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Date: November 25, 2024 Mon
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92 results foundAuthor: Martin, Esmond Title: The ivory markets of East Asia Summary: This monograph reports on a survey of the ivory trade in four East Asian nations and one Special Administrative Region: China, Japan, Taiwan, South Korea and Hong Kong. The purpose of the survey was to establish a set of baseline indicators on aspects of the trade in the selected countries. From this, conservationists will be able to monitor and evaluate future changes, in accordance with CITES Resolution Conf 10.10 (Rev.). The target users are national government officers, nongovernment organizations (NGOs) involved in wildlife conservation, and CITES officials. The information in this report can be used to assess the effectiveness of policies, laws and enforcement activities related to ivory trading nationally and internationally. The data can also be used to infer the demand for illegal ivory, which is correlated with elephant poaching. Two investigators working independently between March and May and in December 2002 carried out the surveys. Martin visited Japan and Hong Kong while Stiles covered China, South Korea and Taiwan. The main findings were: - Over 54,000 ivory items were seen in 413 retail outlets in the 11 cities visited. - Hong Kong had by far the most (35,884), followed by China (9,096 in three cities) and then Japan (7,565 in two cities). Taiwan (1,849 in four cities) and South Korea (36 in Seoul) had small quantities of ivory items. - Japan has the most active legal ivory carving industry in East Asia. Most ivory is used to make name seals (~80%), followed by musical instrument parts (10%). - Almost all Japan's worked ivory production is bought locally and stays in Japan. - The most expensive raw and worked ivory is in Japan. Beijing, China, has intermediately expensive worked ivory, while Guangzhou, Shanghai, Hong Kong and Taiwanese cities have roughly comparable, lower prices of worked ivory. - China has emerged as the main ivory manufacturing centre for all Asia, surpassing Hong Kong and Japan. Often with the involvement of Hong Kong businessmen, smuggling rings import African ivory, process it, and re-export it through Hong Kong and Macau to Europe, Japan, North America, Singapore and Thailand (the order of importance is unknown). China is probably also the only country in East Asia that has more worked ivory retail outlets now than in 1990. - China had the largest illegal ivory industry in East Asia and was the main destination of illicit African ivory in 2002. Small, private ivory workshops have replaced the larger, governmentowned factories since 1990. These arc unlicensed to deal with ivory and are therefore illegal. Most are located in Guangdong Province. They often use mammoth ivory, bone and stone as cover for elephant ivory working and exports. - Foreigners buy most of China's ivory items. They purchase it either in China or in neighbouring countries. Chinese nationals have been increasing their share of ivory purchases since 1990 as the economy grows. - Both Taiwan and South Korea were primarily transit and/or processing and re-export centres for ivory in the 1 980s and 1 990s. Today the ivory industry of Taiwan is dying and it is already dead in South Korea because of lower global demand for ivory products and increased government law enforcement. - The main buyers of East Asian worked ivory are ethnic Chinese of various nationalities and Japanese. Europeans and Americans also continue to buy worked ivory in Asia. - The internal ivory markets of all the countries surveyed have declined considerably since the CITES ivory international trade ban in 1990. The number of ivory craftsmen has plummeted in East Asia from about 2,200 in 1989 to fewer than 300 in 2002. Hong Kong, Taiwan and South Korea have no full-time ivory carvers. - The CITES-approved raw ivory sales to Japan from southern Africa in 1999 were not seen as important by ivory dealers outside Japan. Non-Japanese traders interviewed did not think it heralded a relaxing of the international ivory trade ban. Most ivory business people in East Africa were pessimistic about the future of the industry. Taiwanese vendors of worked ivory (the only ones interviewed after the CITES 12th Conference of the Parties in 2002) were not even aware that a second one-off southern African ivory auction had been approved for 2004, subject to certain conditions. - East Asian ivory business people attribute the decline in the industry to the activities of Western conservationists and journalists, which have resulted in a significant drop in Western buyers, who previously were the principal customers. They do not see this situation as susceptible to change. - In recent years East Asian governments have begun to pay more attention to controlling the ivory trade. China and Taiwan, in particular, have introduced new laws and have increased efforts to stop illegal ivory imports and to prosecute smugglers. - More needs to be done by East Asian governments to control effectively the ivory trade and to implement recommendations made in CITES Resolution 10.10 (Rev. CoP 12) and CITES Resolution 12.39. Details: London: Save the Elephants, 2003, 112p. Source: Internet Source: Accessed April 13, 2018 at: http://www.traffic.org/publications/the-ivory-markets-of-east-asia.html?no_redirect=true Year: 2003 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://www.traffic.org/publications/the-ivory-markets-of-east-asia.html?no_redirect=true Shelf Number: 116671 Keywords: AsiaIllegalIllegal HuntingIllegal tradeIvoryPoachingTransnational Crime |
Author: Abbott, Brant Title: The Economics of Endangered Species Poaching Summary: The poaching of endangered species is a global problem. In Africa elephants are poached for their ivory and rhinoceroses are poached to produce medicinal products from their horns (Fischer 2004). In North America grizzly bears are poached because their body parts are valuable, particularly gall bladders (Unknown 2004). In southwestern British Columbia there have been increasing occurrences of bald eagle poaching for the value of their feathers, but one poacher was only fined $1450 (Keating 2007). In a letter to the editor an outraged citizen called for greater penalties for those caught poaching as a means of deterrence (Foss 2007). This brings up an important point that has not received enough attention in the economics literature: poaching is a criminal activity and poachers make the same economic decisions as other criminals. The focus of this paper, therefore, is to examine the interaction between the economic decision making of poachers and the dynamics of endangered species. The literature regarding endangered species poaching has evolved largely in the context of the African elephant. One of the general goals of this literature has been to understand the impacts of an international trade moratorium on the survival of an endangered species. A common method by which researchers have contributed to the understanding of this subject is to examine the static impact on quantity poached that results from a policy change. For example, Fischer (2004) and Bergstrom (1990) develop static models to analyze policy changes. While such analyses provide valuable insights, a more complete approach would be to assess how policy changes would effect the population dynamics of the species. Under certain circumstances, policies will have ambiguous effects on the quantity of the resource that is poached, but this does not necessarily imply that the impact on the species population will also be ambiguous. It may still be possible to determine how the potential steady states of the species population will change. Two notable examples of work that examines changes in both the amount of poaching that occurs and the steady state resource population are Bulte and Damania (2001) and Kremer and Morcom (2000). Bulte and Damania examine the role of captive breeding in endangered species conservation in the context of imperfect competition. Kremer and Morcom investigate the possible impacts of storage on endangered species equilibria. Both studies use dynamic frameworks and provide results regarding steady state populations to give a complete account of the impact of policy on the vitality of the endangered species. Details: Victoria, BC: Resource Economics & Policy Analysis Research Group, Department of Economics, University of Victoria, 2008. 29p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed April 25, 2018 at: https://web.uvic.ca/~repa/publications/REPA%20working%20papers/WorkingPaper2008-08.pdf Year: 2008 Country: International URL: https://web.uvic.ca/~repa/publications/REPA%20working%20papers/WorkingPaper2008-08.pdf Shelf Number: 117146 Keywords: Animal Poaching (Econometric Models)Endangered SpeciesIvoryWildlife ConservationWildlife Crime |
Author: Hastle, Jo Title: Back in Business: Elephant Poaching and the Ivory Black Markets of Asia Summary: This report presents a catalogue of ivory seizures during calendar year 2002. Sections of the report include: The Singapore Seizure; China's Emerging Ivory Market; The Impact on Elephant Populations; Illegal Ivory on the Move; and Conclusions and Recommendations. Details: Washington, DC: Environmental Investigation Agency, 2002. 25p. Source: Internet Resource Year: 2002 Country: International URL: Shelf Number: 118754 Keywords: Elephant PoachingIllegal HuntingIvorySmugglingWildlife Crime |
Author: Martin, Esmond Title: Ivory Markets in the USA Summary: This report is the fifth in a series of surveys that depicts the status and trends of the elephant ivory markets in a particular region of the world. This investigation covered the United States of America (USA) and Vancouver, Canada. It differs significantly from previous studies of this trade by quantifying the nature and scale of the market. The investigators made the survey between March and December 2006 and March and May 2007. Seventeen cities and towns were selected for study based on their population size and wealth, and tourist importance. The purpose of the surveys is to enable CITES Parties and governmental and non-governmental wildlife conservation bodies to assess the scale of national ivory markets, and hence their potential impact on elephant populations. This initial round of surveys compared the data obtained with any existing figures to assess the changes that have taken place and to suggest trends in the ivory markets. CITES entered into force in the USA on 1 July 1975. The United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), under the Secretary of the Interior, is both the CITES Management Authority and Scientific Authority for the USA. The USFWS shares the responsibility for enforcing all US laws related to CITES and wildlife conservation with the US Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service. CITES regulations and three federal laws mainly govern the ivory trade: The Endangered Species Act (ESA), the African Elephant Conservation Act (AECA) and the Lacey Act. People can legally import only three categories of ivory (with proper documentation) into the USA: antiques (items more than 100 years old), sport-hunted trophy tusks from approved African countries, and pre-Convention (i.e. pre-July 1975) tusks. The main findings of the USA survey were: • The survey found 24,004 ivory items in the 657 outlets in the 16 towns and cities visited in the USA, most of which probably were legally for sale. • New York City had by far the most ivory for sale with 11,376 items, followed by San Francisco (2,777) and Los Angeles (2,605). • The USA appeared to have the second largest ivory retail market in the world after China/Hong Kong, as determined by numbers of items seen for sale. • Perhaps 7,400 ivory items, or nearly one-third of the total, may have been crafted after 1989 making their importation illegal, but this estimate is tentative and should be treated with caution because of the difficulties of dating ivory objects. • The western USA, particularly Honolulu (Hawaii), San Francisco and Los Angeles (California), appeared to have more post-1989 worked ivory for sale than the eastern cities. • The size of the ivory market has declined since 1989, with many former businesses closing. • In 1989, retail outlets or workshops sold most worked ivory. Now fewer outlets and workshops exist, and buyers find an increasingly larger proportion of worked and raw ivory from Internet sites, some of which are foreign based. • The USA has a minimum of 120 full- and part-time ivory craftsmen. This is down from an estimate of 1,400 craftsmen in 1989. • No large ivory factories remain: craftsmen are scattered throughout the USA working in small workshops, usually at home. • Craftsmen use mostly old, legal, raw ivory to manufacture new knife, gun and walking stick handles, scrimshaw pieces, cue stick parts and jewellery. They often use broken or damaged ivory items for restoration work. • The country consumes an estimated less than one tonne of raw ivory annually, down from seven tonnes a year in the late 1980s. Craftsmen each use an average of 8 kg of ivory a year and say that the USA has an adequate supply. • No official stockpile of raw ivory exists and there has been no government census of private raw ivory stocks in the USA. • Raw ivory has increased little in price since the CITES ivory trade ban. Adjusting the 1990 price of USD 110-154/kg for 1-5 kg tusks for inflation gives USD 152-212/kg in 2006 USD. The 2006/2007 price was USD 154-346/kg. • Raw ivory is bought through craftsmen networks or on the Internet. Internet prices are higher than person-to-person trading. • Tusks of 3-5 kg are more expensive per kilo than tusks of 10 kg, unlike in Asia, Africa or Europe where larger tusks command higher prices. • Prices per kilo for cut tusk sections, blocks or slabs are much higher than for whole tusks, with 0.2-1.0 kg pieces selling for USD 500-1,760/kg. • The USA legally imported some 3,530 tusks and about 2,400 raw ivory pieces between 1990 and 2005 according to the UNEP-WCMC CITES Trade Database. The present study found evidence suggesting that some of this material was illegally sold into the commercial market. • Over 40,000 worked ivory items, excluding personal effects, entered the USA legally from 1995-2007 according to the US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). All these items should have been antiques to be legal. Inspection of pieces (mainly Chinese) in shops suggested that many figurines, netsukes and jewellery items were recently made. Some African items also looked recently made. • Previous studies found that ivory workshops in Asia and Africa produce fake antiques. Thus, even the imported worked ivory into the USA that seems old could be recently made. • The USA has a good record of enforcing CITES regulations in respect of international wildlife trade and has reported the largest number of seizures of illegal ivory in the world, according to the Elephant Trade Information System. • CITES Resolution Conf. 10.10 (Rev. CoP14) recommended that Parties that import and trade elephant ivory implement several trade regulation and control measures. The USA has not yet implemented any of the recommendations. • US federal and state agencies rarely inspect shops or Internet sites for illegal raw or worked ivory. • Ivory vendors and craftsmen in general do not believe that the 1999 CITES ivory auction that allowed Japan to buy from southern Africa affected ivory demand in the USA. • Ivory craftsmen think the ivory industry will continue at its present level and express little concern for the future availability of raw ivory. • Most ivory vendors and craftsmen in the USA think the authorities should establish a regulated, legal international trade in ivory. • This study determined that the US ivory market has a small detrimental effect on elephant populations, more from importing illegal worked ivory for retail sale than from local ivory manufacturing. Some contraband gets past Customs and there are no effective internal ivory transport and retail market controls. • Vancouver, Canada, had a total of 234 ivory items for sale in 45 outlets. There was no Chinese ivory market, as seen in the western USA. Details: Kingsford, UK: Care for the Wild International; Nairobi, Kenya: Save the Elephants, 2008. 122p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed March 29, 2011 at: http://www.savetheelephants.org/files/pdf/publications/2008%20Martin%20&%20Stiles%20Ivory%20Markets%20in%20the%20USA.pdf Year: 2008 Country: United States URL: http://www.savetheelephants.org/files/pdf/publications/2008%20Martin%20&%20Stiles%20Ivory%20Markets%20in%20the%20USA.pdf Shelf Number: 121194 Keywords: Illegal TradeIvoryWildlife Crime |
