Jokovic, and veterinary administration officials. As a result, the veterinary inspectorate has now approved a list of bear experts they will accept to conduct the assessment. We will work with them to ensure the assessment takes place as soon as possible and have offered to pay for the expert’s time and travel. The grim chronicle of a Montenegrin ‘private zoo’: 13 animal deaths in a single day, with no explanation. We will continue our fight to get Ljubo out of there. We still need your help. We submitted a freedom of information request seeking to establish the status of the investigation into the 13 mysterious animal deaths in a single day at the ‘zoo’ where Ljubo is being held. We were told that it is an ongoing investigation, and that under the Criminal Procedure Code, they are unable to give us answers. We will carefully monitor progress. There is a parliamentary election coming up in Montenegro. In the hope that local people will make their politicians take notice, we placed large billboards at strategic points throughout Podgorica, Montenegro’s capital. To highlight how awful his situation is, the billboards showed Ljubo biting the bars of his cage. There is hope. We are in contact with a reputable wildlife organization, experienced in bear sanctuaries, which has assured us a haven will be found for Ljubo, but only once the government of Montenegro gives permission for his relocation.   We are sometimes asked why it is taking the Montenegrin government so long to make right what is so clearly wrong. We do not know the answer to that, but we can promise that we will not stop fighting until Ljubo is free. But we cannot do it alone. If Ljubo is ever to be free, it will take all of us together to achieve it. Please, donate today. Ljubo needs you.

The African elephant population has PLUMMETED from more than 5 million 100 years ago to just 415,000 today!

The elephant population in Africa is in the midst of a devastating poaching crisis. At least 20,000 African elephants are killed each year for the illegal ivory trade, driving them headlong to extinction. Routinely, we have to deal with the harrowing sight of the bloody, butchered carcass of a once magnificent animal, its tusks hacked from its face and its body riddled with bullets. Credit: Mpumalanga news The situation is utterly horrific, but we have good news… A brilliant scientist has come up with technology that, using artificial intelligence (AI), will completely revolutionize the way we track and monitor endangered wildlife species and save countless lives. Existing tracking devices are fitted around the neck, and are heavy, cumbersome and expensive. They can tell you where an elephant is, but nothing else. The new devices fit around an ankle; they are lighter, cheaper and provide a mass of detailed vital information. The AI will monitor every movement the elephant makes, in real time, while continuously monitoring its vital signs to tell you how it is feeling. At the first sign of anxiety, the AI will send a message via satellite to anti-poaching teams, who can then respond instantly. At the moment, using the old tracking devices, it can take days to realize something is wrong, and by then, it is far too late. The elephant will be dead, and its tusks on their way to China. This elephant family in Addo National Park is vulnerable to poaching attacks. The new devices were invented by Dr SP Le Roux, a scientist at Stellenbosch University in South Africa, who was awarded a PhD for his work. There is no doubt that the devices will usher in a new era and the day can’t come soon enough for elephants in poaching areas. There is an upsurge of poaching in the area around Addo National Park and elephants are in danger. With your help, we will fit Addo’s elephants with the new devices. We have set ourselves a deadline of one month to do so… that’s how urgent the need is. We need your support to fit the tracking devices to an elephant family, who live worryingly close to a poaching hotspot. Credit: Martin Fletcher Today, there are only about 415,000 elephants left in Africa – a staggering decline from over 5 million less than a century ago. Both species of African elephant are listed on the International Union for the Conservation of Nature’s (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species. The African forest elephant is critically endangered, while the African savanna elephant is endangered. Dr SP Le Roux displaying the revolutionary tracking device to ASI executive director David Barritt ASI works extensively in Africa and perhaps has a better idea than most of the severity of the situation for elephants and how important it is to protect them. We are at war with poachers, and the reality is that the international criminal gangs that control poaching are becoming ever more sophisticated. They use modern weapons, pay huge bribes to get inside information and are expert smugglers. Those of us who care about the wild must up our game if we are to save an enormously important endangered species. These new devices will give elephants a better chance. We need YOUR support to do so! If we can raise $16,000 (around £13,000), we can purchase SEVEN state-of-the-art tracking devices for endangered African savanna elephants of the Addo Elephant National Park. Please, will you help us? Credit: Martin Fletcher The illegal wildlife trade is one of the most lucrative illicit trade sectors globally, with thousands of wildlife species, worth billions of dollars, being poached annually. Apart from the loss of a culturally significant icon, elephant poaching threatens the vital role that elephants play in maintaining healthy ecosystems as keystone species. Please donate as generously as you possibly can RIGHT NOW.

