In 2019, the illegal wildlife trade reached staggering levels. Pangolin scales and ivory were being trafficked in massive quantities from Africa to Asia, exposing a network of crime syndicates operating at an industrial scale. The sheer volume of these shipments marked a disturbing milestone, one that revealed the global reach …
Illegal rhino horn trade has reached the highest levels since the early 1990s, and illegal trade in ivory increased by nearly 300 percent from 1998 to 2011, according to a new report by USAID partner TRAFFIC. This report provides critical insights into often violent and complex trade networks that will …
Tripura government will set up an elephant reserve at Gandhari in Gomati district for better conservation of the jumbos whose population was dwindling in the state. The reserve would be spread over 123.8 sqkm area in Gomati district at the initiative of the state government and the site has been …
A new TRAFFIC analysis of hundreds of seizures sounds the alarm on Asia’s ongoing widespread bear trade and the need for immediate international action. The findings are published in Brought to Bear: an Analysis of Seizures across Asia (2000–2011) which studied bear seizures made over a 12-year period in 17 …
Ivory consumption is unsustainable and is causing a dramatic decline in the number of African elephants, according to a new study, “Illegal killing for ivory drives global decline in African elephants”, published in the August 19 issue of Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS). Know More
Despite the huge death numbers, experts believe elephants can survive if countries are willing to invest in wildlife security Poachers killed an estimated 100,000 elephants across Africa between 2010 and 2012, a huge spike in the continent’s death rate of the world’s largest mammals because of an increased demand for …
Illegal harvest for commercial trade has recently surged to become a major threat to some of the world’s most endangered and charismatic species. Unfortunately, the cryptic nature of illegal killing makes estimation of rates and impacts difficult. Applying a model based on field census of carcasses, to our knowledge we …
Global environmental crime is estimated by the United Nations to be worth as much as $213 billion annually. Over $23 billion is attributed to the illegal wildlife trade alone, of which ivory is an important component. Across Africa, as much as 5-7% of the elephant population is being slaughtered annually …
Asian big cats (including tiger, snow leopard, clouded leopards, and subspecies of leopard, cheetah and lion) are listed in the top three categories of threat on the IUCN Red List, with illegal trade included among the threats to their survival. They are all included in CITES Appendix I, so that …
The Cameroon-Nigeria border region where the Cross River gorilla occurs is a biodiversity hotspot of global significance. The Cross River gorilla can therefore play a role as a ‘flagship’ species; the actions proposed in this plan ensure the survival of both this Critically Endangered ape and the region’s immense biological …
Elephants are revered in Thailand and, as an important part of the country’s identity, they are an integral part of Thai beliefs and culture. However, despite this, Thailand has one of the world’s largest unregulated ivory markets and is consistently highlighted as one of the most problematic countries in the …
The weekly digest of important reports, research, policy documents, regulations, studies, court cases, protests, conflicts, initiatives, photos, data, statistics, infographics, presentations on the India Environment Portal, 29 June - 05 July 2014.
This report focuses on the consequences of environmental crime. It argues that the situation has worsened to the extent that illegal trade in wildlife’s impacts are now acknowledged to go well beyond strictly environmental impacts – by seriously undermining economies and livelihoods, good governance, and the rule of law. It …
Over 20,000 African elephants were poached across the continent in 2013 according to a report released today by the CITES Secretariat. Although the sharp upward trend in illegal elephant killing observed since the mid-2000s, which had peaked in 2011, is levelling off, poaching levels remain alarmingly high and continue to …
Lesser-known wild species like pangolins, monitor lizards, mongoose, spiny-tailed lizards, and mariner turtles are falling prey to poaching and quietly vanishing from the country, wildlife experts say. "While the threat posed by illegal wildlife trade to tiger and Indian rhinoceros are well publicised, many of India's lesser known species are …
David Beckham and Prince William launched a campaign to help stigmatise the buying of ivory and rhino horn on Monday. "Our children should not live in a world without elephants, tigers, lions and rhinos. Enough is enough," said Prince William, who convened the United for Wildlife group, a coalition of …
In view of reports of high mortality of peacocks in various parts of the country, due to poaching and for other reasons, the ministry of environment and forests (MoEF) has directed the state chief wildlife wardens to grant highest degree of protection to the national bird. "Any case of mortality …
KOLKATA: Illegal trafficking syndicates of wild animals in Dum Dum, Baguiati and Rajarhat areas have resurfaced once again after the traffickers lied low for some time following the arrest of a trader from Baguiati in January. Only two days back around thousand Hamilton turtles, listed vulnerable by IUCN (International Union …
Seeks Action To Curb Illegal Sale of Peacock Feathers The ministry of environment and forests (MoEF) has issued an office memorandum calling for an urgent need to ensure adequate protection to peacocks. The memorandum issued by S K Khanduri, inspector general of forests (wildlife), has sought necessary action to curb …
Jackal cubs for sale: 35,000 a pair. Picture to be updated soon. Welcome to the world of tech-savvy poachers who are now using social networking sites and mobile applications to trade in wild animals, including threatened and protected species. The message about the jackal cubs flashed last week on a …