Author: Shepherd, Chris R. Title: Elephant and Ivory Trade in Myanmar Summary: Myanmar has been a Party to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) since 1997. Illegal trade in ivory and other Asian Elephant Elephas maximus products remains widespread, especially in markets along Myanmar’s international borders. In 2006, TRAFFIC surveyed 14 markets in Myanmar and three border markets in Thailand and China, and found some 9000 pieces of ivory and 16 whole tusks for sale, representing the ivory of an estimated 116 bulls. Illegal killing and capture of elephants for trade continues to be a major cause of decline for Myanmar’s wild Asian Elephant populations. Ivory and other elephant parts are routinely smuggled out of Myanmar in contravention of the Protection of Wildlife and Wild Plants and Conservation of Natural Areas Law (State Law and Order Restoration Council Law No.583/94.1994), suggesting a serious lack of law enforcement and a blatant disregard for international conventions and national laws. The fact that retail dealers openly display ivory and other elephant parts, and rarely hesitate in disclosing smuggling techniques and other illegal activities with potential buyers, further highlights that effective law enforcement is lacking. The observed and reported levels of cross-border trade indicate that neighbouring countries, especially China and Thailand, also have enforcement problems, and that illegal international trade is frequently carried out with minimal risk of detection. In addition to trade in ivory, TRAFFIC documents reports of some 250 live Asian Elephants being exported from Myanmar to neighbouring countries in the last ten years; this is mostly to supply the demand of tourist locations in neighbouring Thailand. It is important to note that no cross-border exports or imports of live elephants have been reported to CITES by either Myanmar or Thailand. Based on observations and discussions with interviewees, the capture of live elephants may be at such a rate that it is also having a negative impact on wild populations. The most significant apparent loophole in Myanmar’s legislation is the allowance of tips of tusks and tusks from government and privately-owned elephants that have died of natural causes to be sold legally. To the extent that this practice defines the current situation, it provides a ready avenue for illicit ivory to be traded under the guise of legally-acquired stocks. Dealers seem well aware of the ambiguous legislation and the potential loopholes it provides, and exploit the situation accordingly. The Government of Myanmar should increase efforts to stop the illegal trade in elephant products, especially ivory, focusing on major trade centres, including Yangon and Mandalay, and at important border markets such as Tachilek. The Government of Myanmar should likewise increase efforts to stop the illegal trade in live elephants, especially when it pertains to cross-border trade. With respect to continued domestic trade in elephants and elephant products, TRAFFIC proposes that Myanmar instigates an effective control system that complies with the requirements of CITES Resolution Conf. 10.10 (Rev. CoP14). The Governments of China and Thailand should take action against the traders of illegal wildlife products along the borders with Myanmar, and work in co-operation with the Myanmar authorities to deal with illegal trade in elephants and elephant products. Based on the findings of this study, TRAFFIC makes the following recommendations: • Recognizing that international co-operation is essential to put an end to this illegal crossborder trade, Myanmar’s CITES, Customs and police authorities should be encouraged to work closely with enforcement officers in neighbouring Thailand and China, the two main consuming countries of Myanmar-sourced ivory. • With respect to both the domestic and international trade in ivory, Myanmar needs to comply with CITES Resolution Conf. 10.10 (Rev. CoP14). Myanmar needs to adopt comprehensive internal legislative, regulatory, and enforcement measures. All importers, manufacturers, wholesalers, and retailers dealing in raw, semi-worked or worked ivory products need to be registered or licensed. Recording and inspecting procedures to enable appropriate government agencies to monitor the flow of ivory in the country by means of a compulsory trade control over raw ivory and a comprehensive reporting and enforcement system for worked ivory need to be introduced. It should be made compulsory for shops, traders, and retail outlets to inform tourist and other non-nationals that they should not purchase ivory in cases where it is illegal for them to import it into their home countries. • Myanmar needs to submit any data on the seizure of elephant products to the Elephant Trade Information System, and a comprehensive overview of trade in ivory should be prepared prior to the CITES Conference of the Parties 15 (CoP15). • Authorities at airports and other points of international entry and exit must be more vigilant to prevent ivory from being carried across Myanmar’s borders. Myanmar should ensure that staff based at these checkpoints are sufficiently trained in CITES implementation, enforcement and species/parts of species identification. • Regular monitoring by Myanmar’s law enforcement agencies of the markets in Myanmar should be carried out to identify and apprehend illegal trade participants, as well as monitor trends in the trade, as a move towards effective enforcement. • Offenders should be prosecuted, to ensure just punishment and to serve as a deterrent for repeat offenders and other dealers. • Myanmar, as a Party to CITES, must introduce and enforce Category I CITES-enabling legislation and clarify the existing national legislation on domestic ivory trade. • Greater monitoring of domestic elephant populations is needed employing microchip and tattoo-based identification/registration systems to prevent illegal cross-border elephant trade, and to assist with management of Myanmar’s wild and captive elephant populations. Details: Petaling Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia; TRAFFIC Southeast Asia, 2008. 40p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 9, 2011 at: http://www.worldwildlife.org/what/globalmarkets/wildlifetrade/WWFBinaryitem10999.pdf Year: 2008 Country: Burma URL: http://www.worldwildlife.org/what/globalmarkets/wildlifetrade/WWFBinaryitem10999.pdf Shelf Number: 121688 Keywords: Illegal Trade (Myanmar)IvorySmugglingWildlife Crime |
Author: Martin, Esmond Title: Ivory Markets of Europe: A Survey in France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the UK Summary: The European Union (EU) in 1989 and the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) in 1990 prohibited commercial imports of raw and worked ivory. The EU allows the import of ivory antiques, defined as items manufactured prior to 1 June 1947, and raw and worked ivory can be exported from EU countries subject to the destination country issuing CITES certificates authorizing the import. The domestic trade in raw and worked ivory is legal, subject to strict EU and national regulations based primarily on European Council Regulation 338/97. This monograph reports on a survey of the ivory trade in five European countries chosen for their assumed large ivory markets: Germany, United Kingdom, France, Spain and Italy. The purpose of the survey was to establish a set of baseline indicators in the selected countries, such as the prices of raw tusks, numbers of ivory craftsmen and workshops, numbers of shops selling ivory items, and the retail prices of ivory items. The age of ivory items and the nationalities of the customers were also looked into to add qualitative information. Using these data, conservationists will be able to monitor and evaluate future changes in the ivory trade. The target users of this report are national government officers, non-government organizations (NGOs) involved in wildlife conservation, CITES officials, the media, and researchers. The information in this monograph assesses the effectiveness of policies, laws, and enforcement activities related to ivory trading, both nationally and internationally. The investigators, Martin and Stiles, carried out fieldwork in Europe in April, May, September and November 2004. This survey was sponsored by Save the Elephants and Care for the Wild International. The principal findings were: • Over 27,000 ivory items were seen for retail sale in 1,143 shops in 14 cities and towns. Germany and the UK had the largest numbers of ivory items, with 16,444 and 8,325 respectively, followed by France with 1,303, Spain with 621 and Italy with 461. • The retail ivory markets of Germany and the UK were larger in scale than expected, and exceeded those found in countries such as China, Japan, Cameroon and Nigeria, all of which are viewed as active ivory market countries. In addition, the UK alone had more outlets selling ivory than any of the entire regions previously surveyed by the investigators (Africa, South and South East Asia, East Asia), and the number of outlets in Germany was second only to Thailand. • The average number of worked ivory items per town/city in Europe was approximately one-third the number of those seen in Africa and Asia. • The great majority of worked ivory seen for sale in Europe was either manufactured prior to 1989 or was made more recently from raw ivory imported prior to 1989, making it in principle legal, though much of the worked ivory lacks proper documentation. • Small amounts of raw and worked ivory are smuggled from Africa into Europe, and it is probable that some of the fairly abundant East Asian worked ivory seen is also imported illegally. • Official seizures of ivory have decreased sharply from the early 1990s for France and the UK, but they have remained stable in Germany and Spain. Data for Italy are lacking. • There are few controls on the sale of worked ivory. Ivory items are commonly sold as antiques or as legal, recently-made pieces with only occasional verification by the authorities. • Germany and France were the only countries with raw ivory stockpiles. These are held mainly by craftsmen and museums, and the ivory is registered with the governments. Additional unregistered ivory is held by individuals as a legacy of the colonial period. The total raw ivory stockpile is not known for either country. • Raw tusks sold wholesale in Germany and France for USD 92/kg and USD 108/kg respectively for 5-10 kg tusks, and for USD 244/kg and USD 132/kg respectively for 15-20 kg tusks. These prices are lower than for comparable tusks in most of Asia. • In France, the only country with past and present wholesale price data, the price of tusks decreased significantly from 1989 to 2004, strongly suggesting that demand for tusks declined over this time. In the UK, the 1988 wholesale price for 5-10 kg tusks was in inflation-adjusted terms the same as the retail price in 2004, also suggesting a decline in value of wholesale raw ivory, thus a drop in demand. • France and Germany were the only countries with active ivory craftsmen. France had 46 to 51 artisans (not counting antique restorers) using ivory, and Germany had 8 to 10 ivory carvers. • In France the number of ivory craftsmen more than halved from 1974 to 2004, while the number in Germany decreased by over three-quarters from 1981 to 2004. Italy had a small number of ivory craftsmen prior to 1989, but there are none nowadays. The UK and Spain have no legal ivory craftsmen working today. • Germany consumes more than 300 kg and France 350-400 kg of raw ivory a year. The UK, Spain and Italy use virtually no raw ivory. This signals a vast decline from the several tonnes a year used in the 1970s and 1980s. • In France most ivory is used to make figurines, knife handles and jewellery; in Germany, figurines and jewellery predominate. • Presently, controls on the domestic ivory carving business, especially on stocks of tusks, satisfy CITES’ requirements in Germany and France. • The main buyers of retail ivory items in the countries surveyed were nationals of those countries, except in the UK where Americans were the most numerous and Britons were second. The second most numerous customers in each country, other than the UK, were Americans. East Asians also purchased worked ivory in Europe in small quantities. • The main elephant ivory substitute in shops in Germany and France was mammoth ivory, which was mostly imported from Russia. The carvers in Germany were the only craftsmen to work mammoth ivory, and paid middlemen USD 122-427/kg for it. In France, worked mammoth ivory was imported from China. Mammoth ivory items were rare or absent in the UK, Spain and Italy. In the European Latin countries semi-precious stones, plastic, resins and plaster were common ivory substitutes. • Vendors in Europe did not believe that the 1999 CITES ivory auctions in southern Africa for Japanese buyers had any influence on ivory market activity. Nor did they believe that the CITES approval in 2002 for a future such sale would have any market effect. • The ivory artisans and sellers in Germany believed that the demand for new ivory items will continue to decline and that there is no long-term future for ivory carving. Those in France thought that the craft could continue into the foreseeable future at a low scale, and they were actively promoting it. Vendors in the UK, Spain and Italy thought that the antique ivory market would continue, but that there was no future for new ivory. • European ivory dealers believed that the bans in their countries of imports of raw ivory would not be lifted in the near future. Details: Kingsfold, UK: Care for the Wild International; London: Save the Elephants, 2005. 106p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 9, 2011 at: http://www.savetheelephants.org/files/pdf/publications/2005%20Martin%20&%20Stiles%20Ivory%20Markets%20of%20Europe.pdf Year: 2005 Country: Europe URL: http://www.savetheelephants.org/files/pdf/publications/2005%20Martin%20&%20Stiles%20Ivory%20Markets%20of%20Europe.pdf Shelf Number: 121689 Keywords: Illegal Trade (Europe)IvorySmugglingWildlife Crime |
Author: van Kooten, G. Cornelis Title: Protecting the African Elephant: A Dynamic Bioeconomic Model of Ivory Trade Summary: International trade in ivory is banned in order to protect the African elephant. The trade ban is supported by some range states, because it is seen as an effective means for protecting a 'flagship' species, but is opposed by states, mainly in southern Africa, because populations exceed the carrying capacity of local ecosystems. Issues concerning the ivory trade ban are addressed in this paper using a dynamic partial-equilibrium trade model that consists of four ivory exporting regions and a single demand region. Results indicate that a trade ban might not be successful in maintaining elephant populations, even if it leads to a stigma effect that reduces demand and increases the marginal costs of marketing ivory. Results suggest that the species will survive only if non-market values are taken into account. Surprisingly, however, the interaction between tourism benefits and marginal compensation from rich countries can lead to the demise of elephants in some regions where this would not be the case otherwise. Finally, elephant populations are even projected to crash if range states can operate an effective quota scheme, even one that excludes poaching. In the final analysis, however, free trade in ivory and effective institutions that translate numbers of elephants into monetary payments may be the best hope for the elephant. Details: Selected paper presented at the American Agricultural Economics Association Annual Meetings at Long Beach, CA, July 23-26, 2006. 50p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 9, 2011 at: http://ageconsearch.umn.edu/bitstream/21206/1/sp06va02.pdf Year: 2006 Country: Africa URL: http://ageconsearch.umn.edu/bitstream/21206/1/sp06va02.pdf Shelf Number: 121690 Keywords: CartelsIllegal TradeIvoryPoachingWildlife Crime |