UNBELIEVABLE! TRAGIC! Crocodile destroys anti-poaching patrol boat. Elephants, giraffes, leopards are in MORTAL DANGER!

The area along the Zambezi River in Zimbabwe’s Victoria Falls is a poaching hotspot. Poachers cross the river from Zambia into the Matetsi Private Game Reserve (MPGR), slaughtering vulnerable and endangered wildlife as they go. Elephants and hippos for their ivory tusks and meat; leopards and giraffes for their skin and meat; countless antelopes and other animals simply because they are there for the taking. Countless animals are being killed by poachers’ snares. Credit: MAPU Critical, keystone species are being wiped out at an alarming rate and throughout Africa, we do our best to protect them. But now, the animals who live near the Zambezi River have a big problem and need your help. Our partner, the Matetsi Anti-Poaching Unit (MAPU), makes 95% of poaching arrests along the Zambezi River, but a crocodile destroyed its patrol boat. Please help us get them back on the water – FAST. Wildlife is at extreme risk, even as you read this. A poacher is apprehended by the Matsetsi Anti-Poaching Unit (MAPU). Credit: MAPU Their team comprises 50 expert forest scouts and a highly trained canine unit. MAPU patrols day and night to cover every part of the reserve and its islands on foot, by vehicle, and critically, by boat. They work in collaboration with Zimbabwe National Parks (ZNP), and over the past two years, the team – established in 2021 – has stamped out poaching in the entire reserve. Now there is a major problem. A few weeks ago, as the MAPU team prepared to leave for an afternoon patrol, a large Zambezi crocodile attacked their boat, ripping it to shreds. Before the croc mistook their boat for dinner, MAPU was able to patrol the river and stop poachers making landfall in the reserve. Now, poachers have the upper hand and are wreaking havoc with wildlife because of it. A baby elephant is freed from a poacher’s snare caught in his mouth. Credit: MAPU With no anti-poaching presence on the river, animals are in real peril. Because scouts are unable to patrol river islands and waterways, poachers can snare and slaughter animals at their leisure. Then, under the cover of dense forest spanning more than 212 square miles (55,000 hectares or 550 square kilometers), they can lay traps for unsuspecting animals. Securing the perimeter of the Matetsi game reserve is vital in protecting animals. Regular boat patrols enable MAPU to investigate suspicious activity along the 16-kilometer (10-mile) riverbank, remove snares, and help trapped and hurt wildlife on islands that cannot be crossed without the use of a boat. One horrifying example is that poachers can kill a hippo and whisk its carcass back to Zambia in under an hour. The MAPU patrol boat was destroyed in a crocodile attack. Credit: MAPU MAPU urgently needs a replacement boat. It will cost $11,000 (£9,305) for a good-quality, second-hand boat with a reinforced aluminum hull. This will enable the boat to be piloted through the rapids and shallow waterways where poachers tend to hide. It will also be easy to lift in and out of the water, which will allow for quick and easy access when the team is alerted to illegal activity on the river. And of course, crocodiles will not be able to snack on it! It is critical that we purchase an anti-poaching boat to help protect the magnificent wildlife of Victoria Falls. Please help us right now. The tragic fate of a giraffe caught in a poachers snare. Credit: MAPU Thanks to MAPU’s efforts in securing the perimeters of their reserve, they have been able to successfully reintroduce waterbuck and have plans to reintroduce black and white rhinos and pangolins. But these plans are in jeopardy: without a boat, they cannot fully protect the reserve, so they cannot risk vulnerable animals in a poaching hotspot. Please help us get MAPU back on the water as soon as possible. Wildlife is severely threatened without regular river patrols, so there is not a second to lose. Please, donate now and help us save elephants, giraffes, leopards and other important wild species of Victoria Falls.