Author: Born Free Foundation Title: Inconvenient But True: The Unrelenting Global Trade in Elephant Ivory. Report Prepared for the 14th Meeting of the Conference of the Parties to CITES 3rd-15th June 2007,The Hague Summary: The illegal trade in elephant ivory (and in some cases the legal trade) continues to seriously threaten many wild elephant populations. The Species Survival Network (SSN) Elephant Working Group database on elephant ivory seizures contains records indicating that between 1998 and 2007 at least 176,695kg (176 tonnes) of ivory was seized. This represents the death of more than 26,674 elephants. Since CoP13 alone, 47,225.92kg of ivory have been seized, an increase of 48% as compared to the interval between the 12th and 13th meetings of the Conference of the Parties to CITES (CoP12 and CoP13). Despite these alarming statistics, there are proposals at CoP14 calling for the resumption of a legal commercial trade in ivory which, in effect, represents a lifting of the ivory trade ban. Although CoP14 Proposals 4 and 5, submitted by Botswana and Botswana/Namibia respectively, imply that illegal ivory trade is no longer a significant enough threat to African elephant populations to warrant retention of the ban, in reality the evidence clearly shows otherwise. This report presents a compilation of this evidence — ivory prices and seizures of illegal ivory are on the increase, there are burgeoning domestic ivory markets and elephant populations are under threat. Details: London: Born Free Foundation; Washington, DC: Species Survival Network, 2007. 56p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 18, 2011 at: http://www.ssn.org/Meetings/cop/cop14/Other/SSN_CoP14_ivory_report.pdf Year: 2007 Country: Africa URL: http://www.ssn.org/Meetings/cop/cop14/Other/SSN_CoP14_ivory_report.pdf Shelf Number: 121745 Keywords: Illegal Trade (Africa)IvoryWildlife Crimes |
Author: Sakamoto, Masayuki Title: Black and Grey - Illegal Ivory in Japanese Markets - 2nd edition Summary: The second edition of ‘Black and Grey’ -Illegal Ivory in Japanese Markets, brings to the readers the fundamental failures in policies regarding ivory trade in Japan. This is an improvised version of the first edition and carries the same contents as the former. The objective of printing the second edition is to protect the endangered wild elephant species of the world by letting the policy makers and dignitaries of the 50th CITES standing committee know the exact situation in the Japanese ivory market. This report also analysis the domestic trade control of ivory in Japan with some interesting facts including smuggling of illegal ivory. Details: Tokyo: Japanese Wildlife Conservation Society, 2004. 62p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 18, 2011 at: http://www.jwcs.org/data/Black_and_Grey_2nd_edition.pdf Year: 2004 Country: Japan URL: http://www.jwcs.org/data/Black_and_Grey_2nd_edition.pdf Shelf Number: 121746 Keywords: Illegal Trade (Japan)IvorySmugglingWildlife Crime |
Author: Environmental Investigation Agency Title: Made In China: How China's Illegal Ivory Trade is Causing a 21st Century African Elephant Disaster Summary: China has the largest illegal ivory trade of any nation in the world. It is the most significant global destination for illegal ivory. Ivory traders are now thought to be stockpiling elephant tusks and ivory products for lucrative sales to the hundreds of thousands of foreigners expected to attend the Beijing Olympics in the summer of 2008. China’s long failure to crack down on its massive illegal ivory trade makes a mockery of its claims to be hosting a “Green Olympics”. Chinese nationals, companies – some government owned – and organized crime syndicates are implicated in the smuggling of vast amounts of illegal ivory and the consequent elephant poaching afflicting much of Africa. Countries affected include Sudan, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of Congo, Chad, Kenya, Tanzania, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Malawi, Mozambique, Nigeria, Cameroon, and Mali. Indications suggest that Chinese involvement in illegal ivory trade extends to other African elephant range states as well. With Chinese investment and human presence in resource extraction operations across Africa skyrocketing, demand for ivory will overwhelm the ability of range states to conserve their elephants from poaching gangs connected to Chinese ivory buyers, often in collusion with corrupt government officials. China’s massive illegal ivory trade is not an accident. Failure by the Government of China to ensure meaningful enforcement of CITES regulations that prohibit the import and export of ivory resulted in illegal ivory flooding onto the domestic market in the 1990’s. China’s demand for ivory is directly responsible for the renewed poaching crisis facing many African elephant populations, as this report shows. After CITES increased protection for Africa’s rapidly disappearing elephants by banning international trade in ivory products in 1989, China neglected to fully enshrine those legal protections in domestic law for 17 years. Over that period its government did little to enforce CITES regulations prohibiting ivory imports or exports. Major failures included a vast loophole enabling traders to register ivory which they had “forgotten” to register at the time of the 1989 CITES ban as “pre-convention”, in effect enabling smuggled ivory to be legalized and then moved onto China’s flourishing domestic market. Illegal ivory seized by Chinese government agencies is also alleged to have disappeared into government ivory stocks. Numerous traders have confirmed that government ivory stocks continued to be sold to them in the 1990’s and 2000’s, including via government owned companies. Even the ruling Communist Party of China is reported to have held ivory stocks which were sold to traders. Organized smuggling syndicates have proliferated across Africa in recent years as Chinese companies and nationals pour into the continent, extracting its rich resources to fuel the explosive growth in manufacturing on the Chinese mainland. Whether working for oil companies in Sudan and Angola, or logging companies in west and central Africa, some Chinese nationals are tempted into working for the lucrative underground ivory trade. Africa’s elephants are paying the price for China’s failure to enforce the CITES ban. Recent commendable efforts by China’s government to suppress the illegal ivory trade have resulted in some high-profile seizures as well as restrictions on ivory product sales. Yet the government has now legalized dozens of companies thought to be implicated in illicit trade. Further, it undermines its own efforts to crack down on illegal trade by auctioning off confiscated poached ivory to domestic traders. Worse, China is now seeking legal approval from CITES to take part in future ivory auctions in order to expand its domestic trade. The Chinese government’s determination to host a “Green Olympics” in 2008 will be badly tainted if it continues to protect a domestic ivory trade that is fueling widespread poaching and illegal trade across several continents. The country’s very belated efforts to ratchet up enforcement operations against large-scale smuggling and commercial trade in ivory are not enough to prevent a 21st century African elephant disaster, driven by Chinese consumer demand. Instead the Government of China can affirm its commitment to CITES and to protecting endangered species by taking immediate action to ban the domestic trade in ivory. By simplifying enforcement procedures and empowering enforcement personnel across the nation, ivory trade can be eliminated within China’s borders. A precedent already exists. In 1993 China banned domestic rhino horn trade after rhino poaching in Africa and Asia and the flow of horns to China had reached crisis levels. China’s successful action to save the world’s rhinos demonstrated high level political will to protect the wildlife of other nations. Today, China’s people face two key questions with regard to another beloved endangered species: the African elephant. First, where does all the ivory in China come from, almost 18 years after international trade was banned? And second, does the Government of China have the political will to ban the domestic ivory trade that is helping to push many African elephant populations towards extinction? Details: London; Washington, DC: EIA, 2007. 36p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 31, 2011 at: http://www.eia-global.org/PDF/Report--MadeInChina--Species--May07.pdf Year: 2007 Country: China URL: http://www.eia-global.org/PDF/Report--MadeInChina--Species--May07.pdf Shelf Number: 122567 Keywords: Endangered SpeciesIllegal TradeIvoryOrganized CrimePoachingWildlife Crime (China) |
Author: Latour, Stephanie Title: Elephant Meat Trade in Central Africa: Democratic Republic of Congo Case Study Summary: Wild game meat, or ‘bushmeat’, has been the most important source of protein in the Congo Basin forests of Central Africa for millennia (Wilkie & Carpenter, 1999; Bakarr, et al., 2001). Human population density was very low over most of this long period, but over the last century population growth has been rapidly increasing with the introduction of modern health care and better nutrition (Bennett, 2008). Roads are penetrating previously inaccessible forests to prospect for oil and minerals or to log for timber (Wilkie, et al., 2000; Laurance, et al., 2006). These new roads and economic activities attract farmers and hunters. Agricultural interventions such as cocoa, coffee and oil palm plantations in the name of economic development degrade the forest and attract even more people (World Bank, 2011). Hunting methods have changed radically over the past few decades with the introduction and spread of military weapons, dramatically increasing bushmeat offtake (Barnes, 2002; Fa & Brown, 2009). All of these factors impact negatively on biodiversity in general and on mammals in particular (Nasi, et al., 2008). Central Africa presents a radically and rapidly changing dynamic for elephants. Range fragmentation is pushed by human population growth and by the expansion of extractive activities into remaining wilderness areas. Associated corruption and disregard of established laws by government officials and the populace contribute to the uncontrolled exploitation of natural resources. In addition, persistent conflict in the region and subsequent spread of arms, facilitate the killing of elephants and the marketing of their products. A growing body of evidence indicates that Africa is facing a dangerous resurgence in illegal elephant killing following a relative lull of over a decade since 1990 with the commencement of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) international trade in ivory moratorium. News reports, announcements by Interpol and TRAFFIC, amongst others, report increasing numbers of ivory seizures, including some of the largest ever recorded. The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) was implicated in more ivory seizures between 1989 and 2009 than any other country in Africa. There is also evidence to suggest that the DRC is the source of some of the ivory found in large consignments destined for Asian markets through Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania (Milliken, et al., 2009). News reports to date have focused almost exclusively on the illegal trade in ivory, implying that this is the primary economic driver. An unacknowledged issue is the trade in elephant bushmeat. Elephant bushmeat is potentially a major economic bonus, and available to actors who may have little access to the proceeds from ivory. In addition, the consumption and trade of elephant meat may reflect underlying human-elephant conflict, with retaliatory killings or ‘authorized’ culls being a source of meat. In many Central African countries, exaggerated claims of elephant crop raiding are used as a pretext for state sanctioned killing and distribution of meat. Permissions for the killings, and the meat windfall, are used by local politicians to gain popular support (John Hart, in litt., 2010). Wildlife laws in Central Africa permit the harvesting of administratively culled elephants. While elephant meat may be a by-product of the ivory trade, it could also be a primary driver of elephant deaths in certain localities and of particular concern for conservation, given that elephants with small or no tusks can be targeted. While ivory networks target large tusk accumulations intended for export, and thus focus on the last remaining subpopulation concentrations – usually in protected areas – elephant bushmeat can be attractive and even profitable when the number of elephants to be killed are far fewer, and the value of the acquired ivory is almost negligible. An initial assessment of the existing Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species - Monitoring the Illegal Killing of Elephants (CITES-MIKE) programme’s carcass database, pertaining to information collected between 2001 and 2009, indicates that the demand for elephant meat, especially in the Central African subregion, may be an important factor underlying the illegal killing of elephants (CITES, 2010). The dynamics, scale and impact of the trade in elephant meat are not well understood and more information is required, both to improve the information in MIKE and the Elephant Trade Information System (ETIS) and to assist with the development of appropriate policy and management strategies. The IUCN/SSC African Elephant Specialist Group (AfESG) has been charged by MIKE with implementing a Introduction 13 project to investigate the linkages between the elephant meat trade and larger social and economic dynamics at play, including, but not limited to, ivory trade, logging (legal and illegal), mining, infrastructure development, global economic trends, law enforcement at the national and international level, and community forest governance. The project was carried out in four Central African countries. This report presents an account of the results of the DRC case study, which focuses on the Okapi Faunal Reserve as an example of an elephant poaching and product trafficking site. Objectives of the study The objective of the study is to enhance knowledge of contemporary elephant bushmeat market dynamics, patterns and trends in north-eastern DRC and determine the impact of elephant meat trade on the Okapi Faunal Reserve (OFR) population. Within this overall objective the study aims to collect information on: 1. who is involved in killing elephants for meat and ivory respectively; 2. the methods and work effort of those involved; 3. the transport methods and routes used for trafficking meat and ivory; 4. the final destination of meat and ivory and identification of the consumers; 5. the commodity chain of meat and ivory respectively and the social networks involved; 6. the economics of the trade: prices, quantities, frequency, etc.; 7. the quantities of meat and ivory that are obtained annually from OFR; 8. attitudes and motivation related to killing elephants of those involved in the trade: the hunters, transporters/ middlemen, vendors and consumers; 9. the relationship and functioning of elephant meat trade within the broader context of bushmeat trade in general; 10. the influence of external factors on the killing of elephants and trade in their products, for example, logging (legal and illegal); mining; infrastructure development; law enforcement at the national and international level; community forest governance; and economic trends that affect demand. Details: Gland, Switzerland: International Union for Conservation of Nature, 2011. 53p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed July 3, 2012 at: http://data.iucn.org/dbtw-wpd/edocs/SSC-OP-045-003.pdf Year: 2011 Country: Africa URL: http://data.iucn.org/dbtw-wpd/edocs/SSC-OP-045-003.pdf Shelf Number: 125461 Keywords: BushmeatElephantsIvoryPoachingWildlife Crimes (Africa) |
Author: Nowell, Kristin Title: Wildlife Crime Scorecard: Assessing Compliance with and Enforcement of CITES Commitments for Tigers, Rhinos and Elephants Summary: International commercial trade of elephants, rhinos and tigers – and their parts and products — is almost universally prohibited by CITES, the international endangered species trade convention, however the enforcement of this restriction remains weak. Illegal trade in ivory, rhino horn and tiger parts is of major conservation concern. While CITES mainly prohibits or regulates international trade, it has continued to expand its role to prevent illegal trade at the national level through the adoption of various “Decisions” and “Resolutions”. This is critical to ensure illegal trade at national levels does not lead to international trade dynamics that undermine the conservation of elephants, rhinos and tigers, in addition to the effectiveness of the Convention itself. The approach to each species group differs, but all include national measures to control not only international, but also internal trade in the species’ parts, derivatives and products: • For tigers, it is recommended that internal trade be “prohibited” (Res Conf. 12.5 Rev. CoP15 ); • For rhinos, it is recommended that such trade be “restricted” (Res Conf. 9.14 Rev. CoP15); • For elephants, “unregulated domestic sale of ivory [is to] to be prohibited” under the Action Plan for the Control of Trade in Elephant Ivory Decision 13.26 Rev. CoP15 Annex 2). Other common themes include strengthening law enforcement; coordination with other countries; improved data collection; enacting deterrent legal penalties for illegal trade; and raising public awareness, especially among user groups. Tigers, rhinos and elephants were the subject of renewed and substantial concern at the 15th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to CITES (CoP15) in 2010 and the 61st meeting of the CITES Standing Committee (SC61) in 2011, specifically in regard to the scale of illegal trade. This report, produced to coincide with the 62nd meeting of the CITES Standing Committee (in July 2012), selects 23 range, transit and consumer countries from Asia and Africa facing the highest levels of illegal trade in elephant ivory, rhino horn and tiger parts (Annex 1), and evaluates their progress since CoP15 towards compliance with and enforcement of CITES commitments for these three species groups. Countries are scored green, yellow and red to signal recent implementation effort, and indicate whether governments are moving in the right direction to curb illegal trade in these species groups, or to indicate whether they have made little progress. Recent actions underpinning the country scores are discussed, and recommendations are made for all countries to improve compliance and enforcement, but with focus on key countries identified in this assessment as urgently needing to show progress. It is important to note that illegal internal trade in these three species groups persists in virtually all of the selected countries, however this report seeks to differentiate countries where it is actively being countered from those where current efforts are entirely inadequate. It should also be noted that a green score of all three species groups does not mean that the country in question is free of wildlife crime. In many cases there are widespread problems concerning illegal trade in other species, such as reptiles and primates. Moreover, some of these countries are performing poorly in terms of other conservation governance indicators and threats to the three species groups, such as the integrity of protected areas. Details: Gland, SWIT: World Wildlife Fund, 2012. 36p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 7, 2012 at: http://www.wwf.se/source.php/1486859/WWF%20Wildlife%20Crime%20Scorecard%20Report[1].pdf Year: 2012 Country: International URL: http://www.wwf.se/source.php/1486859/WWF%20Wildlife%20Crime%20Scorecard%20Report[1].pdf Shelf Number: 125903 Keywords: Animal PoachingCITESEndangered SpeciesIllegal TradeIvoryTigers, Elephants, RhinosWildlife CrimeWildlife Law EnforcementWildlife Trade |
Author: Courouble, Marianne Title: More Ivory than Elephants: Domestic Ivory Markets in Three West African Countries Summary: Surveys of African ivory markets in 1999 identified Abidjan (Côte d’Ivoire), Dakar (Senegal) and Lagos (Nigeria) as the most significant ivory carving centres in West Africa (Martin and Stiles, 2000). This report serves to update the situation in these three countries and to assess whether or not any progress has been made in establishing effective control of their domestic ivory markets. The following results stem from field surveys which were conducted by two researchers between 11th-30th June 2002. Details: Cambridge, UK: TRAFFIC International, 2003. 83p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 11, 2012 at: www.traffic.org/species-reports/traffic_species_mammals24.pdf Year: 2003 Country: Africa URL: Shelf Number: 125984 Keywords: Animal PoachingElephantsIvoryWildlife Crime (Africa) |
Author: Ayling, Julie Title: What Sustains Wildlife Crime? Rhino Horn Trading and the Resilience of Criminal Networks Summary: The problem of illegal trading in wildlife is a long-standing one. Humans have always regarded other sentient and non-sentient species as resources and tradeable commodities, frequently resulting in negative effects for biodiversity. However, the illegal trade in wildlife is increasingly meeting with resistance from states and the international community in the form of law enforcement and regulatory initiatives. So why does it persist? What makes the criminal networks involved in it resilient? In this paper I consider the networks involved in the illegal trade in rhinoceros horn that is currently posing an existential threat to most rhino species. The paper considers possible sources of these networks' resilience, both internal and external, and the implications for how the trade could be tackled. Details: Canberra, Australia: Australian National University, 2012. 22P. Source: Transnational Environmental Crime Project, Working Paper 2/2012: Internet Resource: Accessed November 3, 2012 at http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=2152776 Year: 2012 Country: International URL: http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=2152776 Shelf Number: 126857 Keywords: Animal PoachingCorruptionCriminal NetworksIllegal TradeIvoryOrganized CrimeRhinosTransnational CrimeWildlife CrimeWildlife Trade |
Author: Lindsey, Peter A. Title: A Study on the Dehorning of African Rhinoceroses as a Tool to Reduce the Risk of Poaching Summary: South Africa has experienced a massive surge in rhino poaching during the last three years. In response, the Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs convened a National Rhino Summit, in October 2010 to provide an opportunity for government and the industry to discuss the key interventions relating to rhino poaching, to identify additional initiatives and actions required to address the challenges, to harness further political and broader stakeholder commitment and to launch a strategy to address poaching. Based on the outcomes of the summit, the Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA) commissioned a dehorning impact assessment, to determine whether dehorning is an option in terms of securing rhino populations; a feasibility study to determine the viability of legalising trade in rhino horn in South Africa; and a global market research assessment to enable the Department and stakeholders to make informed decisions relating to key tools that could be used to reduce the threat to rhino populations from poaching. Rhino dehorning has been used historically as a tool to reduce the threat of poaching in parts of southern Africa, and continues to be employed on a large-scale in Zimbabwe. Dehorning is contentious due to uncertainty regarding the effectiveness of the method at reducing poaching, and due to potential veterinary impacts and adverse effects on the behavioural ecology of rhinos. This report is the product of the study on rhino dehorning and was conducted on behalf of DEA by the Endangered Wildlife Trust. The aim of the report is to provide clarity on the impacts and efficacy of dehorning and to identify the circumstances under which the intervention is most likely to be effective at reducing poaching. Key findings of the study are summarized below. Details: Pretoria: Department of Environmental Affairs, Republic of South Africa, 2011. 70p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed Dec. 1, 2012 at: http://www.environment.gov.za/sites/default/files/docs/studyon_dehorning_african_rhinoceros.pdf Year: 2011 Country: South Africa URL: http://www.environment.gov.za/sites/default/files/docs/studyon_dehorning_african_rhinoceros.pdf Shelf Number: 127041 Keywords: Animal Poaching (South Africa)DehorningIvoryRhinosWildlife Crime |
Author: Nellemann, Christian Title: Elephants in the Dust - The African Elephant Crisis. A Rapid Response Assessment Summary: The African elephant, the largest remaining land mammal on the planet, is facing the greatest crisis in decades. Reports of mass elephant killings in the media vividly illustrate the situation across many African elephant range states. Results from monitoring and systematic surveys conducted under the UNEP-hosted CITES treaty reveal that poaching levels have tripled in recent years, with several elephants killed every single hour of the day. In Central and West Africa, the elephant may soon disappear from whole areas unless urgent action is taken. Organized syndicates ship several tons of ivory at a time to markets in Asia, and hundreds of elephants are killed for every container sent. Indeed, this report documents nearly a tripling in the number of large-scale ivory seizures by customs authorities, revealing the scale and heavy involvement of international criminal networks that must be addressed. The report, however, also provides optimism if action is taken by governments within Africa and in ivory market countries. Improved law enforcement methods, international collaboration with the United Nations Office for Drugs and Crime, the World Customs Organization and INTERPOL and measures to reduce demand can be implemented with success if countries and donors join forces. Indeed, large and previously secure elephant populations in Southern Africa are evidence of the fact that both elephants and their habitats cannot only be well-managed, but, coupled with tourism, can also become a source of income. Improved public awareness is also key. Many people including businessmen and women are often unaware that the ivory they may be exchanging as gifts could have been sourced illegally. Among other awareness activities, UNEP is currently working with its Goodwill Ambassador, actress Li Bingbing, and the City of Shanghai to bring the issue of ivory poaching to the attention of the public. Details: Norway: GRID-Arendal, UNEP, CITES, IUCN, TRAFFIC, 2013. 80p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed March 11, 2013 at: http://www.grida.no/publications/rr/elephants/ Year: 2013 Country: International URL: http://www.grida.no/publications/rr/elephants/ Shelf Number: 127909 Keywords: Animal PoachingElephantsIvoryOrganized CrimeWildlife CrimeWildlife Management |
Author: Milliken, Tom Title: The Decline of the Black Rhino in Zimbabwe: Implications for Future Rhino Conservation Summary: This report presents an evaluation of Zimbabwe's Black Rhino conservation strategy in the face of continuous poaching and illegal trade in rhino horn, and an assessment of future options for rhino conservation. Details: Cambridge, UK: TRAFFIC, 1993. 76p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed March 20, 2013 at: http://www.rhinoresourcecenter.com/pdf_files/123/1239704147.pdf Year: 1993 Country: Zimbabwe URL: http://www.rhinoresourcecenter.com/pdf_files/123/1239704147.pdf Shelf Number: 128052 Keywords: Illegal Wildlife TradeIvoryRhinocerosWildlife ConservationWildlife Crimes (Zimbabwe)Wildlife Poaching |
Author: Menon, Vivek Title: Under Siege: Poaching and Protection of Greater One-Horned Rhinoceroses in India Summary: The report presents information on the Greater One-horned Rhinoceros population in India. It documents the extent of poaching and trade in and use of rhinoceros horn. Details: New Delhi: TRAFFIC India, 1996. 114p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed March 20, 2013 at: http://data.iucn.org/dbtw-wpd/edocs/Traf-025.pdf Year: 1996 Country: India URL: http://data.iucn.org/dbtw-wpd/edocs/Traf-025.pdf Shelf Number: 128054 Keywords: Animal PoachingIvoryRhinocerosWildlife ConservationWildlife Crime (India)Wildlife Smuggling |
Author: Milledge, Simon Title: Rhino Horn Stockpile Management: Minimum standards and best practices from east and southern Africa Summary: This document presents recommended practices for rhino horn stockpile management and is based upon best examples of management currently employed throughout east and southern Africa. A wide variety of rhino horn stockpile management policies and practices are found throughout Africa. In this regard, there is no single correct method, and for certain issues there is no need to reinvent the wheel when trying to recommend particular aspects of stockpile management. However, without exception, every rhino range State could benefit from the lessons learnt and best practices from neighbouring countries. During 2001 to 2003, TRAFFIC reviewed the rhino horn stockpile management practices employed throughout east and southern Africa. Based upon this regional review, a stakeholder workshop was held in 2004, which was attended by government officers directly responsible for managing all of the largest horn stockpiles in Africa, including Botswana, Kenya, Namibia, South Africa (KwaZulu-Natal province, Limpopo province, Mpumalanga province, North West Parks and Tourism Board, and Kruger National Park), Swaziland and Zimbabwe. This document is the main outcome from the workshop, consolidating available knowledge and summarizing recommended best practices for all aspects of horn stockpile management. It covers the collection of horns from the field, measuring and marking, registration, storage and security, audits and reconciliation, and several other important components of stockpile management for both State and privatelyowned horns. This document contains recommended minimum standards that should be implemented in all countries, as well as optimal practices for those striving for the best possible benchmark. It is hoped that any nation wishing to improve any or all of the above ingredients for stockpile management may refer to this document. Details: Dar es Salam, Tanzania: TRAFFIC East/Southern Africa, 2005. 32p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed March 21, 2013 at: www.traffic.org Year: 2005 Country: Africa URL: Shelf Number: 128056 Keywords: Animal PoachingIvoryRhinocerosWildlife Crime (Africa)Wildlife Management |
Author: Blanc, J.J. Title: African Elephant Status Report 2007: An Update from the African Elephant Database Summary: The AESR 2007 presents the latest information on elephant population estimates and range at the site, national, regional and continental levels. This edition presents some important new features. New tables assist in interpreting the possible reasons why estimates have changed since the previous edition; comparisons are made for methodologically comparable estimates at the regional level; and a system for prioritizing has been developed to guide governments and funding agencies in planning future surveys. Details: Gland, Switzerland: IUCN (International Union for Conservation of nature and Natural Resources, 2007. 276p. Source: Internet Resource: http://www.african-elephant.org/aed/pdfs/aesr2007.pdf#nameddest=intro Year: 2007 Country: Africa URL: http://www.african-elephant.org/aed/pdfs/aesr2007.pdf#nameddest=intro Shelf Number: 128057 Keywords: Animal PoachingElephantsIvoryWildlife ConservationWildlife Crime (Africa)Wildlife Management |
Author: O'Connell-Rodwell, Caitlin Title: An Assessment of China's Management of Trade in Elephants and Elephant Products Summary: The serious decline of elephants in many Asian and African range countries due to demand for ivory throughout the 1970s and 1980s, particularly in East Asia, resulted in the adoption of various international measures to reduce the threats to elephants. In 1976, the Asian Elephant Elephas maximus was included in Appendix I and the African Elephant Loxodonta africana included in Appendix II of CITES. With continuing declines in populations of the African Elephant, the species was transferred to Appendix I of CITES in 1989, thereby effecting a ban on all commercial international trade in elephants, their parts and derivatives. China took a reservation to the 1989 Appendix I-listing of the African Elephant in order to protect the ivory carving industry, the majority of whose stocks were reported to be pre-Convention stocks (legally obtained prior to China’s accession to CITES). In August of the same year, the CITES Management Authority of China (CNMA) registered a total of 110 importers, exporters and ivory carving workshops, as well as 110 tonnes of raw and worked ivory, most of which was pre-Convention stock. Effective 11 January 1991, China withdrew its reservation and the ban on international commercial trade in ivory took effect in China. Although stocks acquired before the ban were reported to be pre-Convention, analysis of CITES Annual Reports, show that from 1991 to 1999, China exported 571 tusks, 1,006,111 ivory carvings as well as 345 kg of ivory carvings (an additional 9,442,401 ivory carvings were exported in 1990). However, information on the permits and / or the Annual Reports did not record the ‘Source’ of the exports. Of the 566 tusks reported as being exported in 1992, 554 tusks were recorded by China as being from pre-Convention stocks. Japan, however, did not report the import of these tusks - and only 1,769 ivory carvings exported from China from 1991 – 1999 were reported as being pre-Convention stock. The proliferation of safari parks in China since the mid-1990s is reflected in the increasing trend of live elephants imported into China. From 1989 to 2000, China reported the import of a total of 91 live elephants, of which 82 were imported between 1996 and 2000. In addition to the import of live elephants into China, elephants from China are also used for display or performances. Smuggling of live elephants has also been reported, with between five to seven elephants illegally imported from Myanmar in 1995. Not all reported imports appear to