Chinese, South African ‘mafia’ decimating wildlife in Kruger National Park

Article written by Darren Taylor Originally published by The Epoch Times (Monday, March 20, 2023) JOHANNESBURG—A new report from the European Union-funded international crime response group, Enact, says organized crime groups from South Africa and China—in collaboration with corrupt wildlife officials—are “decimating” big game animals in one of the world’s premier game reserves. The Kruger National Park covers an area of almost 7,600 square miles across South Africa’s northeastern provinces of Limpopo and Mpumalanga, bordering Mozambique and Zimbabwe. The United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) describes Kruger Park as one of the world’s most important wildlife conservation areas. It’s home to the iconic but increasingly rare animals known as the “Big Five,” namely African buffalo, African elephant, rhino, leopard, and lion. Ivory from elephant tusks fetches high prices on black markets, and rhino horn and lion bones are in high demand in China for their scientifically disproven healing properties when ground and mixed into traditional medicine. According to the report from Enact wildlife and organized crime expert Julian Rademeyer, at least 40 percent of Kruger Park’s law enforcement employees are corrupt and up to 70 percent of other park employees may be assisting poachers. The park employs more than 2,500 staff plus more than 400 rangers. Rademeyer told The Epoch Times the staff is mostly from surrounding communities and as such are at “great risk of coercion and threats.” In his report, he quotes a ranger as telling him: “You work in the park, your wife is alone at home with the kids and this is where the kids go to school. You make the choice.” Under pressure, the ranger starts providing information to the syndicate, receiving an initial payment of 25,000 rands ($1,400). Payments increase depending on the “quality of information” received, such as the location of a lion pride. Credit: Ndivhuwo Mulamu/Hawks The big cats are easy to kill with poisoned meat, and the carcasses are chopped up and transported out of the park with the help of corrupt officials. The bones are then smuggled out of the port of Durban in containers on ships bound for the Far East, to markets in China. Rademeyer said his information is based on interviews with senior Kruger Park law enforcement agencies, honest and corrupted rangers, private wildlife security consultants, conservation managers, and investigators trying to unravel a “complex web” of organized crime that’s “engulfing” the park. Investigators from South Africa’s Hawks agency told The Epoch Times they have linked “many” rangers and police officers to poaching networks. “Rangers must either become part of the crime, or they must turn a blind eye to it. If they do not, they are shot dead in their homes,” said one of the investigators. He continued: “In cooperation with auditors we have traced payments of large amounts of money to more than 50 Kruger Park officials, from syndicates. This is just the tip of the iceberg, as our investigations have just started.” The park’s head ranger, Cathy Dreyer, who’s received numerous death threats, told The Epoch Times it’s “impossible” to enter the Kruger to kill animals “without cooperation from inside the reserve.” Ike Phaahla, the spokesperson for the government-run SANParks agency that manages Kruger Park, told The Epoch Times he could not comment on Rademeyer’s report. “I will first have to read the report,” he said. Kruger Park is considered to be one of the “jewels in the crown” of South African tourism, which prides itself on offering local and international tourists a chance to view the rare game animals. Yet, said Rademeyer, the government appears to be doing little to protect the animals in the way of giving more resources to agencies to fight the syndicates off. His report “Landscapes of Fear” traces the beginning of the “rot” to 2011, when rhino poaching began to increase dramatically in Kruger Park. Between 2011 and 2020 Kruger’s white rhino population fell by 75 percent, from around 10,600 to 2,607. Credit: Reuters Rademeyer, as well as the Hawks officers interviewed by The Epoch Times, said the same syndicates responsible for denuding the Kruger Park were also involved in kidnappings, cash-in-transit heists, car-jackings, extortion, illegal mining, and ATM bombings. Conservationist Kevin Pietersen told The Epoch Times: “The only market for things like rhino horn and lion bones is Asia, and specifically China. “Law enforcement guys have told me about links between Chinese triads and South African mafia-type groups. It’s easy to smuggle anything out of South Africa; the controls are so lax.” Several Chinese nationals have been arrested for rhino, elephant, and lion poaching in South African game reserves in recent years. Most have escaped jail terms, instead paying admission-of-guilt fines. In September 2021, police officer Stephanus Peters – and a woman described by investigators as a “Chinese interpreter”, Lina Zhang – were arrested after allegedly delivering 30 rhino horns for transport from Johannesburg’s OR Tambo airport to Malaysia. Police say the horns were falsely declared as wine. Rademeyer said the poachers were usually armed with automatic rifles and other high-caliber weapons. They often cooperate with corrupt state veterinarians to source animal tranquilizers and “dart rifles.” According to Rademeyer’s research, rangers and soldiers from the South African National Defence Force shot dead at least 200 suspected poachers in Kruger Park between 2010 and 2015, with seven soldiers losing their lives and many seriously wounded. Five years ago, the government budgeted millions of rands for 87 additional rangers, but not a single appointment has been made. Requests for an explanation from the department of environmental affairs went unanswered. A police intelligence source told The Epoch Times most areas around Kruger Park are “hotbeds of violent crime,” with several factions from the ruling African National Congress (ANC) connected to criminal gangs. In March 2020, Hawks agent Colonel Leroy Bruwer was killed when gunmen opened fire on his vehicle as he traveled between the towns of Mbombela and Lydenburg, near the reserve. Bruwer was the lead investigator in several cases of rhino poaching. In July last year, assassins shot dead