have been conducted in accordance with the provisions of the Convention. The conservation purposes and benefits of the import, in 1996, of 16 captive bred elephants from Myanmar for ‘Breeding’ are questionable. Perhaps of greater concern is the import, in 2000, of a single shipment of 20 wild elephants from Malaysia for ‘Zoos’. This trade is difficult to justify when there are captive bred specimens which could also have been used for the stated purpose. Furthermore, at least one safari park in China, the Guangzhou Panyu Safari Park, has an animal exchange programme under which it recently exported four red pandas, Ailurus fulgens, to Malacca zoo in Malaysia. It would appear that commercial trade in CITES Appendix I-listed species is being conducted where the profit is ‘in kind’. Seizure information for any illegal products, by its very nature, can only provide an indication of levels of illegal trade. Assessing China’s full role in the illicit ivory trade is exacerbated due to serious deficiencies in China’s seizure reporting system. Data that is available often lacks details on the date, number of pieces and/or weight of the seizure. The actual scale of illicit ivory trade in China therefore is likely to be considerably larger than current data shows. Nonetheless, available data clearly shows that China is a significant consumer of illegal ivory. Based on available data for the period January 1998 to September 2001, a minimum of 30 - 45 tonnes of ivory were seized destined for or entering China. Rhinoceros horn was also intercepted in some shipments from Africa. In addition to illicit ivory in trade, elephant skin reported to be equivalent to 20 elephants, believed to have originated in Myanmar and destined for a medicine manufacturing company in Shanghai was seized in 2000. In 2001, a further 10 tonnes of elephant skin, from an original 15 tonnes purchased in 1993, were seized in a Guangzhou traditional Chinese medicine company. The 15 tonnes were believed to represent 260 elephants. Smaller quantities of elephant skin also were observed by TRAFFIC staff for sale in the border areas of Laos and Myanmar. The state-run ivory carving industry has declined since the international trade ban in 1989 and it is likely that much of the ivory-carving industry now is run through private, and illegal, family operations. The main buyers of ivory are believed to be Chinese nationals, and the prosperous cities such as Shanghai, Guangzhou and Beijing believed to be the main centres of ivory consumption. One vendor in a Beijing outlet visited in 2000 remarked that he could obtain as much new ivory as was required. In general, Chinese nationals mainly purchase ivory at the lower end of the price range, particularly smaller pieces such as jewellery, name chops and chopsticks. China’s emergence as an ivory consumer market, and its potential to develop even further, can be explained, in part, through the growth of China’s private retail sector, the strong and increasing purchasing power of Chinese consumers and weak enforcement of ivory trade regulations within China. Consumer expenditure has surged in recent years and retail sales for jewellery, the most relevant category for ivory for which retail sales statistics in China are available, increased from over USD 360 million (RMB 3 billion) in 1994 to over USD 1.85 billion (RMB 15.3 billion) in 2000. Strong trade links with Africa also shed light on the dynamics of the illegal ivory trade. Seizures of illegally imported ivory from expatriate Chinese returning from Africa and sent by post are common. The China-Africa link supports earlier evidence, documented by TRAFFIC, of Africa-based,Asian-run ivory processing operations which produce semi-worked and worked ivory products for illicit export to selected Asian markets including to China. The majority of ivory in China’s markets is believed to be from African elephants. Illegal ivory imports from Myanmar have been documented, but ivory vendors and carvers expressed a preference for African ivory. Corruption, although a common phenomenon throughout the world, can not be treated lightly: diplomats representing the Government of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea have been involved in a number of documented cases of ivory smuggling on a large scale. There is little evidence to suggest that North Korea has a domestic ivory carving industry within its own borders, and all seizure cases involving North Korean diplomats returning ‘home’ with consignments of raw ivory had air tickets which involved a stopover in Beijing, a routing which would make it convenient to move large volumes of ivory into China as diplomatic cargo (T. Milliken, pers. comm., June 2002). Recently an official from airport Customs and a shipping worker from China Air were implicated in a smuggling case of around 14 tonnes of ivory. The involvement of an unnamed ‘organ in China of a foreign country’ in this recent case also was alleged although further details are not available. The Wild Animal Protection Law (1989), the Enforcement Regulations for the Protection of Terrestrial Wildlife of the People’s Republic of China (1992) and the Customs Law (1987) are the principal legal instruments regulating import and export, processing and sale of Asian and African Elephant products. The State Forestry Administration also recently issued Notification 2001/234 urging relevant agencies to pay close attention to illicit ivory trade and established price standards for ivory so that illegal trade could be treated as criminal cases. Some successful enforcement actions have been carried out as reflected in the seizures made by Customs. Successful joint investigations and operations involving a range of relevant agencies also have been carried out on a number occasions. While these efforts are to be commended, so far they have been one-off exercises only and their impact would be greatly increased if carried out on a regular basis. Overall, however, enforcement of legal instruments is weak. Since registration in 1989, no further monitoring of ivory stocks in China has been conducted. Traders are not required to have a specific permit to sell ivory despite the Class I protected status of the African and Asian Elephant and despite the understanding that only vendors that registered in 1989 would be considered legal operators. It is therefore no possible to determine whether ivory seen in the markets of China is derived from stocks registered in 1989 or whether it has been more recently, and thus illegally, acquired. Implementation of legislation is hindered by a lack of inter-agency communication, overlapping responsibilities of government agencies and the consequent lack of clarity as to which agency is responsible for implementing which aspects of the law. This situation is particularly apparent with regard to the disposal of products confiscated from illegal trade. It is not clear which agency is responsible for holding confiscated stocks and whether confiscated ivory is kept in storage, destroyed or released / sold on to the domestic market. Details: TRAFFIC East Asia, 2002. 55p. Source: Internet Resource: TRAFFIC Online Report Series No.3: Accessed March 21, 2013 at: http://www.traffic.org/mammals/ Year: 2002 Country: China URL: http://www.traffic.org/mammals/ Shelf Number: 128059 Keywords: Animal PoachingElephantsIllegal Wildlife TradeIvoryWildlife ConservationWildlife Crime (China)Wildlife Management |
Author: Milliken, Tom Title: No Peace for Elephants: Unregulated domestic ivory markets in Angola and Mozambique Summary: Recent reports suggest that Angola is fast emerging as an important country in the illegal trade in African Elephant Loxodonta africana ivory (Milliken et al., 2004). For the most part, however, the country’s wildlife trade remains poorly understood. Owing to a prolonged civil war that only ended with the signing of a peace agreement on 4 April 2002, there have been no systematic surveys of Angola’s wildlife resources for over three decades. This study marks a first attempt to conduct a spot check and assess the ivory trade in Luanda, Angola’s bustling capital and major port city on the Atlantic Ocean. From 4 to 10 June 2005, TRAFFIC researchers visited retail outlets and craft markets in and around Luanda to collect information on the amount of ivory available for sale, ivory prices and sources, and other trade dynamics. As information relating to Angola’s legislation on the hunting of elephants and trade in ivory was not readily available, investigating the current legal status of the species and trade in elephant products was an important aspect of the survey. The following results derive from this effort: • The Government of Angola, through its National Assembly, formally approved the country’s membership in the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) on 17 January 2001, however, this decision has yet to be gazetted. Moreover, the Minister of Foreign Affairs has failed to file an instrument of accession with the Swiss Government, the requisite procedure for becoming a member of the Convention. Finally, it remains unclear to what extent the Angolan authorities have apprised the CITES Secretariat of these developments and sought guidance to complete the process. Consequently, with the accession of Lesotho to CITES on 30 December 2003, Angola now remains the only southern African country that is not a Party to CITES. • Current legislation relating to the hunting of elephants and the trade in elephant products in Angola dates back half a century to the colonial era with Decree 40.040 of 1955 and Decree 2:873 of 1957. The fees relating to the issuance of hunting licences and penalties for the illegal killing of animals, however, have subsequently been updated, most recently through Decree 36/99 of 1999. Regardless, there is an urgent need to review and update the substance of Angola’s legislation that relates to wildlife in general and wildlife trade and CITES in particular. • Implementation and enforcement responsibilities for the country’s wildlife laws lie principally with the Institute of Forestry Development in the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development. Regardless, very little, if any, meaningful enforcement has taken place in recent years, largely as a result of the absence of political will within government and a lack of human capacity and resources. • Despite legislation stating that the possession of ivory without proper documentation is illegal, a total of 41 retail outlets were observed selling ivory products that collectively were estimated to weigh a total of 1 573.4 kg during this survey. About 90% of this ivory was found at the Mercado do Artesanato (Artists’ Market) at Benfica, south of Luanda. • Little information was gathered on the presence and operation of ivory carving workshops in Luanda, but it appears that most local craftsmen work from their homes. Further, it appears that significant quantities of ivory are being carved in neighbouring Congo Basin countries to the north and routinely imported into the Angolan market in violation of CITES. • Observations of local conservationists and long-term residents suggest that the ivory trade in Luanda has increased dramatically in recent years, possibly doubling in scale within the last year. By the same token, the majority of retail traders indicated that Luanda represented a growing market for ivory products, and that such business was generally good. • Raw ivory appears to be relatively easy to acquire for vendors in the main market, with prices ranging from USD35 per kg up to USD100 per kg. While it is likely that some of this ivory is derived from Angolan elephants, the majority of the stock is believed to originate in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). The high proportion of French-speaking traders in Luanda’s principal ivory market further suggests a strong link with the ivory trade in Francophone countries in Central Africa immediately to the north of Angola, particularly DRC and Congo (Brazzaville). • There is no evidence to suggest that the conditions noted in Resolution Conf. 10.10 (Rev. CoP12) for the control of internal trade in ivory are being met or implemented in Angola. As a non-Party to the Convention, the country is under no formal obligation to CITES in this regard. Still, the continued trade in ivory has serious implications for Angola’s remaining elephant populations, which are thought to be small and highly fragmented (Blanc et al., 2003). Further, the current trade is believed to involve a persistent illegal importation of unprocessed elephant tusks and worked ivory products from neighbouring countries that are Parties to CITES. • Angolan authorities responsible for developing policy and enforcing legislation in the wildlife sector showed a genuine enthusiasm to address ivory trade issues. The desire to better monitor and protect the country’s remaining elephant populations, however, faces two significant obstacles. Firstly, the political will of senior politicians remains very much focused on social issues and rebuilding the collapsed infrastructure of the nation in the post-war period, rather than with the environment in general and wildlife in particular. This sector remains a remote secondary concern on the national agenda of priorities. Secondly, environmental institutions in Angola remain very weak and the capacity of the wildlife authorities to carry out their duties is routinely circumscribed by a lack of human and material resources. • There is a need for a protracted programme of external support to assist Angolan wildlife authorities in their efforts to build strong environmental institutions from which to protect and manage the country’s wildlife resources. Assisting Angola to complete the interrupted process of accession to CITES would be an important first step in this regard. Reviewing and updating Angola’s antiquated wildlife legislation is called for, as well as a broad programme of capacity-building and training for law enforcement personnel, including police and Customs officers. Details: Cambridge, UK: TRAFFIC International, 2006. 42p. Source: Internet Resource: TRAFFIC Online Report Series No.11: Accessed March 21, 2013 at: http://www.traffic.org/mammals/ Year: 2006 Country: Mozambique URL: http://www.traffic.org/mammals/ Shelf Number: 128060 Keywords: Animal PoachingElephantsIllegal Wildlife TradeIvoryWildlife ConservationWildlife Crime (Mozambique)Wildlife Management |
Author: Environmental Investigation Agency Title: Vietnam’s Illegal Rhino Horn Trade: Undermining the Effectiveness of CITES Summary: The Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA), along with the Animal Welfare Institute (AWI) and International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW), filed a petition on December 21, 2012 with the U.S. Secretary of the Department of the Interior under the Pelly Amendment, which enables the U.S. President to impose trade sanctions against countries engaged in trade that diminishes the effectiveness of any international program in force with respect to the United States for the conservation of endangered or threatened species. This briefing summarizes the key points from the Petition to certify Vietnam as diminishing the effectiveness of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) for trade in rhino products. Rhinoceros populations have been decimated in both Africa and Asia, with three subspecies already extinct and most species and subspecies now critically endangered. To curb the international trade in rhino horn and other parts and derivatives that has led to diminished rhino populations, the CITES Parties have placed all but two populations of rhinos in Appendix I to prohibit international trade for commercial purposes. Populations of the southern white rhino (Ceratotherium simum simum) in South Africa and Swaziland are included in Appendix II with an annotation limiting trade to hunting trophies and live rhinos to appropriate and acceptable destinations. These efforts helped stabilize and in some cases, increase, rhino populations. However, despite these efforts, rhino populations are again under threat, largely due to rising demand in Vietnam and the failure of Vietnam to implement its CITES obligations. Vietnam is currently the largest market for rhino horn from both legally hunted rhinos in South Africa, whose horns are then illegally traded, and poached rhinos in South Africa and elsewhere. In some cases, Vietnam has refused to implement the recommendations of the CITES Parties or even respond to requests for information from the Parties. In fact, Vietnamese CITES officials continue to deny the role of Vietnam and its nationals in the illegal rhino horn trade, statements that defy all evidence to the contrary. With Vietnamese nationals at the center of the illegal trade, Vietnam is believed to be driving the “rapacious illegal trade in rhino horn.” Details: Washington, DC: EIA, 2013. 12p. Source: Internet Resource: Acccessed March 21, 2013 at: http://www.eia-global.org/PDF/SpeciesRhinoCITES.pdf Year: 2013 Country: Vietnam URL: http://www.eia-global.org/PDF/SpeciesRhinoCITES.pdf Shelf Number: 128066 Keywords: Animal PoachingEndangered SpeciesIlliegal Wildlife TradeIvoryWildlife ConservationWildlife Crime |
Author: Born Free Foundation Title: Ivory Update. Prepared for the: 54th Meeting of the CITES Standing Committee 2nd – 6th October 2006, Geneva Summary: This ivory report documents the seizure of more than 30 tonnes of ivory since CoP13 (November 2004). Since 1998, when the Species Survival Network first began collecting data on ivory seizures, more than 151 tonnes of ivory have been recorded as seized. This interim ivory report has been prepared for the 54th meeting of the CITES Standing Committee (SC54) and is intended to update the Parties on significant ivory seizure information since CoP13. It will additionally discuss elephant issues that will arise at SC54, including the one-off trade of ivory approved at CoP12, MIKE (Monitoring the Illegal Killing of Elephants) baseline data, and the ivory Action Plan. Finally, it will comment on the issue of ivory stockpiles and problems relating to the harmonisation of seizure reporting. At the 12th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to CITES (Santiago, Chile, 2002), the Parties approved a one-off sale of 60 tonnes of ivory (30 tonnes from South Africa, 20 tonnes from Botswana and 10 tonnes from Namibia). No such trade has taken place as conditions placed upon these exports have not been met to the satisfaction of the Standing Committee. These conditions are: i) only registered government-owned stocks, originating in the State (excluding seized ivory and ivory of unknown origin) and, in the case of South Africa, only ivory originating from the Kruger National Park; ii) only to trading partners that have been verified by the Secretariat, in consultation with the Standing Committee, to have sufficient national legislation and domestic trade controls to ensure that the imported ivory will not be re-exported and will be managed in accordance with all requirements of Resolution Conf. 10.10 (Rev CoP12) concerning domestic manufacturing and trade; iii) not before the Secretariat has verified the prospective importing countries, and the MIKE programme has reported to the Secretariat on the baseline information (e.g. elephant population numbers, incidence of illegal killing); iv) a maximum of 20,000kg (Botswana), 10,000kg (Namibia) and 30,000kg (South Africa) of ivory may be traded, and despatched in a single shipment under strict supervision of the Secretariat; v) the proceeds of the trade are used exclusively for elephant conservation and community conservation and development programmes within or adjacent to the elephant range; and vi) only after the Standing Committee has agreed that the above conditions have been met. Details: Horsham, UK: Born Free Foundation, 2006. 8p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed march 23, 2013 at: http://www.bornfree.org.uk/fileadmin/user_upload/files/reports/SCIvoryReportFINAL.pdf Year: 2006 Country: International URL: http://www.bornfree.org.uk/fileadmin/user_upload/files/reports/SCIvoryReportFINAL.pdf Shelf Number: 128094 Keywords: Animal PoachingIllegal Wildlife TradeIvoryWildlife ConservationWildlife Crimes |
Author: Wright, Belinda Title: Simlipal Tiger Reserve; Assessment of Recent Elephants Poaching and Protection Initiatives Summary: Simlipal Tiger Reserve (STR) is part of one of the largest contiguous tiger and elephant habitats in the world. With a Biosphere Area of over 5,000 sq km, it is one of the most promising landscapes for tigers and their prey species. After a number of elephant deaths were reported in April and May 2010, the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) constituted an independent assessment team on 3rd June 2010. The two-team members proceeded immediately to Simlipal to visit the Tiger Reserve from 6 to 11 June 2010. We made the following observations. ! From the evidence, we confirmed seven elephant deaths, all of which have most likely been killed by poachers. ! In some of the cases the field staff were aware of the elephant deaths but chose not to report them; rather they deliberately attempted to conceal the elephant deaths/poaching incidents, by destroying the evidence. ! At least six of the elephant deaths might never have been exposed had it not been for the local informers and two courageous and determined conservationists from Mayurbhanj District. ! Very little animal presence was noted. We did not see a single tusker (for which Simlipal is renowned) or fresh elephant dung, even though we travelled over 100 km a day, at all hours. ! The Forest Staff appeared to be thoroughly unmotivated and demoralized. ! There have been regular incursions of tribal mass-hunting groups of 100 to 200 people entering the Park for over a year. While we were there, at least three such groups entered the Park on 7, 9, and 11 June 2010. ! Forest staff can only try and persuade the hunters to turn back with “folded hands” since they do not have armed support; all arms have been withdrawn in view of the continuing threat from the Maoists. ! After last year’s concerted attack on the forest infrastructure, many of the protection beat houses in the National Park are yet to be re-occupied. ! Due to a new system of dual jurisdiction, by creation of the post of Regional Chief Conservator of Forests (RCCF), the Field Director no longer has control over three DFOs that manage1,555 sq km of the Buffer Zone. ! The Park’s senior management has not exercised tight control and supervision over the field staff due to insufficient visits to the Parks. ! There is little interaction with local tribal communities living inside and on the periphery of the Park thereby leading to distrust and lack of support to the Department. We have detailed 25 recommendations, which we have tried to keep as practical and implementable as possible. They include a strong recommendation to implement the advice of a previous NTCA team that visited Simlipal in August 2009. Our recommendations that are considered to be of “Immediate Priority” are: 1. Action against field staff for concealment of elephant deaths and destruction of evidence; 2. An independent monitoring committee should be formed by NTCA; 3. A wildlife crime intelligence gathering system should be started; 4. Special drive to seize country-made guns; 5. Protection Funds should not be re-allocated; 6. Funds to DFOs for enforcement raids; 7. Vacant Deputy Director and 2 ACF posts to be immediately filled; 8. Park management to exercise greater supervision and control; 9. Confidentiality of wireless messages should be maintained; and 10. Enlist local community support from peripheral areas bordering the Park. Details: National Tiger Conservation Authority, 2010. 51p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed March 23, 2013 at: http://projecttiger.nic.in/whtsnew/Simlipal_Report_June_2010_FINAL2.pdf Year: 2010 Country: India URL: http://projecttiger.nic.in/whtsnew/Simlipal_Report_June_2010_FINAL2.pdf Shelf Number: 128101 Keywords: Animal PoachingElephantsIvoryWildlife ConservationWildlife Crimes (India) |
Author: Rangarajan, Mahesh Title: Gajah: Securing the Future for Elephants in India. The Report of the Elephant Task Force Summary: Securing a future for the elephant in India, its continued survival in the wild and its humane care in captivity constitute a major challenge. They call for drawing on the best in our communities of knowledge and governance. The Task Force is crystal clear on one point. India can secure the future for Gajah and its forest home. It will be a challenge but one we possess the ability to surmount, provided we have the will, demonstrate the wisdom and deploy the means necessary. It is not immediate extinction as much as attrition of living spaces and the tense conditions of the human-elephant encounter on the ground that require redress. As a long lived and sociable animal familiar to all of us since childhood, elephants may seem to require little help. But the shrinking of habitat and the selective killing off of tuskers in key populations by ivory poachers are cause for grave concern. Elephants in captivity are close to our hearts but there are times standards fall short of the humane treatment and welfare they are surely entitled to. Their care givers, Mahouts and veterinary doctors too need recognition and better amenities. Project Elephant has, since 1992, done much commendable work. But its successes notwithstanding, it needs more than an accretion of resources. Elephant habitats are under immense pressure. Rapid economic expansion and development pressures require far more attention to land use plans from an ecological perspective. New knowledge needs to be brought to bear in population and habitat assessment. Above all, systems of mitigation to alleviate human-elephant conflict need to re-energise and be made much more accountable. To accomplish this requires administrative overhaul and better machinery. The Task Force strongly favours new institutions and mechanisms to achieve these wider objectives. We need a new National Elephant Conservation Authority (NECA) on the lines of the structure for tiger conservation. Nestled with it will be a new Consortium of Elephant Research and Estimation (CERE) who will develop and apply the best methods for enumeration. Transparency of methods and results will uphold standards and inculcate a scientific temper. Along with similar changes at the state level, there will be a new category of Elephant Landscapes. These, ten in number will include the existing and proposed 32 Elephant Reserves. While no new reserves are proposed, there will be a consolidation of the existing reserves. Over 40 per cent of the Elephant Reserves is not under Protected Area or government forest. The Task Force favours Ecologically Sensitive Area status under the Environment Protection Act to regulate activity that may be ecologically negative. Elephant Corridors that link critical populations had already been identified prior to the Task Force by scientists, administrators and reputed voluntary organizations. We have now ranked the Elephant Corridors according to priority and feasibility for action. Our main emphasis is on innovative methods to secure habitats beyond the Protected Areas. These could include Community or Conservation Reserves, Ecosystem Services payments and conservation easements. Protected Area expansion can also be considered but so too can other measures. These will forge partnerships and reinforce alliances for conservation at ground level. It is vital to stress that elephant conservation is about combining quality of land use. While securing viable habitats, there has to be accommodation in other zones, to enable wildlife and people to be compatible. The increased financial outlay of Rs. 600 crore over the 12th Five Year Plan period has sound logic to back it up. A third of the allocation will be to secure vital habitats that serve as links between populations that may be cut off. Rather than land acquisition which is often conflict prone, we propose a range of other instruments from conservation easements to Community Reserves. Similarly, human-elephant conflict requires urgent redress, and not only for making good loss of crops or homes. It requires preventive measures that can be monitored, verified and held accountable. One sixth of resources asked for are earmarked for conflict issues. The Task Force favours a permanent and continuing mission in high conflict zones, with innovative methods to alleviate tragic loss of life of both humans and animals. Conflict Management Task Forces can commence work in known zones of high conflict. These will include experienced foresters, scientists, wildlife vets, and social scientists. Elephant human conflict is a wider phenomenon than these foci of high conflict. Mandatory taluka-level hearings at different times in the sowing and harvesting season in all conflict areas can bring together affected citizens, officials and elected representatives. Given the Elephant Reserves cover 65,000 square kilometres and that this is a vital input into larger land use planning, the proposed outlay is necessary and justifiable. The Task Force appreciates need for transparency. 50 Crores is for research, monitoring and study vital for sound policy. It has suggested specific ways to bring elected representatives and those with domain knowledge in close and continuing contact with local citizens through appropriate forum. Elephant Reserve Committees will enable redress, consultation and transparency. Bringing science, administration and applied social science together is the key. Protection in the wild with conflict management to help both humans and elephants will demand Herculean effort. So will upgrading care of elephants in captivity, with Citizens Elephant Welfare Committees. Assuring Gajah a future for tomorrow will require resources today, whether living space or funds, the application of the best of technical and scientific knowledge or the fashioning of responses that makes partners of citizens who live in proximity with the species. science with humane administration. A mobile mega herbivore, Elephas maximus is often in sharp indirect or direct conflict with our own patterns Details: Delhi: Ministry of Environment and Forests, 2010. 187p. Source: Internet Resource: Accesssed March 25, 2013 at: http://www.moef.nic.in/downloads/public-information/ETF_REPORT_FINAL.pdf Year: 2010 Country: India URL: http://www.moef.nic.in/downloads/public-information/ETF_REPORT_FINAL.pdf Shelf Number: 128112 Keywords: Animal PoachingElephantsIvoryWildlife ConservationWildlife Crimes (India)Wildlife Management |
Author: Blake, Stephen: Wildlife Conservation Society Title: Central african Forests: Final Report on Population Surveys (2003-2004) Summary: In 1997, at the 10th meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP) to the Conv ention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), the Parties resolved to establish a monitoring system across the entire range of the African and Asian elephants [Resolution Conf. 10.10]. It was intended that this system would facilitate decision -making by the Parties regarding the protected status of elephants. This was also the first attempt to provide a systematic and detailed assessment of the impact of the Parties’ decisions to allow, restrict, or suspend trade in a particular species (and/or its parts and derivatives). The monitoring system, now known by its acronym MIKE (Monitoring the Illegal Killing of Elephants), was endorsed at the 41 st meeting of the CITES Standing Committee in February 1999, and between 1999 and 2001 a Pilot Program, funded by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service and the Wildlife Conservation Society was implemented in central Africa to assess the feasibility of full scale implementation of the program in forest ecosystems (Beyers et al. 2001). During implementation of the pilot program and in the light of some lessons already being learned, the goals and structure of the MIKE program was discussed again at the 11th meeting of the Conference of the Parties in 2000, which led to a revision of Resolution Conf. 10.10, and the objectives previously agreed were broadened to include ‘establishing an information base to support the making of decisions on appropriate management, protection and enforcement needs’ and ‘building capacity in range States’. The MIKE program currently has the following aim: ‘To provide information needed for elephant range States to make appropriate management and enforcement decisions, and to build institutional capacity within the range States for the lo ng-term management of their elephant populations.’ More specific objectives within this aim are: (1) ‘To measure levels and trends in the illegal hunting of elephants’, (2) ‘To determine changes in these trends over time’, and (3) ‘To determine the factors causing such changes and to assess to what extent observed trends are related to CITES changes in listings or ivory trade resumptions’ (www.cites.org/eng/prog/MIKE). The MIKE program plans to achieve these objective through a site-based system of collecting data on elephant population trends, the incidence and patterns of illegal killing, and the effort and resources employed in detecting and preventing illegal hunting and trade. The MIKE program is also charged with developing and using a standardized methodology for data collection and analysis. The pilot project, which focussed on three sites, the Lope Ituri, and Odzala protected areas in Gabon, Congo Brazzaville, and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) demonstrated that implementation of MIKE in forests was indeed feasible, and a fullscale program involving 55 sites across Africa was initiated thereafter. The plan is to repeat surveys in each site every 2–3 years. Within the range of forest elephants in central Africa 11 sites were chosen, each based around a protected area. This document reports on progress made toward achieving forest elephant population surveys during 2003-2004 at six MIKE sites in five nations within the range of forest elephants in central Africa (Figure 2). Sites included were Salonga, Bangassou, Dzanga - Sangha, Nouabalé -Ndoki, Boumba Bek, and Minkebe. An elephant inventory was also planned for Mont Alen in Equatorial Guinea, though for funding reasons this site was eventually excluded. Details: Washington, DC: Wildlife Conservation Society, 2005. 122p. Source: Internet Resource: Long Term System for Monitoring the Illegal Killing of Elephants (MIKE): Accessed March 25, 2013 at: http://www.cites.org/common/prog/mike/survey/central_africa_survey03-04.pdf Year: 2005 Country: Africa URL: http://www.cites.org/common/prog/mike/survey/central_africa_survey03-04.pdf Shelf Number: 128125 Keywords: Animal PoachingElephantsIvoryWildlife ConservationWildlife Crimes (Africa)Wildlife Management |