Miami art dealer convicted of smuggling ivory sculptures

Miami-based art dealer Eduardo Ulises Martinez has been sentenced to more than four years in prison for illegally transporting sculptures containing ivory, reports The Art Newspaper. He was also found guilty of obstructing the course of justice. Martinez was caught with ivory in his luggage in September 2021, as he made his way through Miami International Airport. Last week, a jury found him guilty on nine counts of smuggling items containing ivory, both in and outside of the United States, without declaring the items or making them available for inspection by the US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). His conviction for obstruction of justice was based on his solicitation of false evidence. Martinez purchased sculptures containing ivory from auction houses in Spain, England, Canada and Australia and imported them into the United States using various methods of concealment. On some occasions, he stripped the works into their ivory, bronze, and marble components and shipped the individual pieces in separate boxes. He also utilized third parties residing in Spain and England to collect the sculptures from auction houses in Europe, creating the impression that they would stay within the European Union. Thereafter, he instructed individuals to ship the sculptures to the US. In each instance, Martinez, or others at his command, would falsely declare that the sculptures were made from another material or give false descriptions to evade inspection and declaration requirements. Once the sculptures arrived in the US, Martinez would mend any prior imperfections and sell them at a significant mark up. He even sold to buyers in other countries and helped ease the transportation of ivory out of the US. The jury heard evidence that Martinez knew his actions were illegal, but he continued in order to make money, according to the Justice Department. In addition to his 51-month prison sentence, Martinez was ordered to pay a $20,000 fine and must serve three years of supervised release. He also forfeited various sculptures containing ivory.

Conservation Action Trust: OUR KIN DISCARDED – South Africa’s inhumane and indefensible trade and killing of (nonhuman) primates