Author: Born Free Foundation and the Elephant Working Group of the Species Survival Title: The Tip of the Tusk Summary: The data provided in this report, a compilation of the information collected since 1998, provides compelling evidence that the illegal ivory trade is thriving, and that elephants continue to be poached for their ivory. Analysis of the data shows that between 1998 and 2004 at least 95.3 tonnes of ivory have been reported seized and, in addition, more than 12,591 elephants (Asian and African) have been reported poached. Ninety-five tonnes roughly represents the ivory of more than 15,000 dead elephants. However, it is widely accepted that not all illegal ivory in trade is seized and not all poached elephants are found and reported; hence these figures represent just the ‘tip of the tusk’ in terms of the scale of illegal trade in ivory and level of elephant poaching. Indeed, Born Free Foundation has received many reports involving poaching and trade, that for one reason or another could not be included. For example, we have information concerning more than 19,420 pieces of seized ivory which were either unweighed, or where weights were not reported. There are also a significant number of countries from which no information was received (identified in Appendix A). Recent surveys investigating the availability and volume of ivory found in the markets located in Africa, Asia, the United States, the United Kingdom and Japan have also demonstrated that an ivory industry is still thriving. The threat that illegal trade brings, particularly to those elephant populations which are under the greatest pressure, such as those in Asia and West and Central Africa, is of grave concern to all those involved in the protection and conservation of elephants. Details: Horsham, UK: Born Free Foundation; 2004. 45p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed March 26, 2013 at: http://www.bornfree.org.uk/fileadmin/user_upload/files/reports/IvoryReport.pdf Year: 2004 Country: Africa URL: http://www.bornfree.org.uk/fileadmin/user_upload/files/reports/IvoryReport.pdf Shelf Number: 128135 Keywords: Animal PoachingElephantsIllegal Wildlife TradeIvoryWildlife Crimes (Africa, Asia) |
Author: Martin, Esmond Bradley Title: On a Knife's Edge: The Rinoceros Horn Trade in Yemen Summary: While Asia's rhinoceroses have been poached predominantly for their horn to be made into medicines in eastern Asia, the horn of Africa's rhinoceroses has been in demand for both medicines and production of traditional dagger handles in the Middle East, especially Yemen. Dagger-like knives have been part of a man's traditional dress in Yemen for centuries. Known as jamibyas, these daggers are worn daily by many Yemeni men and serve as an important status symbol. The quality of the blade, sheath, belt and handle decorations are all important, but the most prestigious element of a jambiya is a good rhinoceros horn handle. This report examines the continuing use of rhinoceros horn in the production of the jambiya in Yemen. The report documents the results of TRAFFIC and WWF fieldwork data collected on the trade in rhinoceros horn in Yemen from 1978-1996. It focuses on the centuries-old trade in horn of Black Rhinoceros Diceros bicornis and White Rhinoceros Ceratotherium simum from Africa to Sanaa, Yemen's capital. Today, there are only an estimated 2,400 Black Rhinoceros and 7,562 White Rhinoceros left in the wild in Africa, compared to approximately 70,000 in total in 1970. Snared, speared, shot with poisoned arrows and bullets for their horn, rhinoceros numbers in most populations have plummeted dramatically. The demand and trade in horn for jambiyas has been a major contributory factor to this decline, and continues to threaten Africa's rhinoceros populations. Details: Cambridge, UK: TRAFFIC Network, 1997. 45p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed march 27, 2013 at: http://www.rhinoresourcecenter.com/index.php?s=e8195581c2de3d4dd827b63357480761&act=refs&CODE=ref_detail&id=1165240008 Year: 1997 Country: Yemen URL: http://www.rhinoresourcecenter.com/index.php?s=e8195581c2de3d4dd827b63357480761&act=refs&CODE=ref_detail&id=1165240008 Shelf Number: 128145 Keywords: Animal PoachingIllegal Wildlife TradeIvoryRhinocerosWildlife Crimes (Yemen) |
Author: INTERPOL Environmental Crime Programme Title: Project Web: An Investigation Into the Ivory Trade Over the Internet Within the European Union Summary: INTERPOL’s Project Web was launched following studies by the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW), which concluded that elephant ivory is the most widely traded wildlife product over the Internet. Project Web is intended to provide an initial snapshot and insight from a law enforcement perspective into the drivers, scale, nature, and involved entities of the illegal trade in ivory over the Internet. Over a period of two weeks, ten participating countries from the European Union (EU) conducted surveillance of their national auction sites to identify advertisements for ivory items. The details of 660 advertisements on 61 auction sites were analysed and estimated to have a total volume of around 4,500 kilograms of ivory and a total value of approximately EUR 1,450,000. Through analysis of its two week Internet surveillance data, Project Web found that ivory is predominantly sold by individuals residing in the country where they are selling the item, although a number of advertisements did have international links. Enforcement data from other sources was also analysed, but often could only provide a limited representative picture of the total volume of ivory illegally imported into the EU. In particular, Project Web identified through customs seizure analysis that the majority of ivory sold was in the form of worked items shipped from mainly four African countries. The ivory was predominantly traded through EU countries, with Asia as the destination. However, three EU countries and North America were also identified as common final destinations. The report also demonstrated that the enforcement of this electronic trade is in its infancy and presents new challenges. Few Internet companies have policies governing the sale of ivory, and those that do have weaknesses in enforcing their own regulations. Law enforcement participants also identified a lack of legislation as a weakness, specifically that governing the Internet trade of ivory and other wildlife products, and cited a lack of prioritisation at departmental and political levels. This can lead to the combination of a strongly profit driven illicit market with little risk of detection or prosecution. While Project Web demonstrates that the Internet is being used in the ivory trade, the extent to which the Internet is an important medium in the illegal trade cannot be conclusively determined with the existing legislation and available data. However, it is clear that specially adapted legislation and strong collaboration with customs is needed to further investigate this crime type, in order to determine the scale and nature of the illegal trade so that appropriate enforcement measures can be taken against it. To this end, the Project Web report also includes a number of recommendations to improve responses to the illegal trade of wildlife products online. Details: Washington, DC: International Fund for Animal Welfare, 2013. 36p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed April 4, 2013 at: http://www.ifaw.org/sites/default/files/Project%20Web%20-%20PUBLIC.pdf Year: 2013 Country: International URL: http://www.ifaw.org/sites/default/files/Project%20Web%20-%20PUBLIC.pdf Shelf Number: 128207 Keywords: Computer CrimesElephantsIllegal Wildlife TradeInternet CrimesIvoryWildlife Crimes |
Author: Agence Nationale des Parcs Nationaux Title: Wildlife and Poaching Assessment in Northeast Gabon: Preliminary results Summary: A tidal wave of elephant poaching is currently sweeping across Africa. Recent results suggest that forest elephant numbers in DRC are below 10,000-15,000 and that the Republic of Congo has lost 50% of its elephants in the last 10 years. Today Gabon, which represents just 13% of Africa’s rain forests, contains over half the surviving forest elephants (Maisels et al. in review). However, even in Gabon there are more and more reports of ivory poaching as world black market prices soar. As ANPN has become more and more effective on the ground over the last three years more and more poachers have been arrested and ivory seized. In 2011 the Gabonese National Parks Agency (Agence Nationale des Parcs Nationaux / ANPN) and the Gabonese military moved just over 6,000 gold miners out of several illegal gold camps in the Minkebe National Park and its buffer zone. These camps had grown exponentially in size over the previous 2-3 years in response to soaring gold prices as well as the high production of the gold mines, to the point where it represented a threat to national security. In addition to gold mining and trading it was noted that severe elephant poaching and other illegal activities such as arms and drugs trafficking were associated with these camps and encouraged by traders (Mike Fay and Richard Ruggiero, trip report). In 2004, a survey of Minkebe National Park, Gabon, showed that it supported the most important forest elephant population in Africa, estimated at around 21,000 individuals (17,000-26800) (MIKE 2005). Working with the World Wide Fund for Nature and the Wildlife Conservation Society, ANPN launched a survey of Minkebe National Park and its buffer zone in October 2012. The objective was to assess wildlife abundance and human impact across the area and in particular to assess the impacts of the dramatic surge in elephant poaching over recent years. Details: Libreville, Gabon: Agence Nationale des Parcs Nationaux, 2013. 24p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 30, 2013 at: http://www.wwf.de/fileadmin/fm-wwf/Publikationen-PDF/Preliminary_Results_of_Minkebe_Pilot_Study_070213.pdf Year: 2013 Country: Gabon URL: http://www.wwf.de/fileadmin/fm-wwf/Publikationen-PDF/Preliminary_Results_of_Minkebe_Pilot_Study_070213.pdf Shelf Number: 128876 Keywords: Animal PoachingElephantsIvoryWildlife Crime (Gabon) |
Author: Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) Title: Status of African elephant populations and levels of illegal killing and the illegal trade in ivory: A report to the African Elephant Summit Summary: The IUCN/SSC African Elephant Specialist Group (AfESG) works with the two CITES-mandated elephant monitoring systems: the programme for Monitoring the Illegal Killing of Elephants (MIKE), managed by the CITES Secretariat, and the Elephant Trade Information System (ETIS), managed by TRAFFIC, to bring together updated and critical information and data on elephants, poaching and the illegal ivory trade in an integrated manner. Consolidated reports, including inputs on Asian elephants from the IUCN/SSC Asian Elephant Specialist Group, on legal ivory trade by UNEP-WCMC, and implementation of the African Elephant Action Plan, have been provided to the 61st and 62nd meeting of the Standing Committee to CITES. These updates, along with the 2013 report, "Elephants in the Dust" have provided comprehensive and up to date information to elephant conservationists, managers, and policy makers. This update includes data from 2012 on elephant populations, levels of illegal killing, and levels of illegal trade in ivory. The results of this analysis show that levels of poaching and the illegal ivory trade started to increase again in the mid-2000s, following an easing in the 1990s, the rate of increase jumping dramatically from 2009. The overall trend appears to be leveling off in 2012 compared to 2011, but at an unsustainably high level. The MIKE analysis suggests that 15,000 elephants were illegally killed at the 42 monitored MIKE sites in 2012. The estimated poaching rate of 7.4% in 2012 remains at an unsustainably high level, as it exceeds natural population growth rates (usually no more than 5%). Likewise, the ETIS analysis shows a slight leveling off in the bias-adjusted trend for illegal ivory in 2012. However, a number of countries have not yet reported their 2012 seizures. The overall weight and number of large-scale ivory seizures (more than 500kg) in 2013 exceeds any previous year in the ETIS data. These data have not been bias-adjusted, and the increase may reflect enhancement of law enforcement effort, or could signify an increase in overall levels of illegal trade. With the high levels of poaching being observed through the MIKE programme, the amount of illegal ivory in trade should be expected to remain high. Poverty and weak governance in elephant range States, together with demand for illegal ivory in consuming nations, are the three key factors identified by repeated MIKE analyses, including this one, as being most strongly associated with observed poaching trends. Monitoring of elephant populations, apart from at a few well-monitored sites, is sporadic and inconsistent. The low precision of most estimates makes it difficult to detect any immediate repercussion on elephant numbers in the short-term but this does not mean there are no changes. While it remains to be seen whether the situation is stabilizing, it is clear that international cooperation on law enforcement and public awareness is vital. Improved monitoring is also essential to allow informed decision-making. There is a need for continued and improved reporting to the MIKE and ETIS programmes, as well as improved and more frequent monitoring of elephant populations, including carcass counts wherever possible. The new annual reporting requirement for CITES Parties to provide information on national ivory stockpiles will also provide much-needed information. Details: Geneva: Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), 2013. 21p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed January 16, 2014 at Year: 2013 Country: Africa URL: https://cmsdata.iucn.org/downloads/african_elephant_summit_background_document_2013_en.pdf Shelf Number: 131773 Keywords: Animal PoachingElephantsIvoryOrganized CrimeWildlife CrimeWildlife Management |
Author: Anderson, Bradley Title: Wildlife Poaching: Africa's Surging Trafficking Threat Summary: Surging demand for ivory and rhino horn, mainly in Asia, has put wild African elephants and rhinoceroses on the path to extinction. More than an environmental tragedy, however, wildlife poaching and trafficking has exacerbated other security threats and led to the co-option of certain African security units. African states need to develop a broad range of law enforcement capabilities to tackle what is effectively a transnational organized crime challenge. Asian and other international partners, meanwhile, must take action to reduce runaway demand for wildlife products. Details: Washington, DC: Africa Center for Strategic Studies, 2014. 8p. Source: Internet Resource: Africa Security Brief, No. 28: Accessed May 7, 2014 at: http://africacenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/AfricaBriefFinal_28.pdf Year: 2014 Country: Africa URL: http://africacenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/AfricaBriefFinal_28.pdf Shelf Number: 132269 Keywords: Animal PoachingElephantsIvoryRhinocerosWildlife ConservationWildlife CrimeWildlife Trafficking |