Adapted from article written by EMS & BAT Originally published by Conservation Action Trust (February 2023) South Africa is failing in their oversight of the legal export of non-human primates and their body parts, effectively condoning needless cruelty to these innocent animals. In only 7 years, between January 2016 and December 2022, through just a single port of exit – OR Tambo Airport – there were exports of 3,782 live primates and 5,401 hunting trophies, consisting of 3,349 chacma baboons, 1,886 vervet monkeys and 9 bushbabies. During this period, 1,141 live indigenous bushbabies were exported. Most of the live exports were for commercial trade (not zoos) into countries with highly dubious animal protection histories, like Bangladesh, China, UAE and Armenia. An extensive investigative report by the EMS Foundation and Ban Animal Trading has found South Africa’s primate trade to be poorly managed, ecologically damaging and unsustainable, while raising welfare and ecological concerns. Our Kin Discarded lists a string of systemic official failures: Official data capture includes documentation discrepancies Illegal shipments Untraceable destinations Enforcement negligence Lack of oversight and verification Inadequate safeguards Irrational or arbitrary hunting determinations No national population assessments or Non-Detrimental Findings for indigenous primates – a clear contravention of CITES   These activities involve a relatively small number of wildlife breeders, hunting, taxidermy and legal wildlife trade exporters. The 40-page report was based on official information obtained by the EMS Foundation from the South African Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE), via the Promotion of Access to Information Act (PAIA), about the trade in CITES-listed (nonhuman) primates. The Report includes extensive graphs as well as an analysis of the situation concerning each non-human primate. There are 10 steps South Africa needs to urgently take to arrest a deplorable situation: Implementation of an effective permitting system to ensure that information is valid, accurate and complete Oversight of the permitting system Ensure the availability of actual trade data for both effective decision-making and for compliance with CITES Review by authorities of how they manage indigenous primates to ensure that biodiversity is protected Comprehensively and transparently assess the impact of the legal trade via a Non-Detrimental Finding Ensure that the trade in non-indigenous primates does not threaten conservation in their country of origin Support in-situ conservation and a compassionate approach in relation to nonhuman primates. Adopt a new ethos, based on Ubuntu, which sees people living in harmony with nature and not simply regarding it as an expendable resource or damage-causing Acknowledge that commercial trade in any primates ignores the complex social structures and cognitive abilities of primates and is ethically wrong Immediately issue a moratorium on the trade, hunting and killing of indigenous primates and the breeding, trading and keeping of exotic primates as pets.   The report only covers the export of live primates and hunting trophies but does not cover the hunting of primates by local hunters which is poorly regulated and for which little information exists. All (nonhuman) primates are wild animals and they are fundamentally unsuited to captivity. Cognitively, behaviourally, emotionally and socially, they are some of the most complex animal species on earth. Their capture and removal from their natural habitats and social and family groups is extremely cruel and inflicts great suffering and distress, as well as resulting in injuries and even death. The illegal trade in great apes, such as chimpanzees, is often supported by wholesalers in China, Bangladesh, the UAE and Armenia, who “often act as intermediaries between the traffickers and the final buyers in Asia, the Middle East and Russia.” China has at least four known such wholesalers. The primate pet trade, bolstered by social media, continues to grow and impacts the survival of individuals and wild populations globally. Bangladesh does not allow import of primates, yet the Report found evidence of extensive imports to false or non-existent addresses in Bangladesh. A report by the South African Anti-Money Laundering Integrated Task Force (SAMLIT), published in November 2021, corroborates the research by BAT and EMS and noted that the use of the legal wildlife industry masks illegal trade and is prevalent in South Africa. This occurs when legal exports are either under-declared or prohibited species are exported alongside legal exports. South Africa is home to six indigenous primate species. All these species are susceptible to escalating habitat loss as well as removal from the wild and indiscriminate hunting. Banner Image: Conservation Action Trust

Urgent Action Needed: Help orphaned pangolins survive poaching tragedy!

We have told you before about the near obliteration of endangered pangolins in Africa and throughout the world. The clock is ticking for this species, which is being driven to extinction by the illegal wildlife trade, for its meat and scales. Credit: Nancy Gelman / USFWS; Jefri Tarigan / AP Every pangolin life lost pushes the species closer to extinction. Right now, we are helping our partner in Nigeria save the lives of eight juvenile pangolins – called pangopups – in critical condition, all saved from the illegal wildlife trade in West Africa. It is a miracle that any animal could survive this brutal illegal capture – let alone a helpless pangopup – and these eight need your support right away. Credit: Pangolins International and Nigerian Partners Eight pangopups are fighting to survive after being rescued from the illegal wildlife trade. With your help, we can save their lives. Last month, our partner, Pangolins International (PI), rescued the eight pangopups from illegal traders in Nigeria. Their mothers were captured by poachers and slaughtered for their meat and scales, which are sold at local markets. Pangopups are of no use to the traders – so they are routinely chucked into rubbish bins to die, or casually discarded. Sometimes, these infants are found still clinging to their dead mothers! It’s heart-wrenching to think of these young creatures being taken from their mothers only to be thrown away like trash because they are deemed worthless. They are battling for their survival, and we simply cannot stand by and do nothing. Credit: Pangolins International and Nigerian Partners Pangopups rescued from the wildlife trade need special milk or they will die. It is for this life-saving milk that we so desperately need your support today! There is no alternative. We need to rush funds to purchase as much special milk as we possibly can. Political and economic uncertainty in Nigeria means that supplies of specialized products are unpredictable and costly, so PI must purchase the formula whenever they are able to find it – and as much of it as possible. Credit: Pangolins International and Nigerian Partners Pangolins are extremely sensitive creatures that seldom do well in stressful environments and under human care. Many rescued by PI are injured, malnourished and dehydrated, and were saved from intensely traumatic situations. These little creatures have to be handled very carefully and need to be fed special milk formula – measured to the correct amount and mixed to the exact concentration – every few hours. The PI team is skilled and has a remarkable track record in nursing them to health. 80% of our partner’s rescued pangolins survive (so there is GREAT HOPE for the eight pangopups), but to have any chance of survival, they must receive the special milk formula! We are racing to get the formula but we need your help right now. Credit: Pangolins International and Nigerian Partners Please help us raise $5,000 (roughly £4,100) to get these animals the nutrition they desperately need to survive. The more we raise, the longer we can support their recovery – ideally, until they are strong enough to be released into safe protected areas. Pangolins are the most trafficked animal in the world, with Asia being the biggest market for the scales, which are used in potions and their meat which is considered a delicacy. They are notoriously difficult to care for and keep alive, as they easily succumb to the effects of stress. This milk is critical to their survival, and is often the only thing standing between them and death. Credit: Khaosod News The fate of eight rescued juvenile pangolins hangs in the balance. With your support today, we can save them! Pangolins have existed for an estimated 80 million years and play a significant role in controlling insect populations in the wild. Their extinction would have unknown repercussions on our ecosystems, yet all eight species of pangolin are listed as endangered on the IUCN’s Red List (The International Union for Conservation of Nature). Credit: Charles Emogor Some species are at risk of going extinct within as few as ten years! Rescued pangopups stand no chance of survival without this specialized milk formula. Please help us. We must do everything in our power to help secure the future of this irreplaceable species. Help us to do this, one pangolin life at a time.

Study Warns European Demand for Frog Legs Could Drive Amphibians to “Irreversible Extinction”

Frog legs are one of the most infamous dishes on French restaurant menus – but the demand for the delicacy is destroying frog populations in Turkey, Albania and Indonesia, says a new study published in Nature Conservation journal. According to Euronews.green, European countries imported over 40 million kilograms (over 88 million pounds) of frog legs between 2010 and 2019, primarily from these countries. That is the equivalent of two billion frogs – a number that could spell the end of the species. The amphibians are also consumed in other parts of the world, including China and Vietnam. The authors of the study wrote, “We call upon [exporting] countries and their representative governments to assume responsibility for the sustainability of the trade. The EU should take immediate action to channel all imports through a single centralised database and list sensitive species in the Annexes of the EU Wildlife Trade Regulation.” Of the European countries, Belgium is by far the largest importer of frog legs, having imported 28,430 tonnes between 2010 and 2019. However, it re-exported around three-quarters to France – which in turn imported 6,790 tonnes from outside the EU (16.6 per cent of EU imports), followed by the Netherlands (2620 tonnes; 6.4 per cent), Italy (1790 tonnes; 4.3 per cent) and Spain (923.4 tonnes; 2.2 per cent). The cuisine – which many diners would happily fork out an arm and a leg for – is having a serious impact on ecosystems. In fact, France banned local commercial frog hunting (with some exceptions) way back in the 1980s, after numbers dwindled dramatically. Now, 80 percent of Europe’s frog legs are supplied by Indonesia – and the same pattern is being repeated there. The crab-eating grass frog (Fejervarya cancrivora), the giant Javan frog (Limnonectes macrodon), and the East Asian bullfrog (Hoplobatrachus rugulosus) are all vulnerable to potential ‘overharvesting’, warned the report. In Turkey, the Pelophylax caralitanus – commonly known as the Anatolian frog – is at “high extinction risk.” “Commercial overexploitation [of this species] for the frogs legs trade in France, Italy and Switzerland has caused its rapid decline so that the species is now considered endangered,” the report warned. The decline in frog species has a knock-on effect on local ecosystems. These amphibians prey on insects, and in areas where frogs are hunted, the use of harmful pesticides tends to increase. In the 1970s and 80s, Bangladesh and India were the EU’s main suppliers of frogs, but the governments of these countries stopped exporting them after local populations declined. To keep the trade sustainable, it is imperative that frog-exporting nations regulate the trade more strictly. It is also critical for the EU to publish more information on the trade. Legend has it that frogs were first consumed in the 12th century by monks attempting to circumvent a strict no-meat diet: the church classified frogs as fish. Today, some enterprising Francophile vegans have created plant-based frog legs, made from wheat and soy. Banner Credit: Matador Export