Author: Agger, Kasper Title: Kony's Ivory: How Elephant Poaching in Congo Helps Support the Lord's Resistance Army Summary: Kasper Agger and Jonathan Hutson traveled to Garamba National Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo in January 2013. In Garamba they were hosted by African Parks, which has the jurisdiction to manage the park and its surroundings under a management agreement with the Institut Congolais pour la Conservation de la Nature, or ICCN. Recommendations about how to more effectively combat the Lord's Resistance Army are made in this report. All actions within Garamba and its surroundings, however, need to be approved by and in coordination with African Parks and the ICCN. Details: Washington, DC: Enough Project, 2013. 18p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed July 3, 2014 at: http://www.enoughproject.org/files/KonysIvory.pdf Year: 2013 Country: Congo, Democratic Republic URL: http://www.enoughproject.org/files/KonysIvory.pdf Shelf Number: 132616 Keywords: Animal PoachingElephantsIvoryWildlife ConservationWildlife CrimeWildlife Management |
Author: Lawson, Katherine Title: Global Impacts of the Illegal Wildlife Trade: The Costs of Crime, Insecurity and Institutional Erosion Summary: Poaching of endangered species to feed the illicit global trade of wildlife - estimated to be worth between $8 and $10 billion per year excluding fisheries and timber - is rising at an alarming rate. Activity in the illegal ivory trade has more than doubled since 2007 and is over three times larger than it was during the last peak in 1998, with the street value of ivory capable of reaching up to $2,205 per kilogram in Beijing. Rhino horn can sell for $66,139 per kilogram - more than the price of gold or platinum - on the Chinese black market. This report analyses the global impacts of the illegal wildlife trade, investigating links between the illicit trade in wildlife products and the erosion of national institutions in affected countries, national and transnational security threats and the role of armed non-state actors in civil conflict. Elephants and rhinoceros are most prominent among the animals being killed to feed rising demand for their tusks and horns across the world. On the basis of the evidence provided by a detailed literature review, this report focuses on the illegal trade in elephant ivory and rhino horn originating in sub-Saharan Africa. Former US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton described the illegal wildlife trade in 2012 as 'a global challenge that spans continents and crosses oceans'. This trade can no longer be viewed exclusively as an environmental concern. Although the trafficking of live animals and animal products remains a serious conservation issue, this crime threatens the stability and security of societies involved at every point along the chain. It was the rise in illegal wildlife trade that prompted Mrs Clinton to describe this phenomenon as 'a national security issue, a public health issue, and an economic security issue'. Across Africa, elephants and rhinos are being targeted by poachers and armed non-state actors - including rebel movements such as the Lord's Resistance Army - to satisfy increasing demand from growing middle classes across the world, particularly in Southeast Asia where ivory products and rhino horn are considered status symbols and used as ingredients in traditional medicine. Meanwhile, transnational organized crime groups and armed non-state actors are able to exploit institutional weakness, civil conflict and legislative loopholes in both source and consumer countries to feed this rising demand for rare commodities, acquiring vast profits. A discordance between national legislation and institutional capacities for implementation on the one hand, and multilateral environmental agreements such as the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna (CITES) on the other, means that national legislation often remains inadequate to support these initiatives, protect endangered species and regulate cross-border trade. Attempts have been made to enhance support for the implementation of national wildlife regulations, such as the creation of the International Consortium on Combating Wildlife Crime (ICCWC). However, regulations stipulating which animal products can be legally traded vary greatly by country, resulting in a parallel legal and illegal trade. The legal trade in wildlife products is estimated at over $300 billion per year; a figure that can obscure the lesser but still significant value of the illegal trade. Just as important as the devastating effects on biodiversity is the evidence in this report that the illegal wildlife trade erodes state authority and fuels civil conflict, threatening national stability and provoking substantial economic losses internationally. But the true scale of the trade is unknown, as are its indirect costs in security and political implications. Restricting an analysis of the global implications of environmental crime to biodiversity considerations limits the focus to wildlife supply countries. The illegal wildlife trade involves poachers, armed non-state actors from source nations, international crime groups and institutional corruption across global network chains and a range of players involved in demand countries - from organized crime syndicates and non-state actors to legitimate authorities. To combat the threat, leaders in the international community - especially from supply and demand countries - need to collectively expand and deepen their levels of cooperation. Better and shared information will position governments to counter this transnational crime more effectively, as will enhancing the design and implementation of national and regional legislation and invoking stricter penalties against illegal traffickers and traders. Details: London: Chatham House, 2014. 64p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed July 7, 2014 at: http://www.chathamhouse.org/sites/files/chathamhouse/public/Research/Africa/0214Wildlife.pdf Year: 2014 Country: International URL: http://www.chathamhouse.org/sites/files/chathamhouse/public/Research/Africa/0214Wildlife.pdf Shelf Number: 132624 Keywords: Animal PoachingIvoryOrganized CrimeTransnational CrimeWild Animal TradeWildlife CrimeWildlife Protection |
Author: Doak, Naomi Title: Polishing Off the Ivory: Surveys of Thailand's Ivory Market Summary: 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 illegal ivory trade. Partly to blame for the current poaching crisis is Thai domestic legislation that permits trade in ivory from domesticated Asian Elephants but provides no effective mechanism or legal framework for the internal regulation of this market nor for the control of the illegal trade in ivory from either wild Asian Elephants Elephas maximus or African Elephants Loxodonta africana. Recent surveys of retail outlets across key locations in Bangkok have revealed a disturbing increase both in the number of retail outlets offering ivory as well as the quantity of ivory available. Surveys of known ivory retail outlets were carried out on a monthly basis from January-April 2013 and October 2013-May 2014. The type and number of ivory items seen for sale were recorded. Retail outlets, including those newly identified and those that only began stocking ivory during the survey period, were repeatedly revisited on subsequent surveys. In January 2013, 61 retail outlets selling ivory were found in key previously-identified locations around Bangkok while less than 12 months later, in December 2013, this figure had increased to 105 retail outlets in the same locations. During this period, the number of individual ivory pieces almost trebled, from 5,715 to 14,512, indicating a growing market and considerably exceeding what could be produced by ivory from the current domesticated elephant population. There are approximately 1,230 adult male captive elephants in Thailand and it is estimated that they could only yield approximately 650 kg of ivory annually, possibly less and typically in small sized pieces owing to the periodic trimming of tusks. This quantity is considerably less than what was observed in Bangkok markets. In addition, the number and size of specific products indicates that larger sized elephant tusks are reaching the market in Thailand and seizure data confirms attempts to move large quantities of African Elephant ivory to Thailand from Africa. Additional retail outlets, including newly established ivory outlets, were recorded in every month of the survey, despite a requirement for registration and monitoring of any retail outlet selling or processing ivory under current legislation (Commercial Registration Act of 1956). These findings are indicative of a lack of implementation of Thailand's CITES Ivory Trade Action Plan, which was drawn up to meet recommendations from the 64th meeting of the CITES Standing Committee. Indeed, the actions outlined in that plan do not appear to be having any impact on the domestic ivory market in Bangkok. The ivory market in Thailand is still thriving and remains one of the largest and most active worldwide, with high turnover of stock and continued sales to foreign tourists. Details: Cambridge, UK: TRAFFIC International, 2014. 20p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed July 22, 2014 at: http://www.traffic.org/storage/Thailand-market-survey-report.pdf Year: 2014 Country: Thailand URL: http://www.traffic.org/storage/Thailand-market-survey-report.pdf Shelf Number: 132727 Keywords: Animal PoachingElephantsIllegal MarketsIllegal TradeIvoryWildlife Crimes (Thailand) |
Author: WildAid Title: Ivory Demand in China Summary: Elephants are primarily poached for their ivory, which comes from the tusks of all African and male Asian elephants, and is used for carvings, jewelry, chopsticks, and other crafts. While the use of ivory dates back hundreds of years, scientists believe ivory has been processed on an industrial scale in the last century to supply markets in the U.S., Europe, and recently Asia. In 2007, African elephant populations were approximately 500,000-700,000, while the estimated global Asian elephant population was 30,000-50,000. In 1976, the African elephant was listed under Appendix II of the UN Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), designed to control and limit trade, while in 1975 the Asian elephant was listed on CITES Appendix I, prohibiting international trade. However, the CITES regulatory system was subject to widespread abuse and African elephant populations fell from more than 1.2 million to roughly 600,000 by 1989. During the 1980s, a decade referred to as the "Ivory Wars", at least 700,000 elephants were slaughtered throughout Africa as legal trade enabled large-scale laundering of ivory from poached elephants. Details: San Francisco: WildAid, 2014. 7p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 14, 2014 at: http://www.wildaid.org/sites/default/files/resources/WEBReportIvoryDemandinChina2014.pdf Year: 2017 Country: China URL: http://www.wildaid.org/sites/default/files/resources/WEBReportIvoryDemandinChina2014.pdf Shelf Number: 133071 Keywords: Animal PoachingElephantsEndangered SpeciesIllegal Wildlife TradeIvory Wildlife ConservationWildlife Crime (China) |
Author: Milliken, Tom Title: Illegal Trade in Ivory and Rhino Horn: As Assessment to Improve Law Enforcement Under the Wildlife TRAPS Project Summary: 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 U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) partner TRAFFIC. The report, Illegal trade in ivory and rhino horn: an assessment to improve law enforcement, is a key step to achieving USAID's vision to adapt and deploy a range of development tools and interventions to significantly reduce illegal wildlife trafficking. The report was prepared by the wildlife monitoring network TRAFFIC in partnership with USAID. The assessment uses robust analysis to identify capacity gaps and key intervention points in countries combating wildlife trafficking. Seizure data indicate that "the fundamental trade dynamic now lies between Africa and Asia," according to the report. In China and Thailand, elephant ivory is fashioned into jewelry and carved into other decorative items, while wealthy consumers in Vietnam use rhino horn as a drug which they mistakenly believe cure hangovers and detoxify the body. Rhinos and elephants are under serious poaching pressure throughout Africa, with even previously safe populations collapsing: Central Africa's forest elephants have been reduced by an estimated 76 percent over the past 12 years while in Tanzania's Selous Game Reserve, elephant numbers have fallen from 70,000 in 2007 to only 13,000 by late 2013. A record 1004 rhinos were poached in 2013 in South Africa alone - a stark contrast to the 13 animals poached there in 2007 before the latest crisis began. Record quantities of ivory were seized worldwide between 2011 and 2013, with an alarming increase in the frequency of large-scale ivory seizures (500 kg or more) since 2000. Preliminary data already show more large-scale ivory seizures in 2013 than in the previous 25 years. Although incomplete, 2013 raw data already represent the greatest quantity of ivory in these seizures in more than 25 years. Both rhino horn and ivory trafficking are believed to function as Asian-run, African-based operations, with the syndicates increasingly relying on sophisticated technology to run their operations. In order to disrupt and apprehend the individuals behind them, the global response needs to be equally sophisticated. "There's no single solution to addressing the poaching crisis in Africa, and while the criminals master-minding and profiting from the trafficking have gotten smarter, so too must enforcement agencies, who need to improve collaborative efforts in order to disrupt the criminal syndicates involved in this illicit trade," says Nick Ahlers, the leader of the Wildlife TRAPS Project. Rhino horn is often smuggled by air, using international airports as transit points between source countries in Africa and demand countries in Asia. Since 2009, the majority of ivory shipments have involved African seaports, increasingly coming out of East Africa. As fewer than 5 percent of export containers are examined in seaports, wildlife law enforcement relies greatly on gathering and acting on intelligence to detect illegal ivory shipments. The report recommends further developing coordinated, specialized intelligence units to disrupt organized criminal networks by identifying key individuals and financial flows and making more high level arrests. Also critically important are improved training, law enforcement technology, and monitoring judiciary processes at key locations in Africa and Asia. Details: Cambridge, UK; TRAFFIC International; Washington, DC: USAID, 2014. 30p. Source: Internet Resource: A Traffic Report: Accessed September 27, 2014 at: http://www.traffic.org/storage/W-TRAPS-Elephant-Rhino-report.pdf Year: 2014 Country: International URL: http://www.traffic.org/storage/W-TRAPS-Elephant-Rhino-report.pdf Shelf Number: 133456 Keywords: Animal PoachingCriminal NetworksIllegal TradeIvoryRhinosSmugglingWildlife CrimeWildlife Law EnforcementWildlife Trafficking |
Author: Lum, Meagan Title: Contemporary approaches to stopping the illegal ivory trade: a case study in cultural motivations Summary: Elephants and their ivory have a rich and long history in Thailand. However, the demand for ivory in Thailand is dramatically affecting elephant populations, particularly African elephants. While the consumption of ivory is banned in most countries, Thailand still allows for domestic consumption, resulting in the mixing of legal and illegal ivory. Understanding the cultural traditions that gives rise to contemporary values and beliefs about the consumption of ivory can provide significant and critical insight into why people consume it. This study argues that greater contextual understanding of cultural beliefs can make awareness campaigns more effective at reducing the consumption of ivory. To understand cultural motivations more deeply, this study uses a sociological perspective, primarily that of Pierre Bourdieu. This provides a more contextual engagement with Thai consumers, reconnects them with cultural values about elephants and their importance in Thai society, and works towards a shift in attitudes about consuming ivory. Details: Burnaby, BC, Canada: Simon Fraser University, 2014. 68p. Source: Internet Resource: Thesis: Accessed October 15, 2015 at: http://summit.sfu.ca/item/14215 Year: 2014 Country: Thailand URL: http://summit.sfu.ca/item/14215 Shelf Number: 133918 Keywords: Animal PoachingElephantsIllegal Ivory TradeIllegal TradeIvoryWildlife Crime (Thailand) |
Author: World Wildlife Fund Title: Illegal Wildlife Trade in India Summary: Illegal wildlife trade has evolved into a complex activity, estimated to be worth at least USD15 billion per year globally. The PANDA Special Issue on Illegal Wildlife Trade in India highlights the different aspects of this terrible for species depleting trade. Illegal wildlife trade is one of WWF-India's major concerns and along with its wildlife crime monitoring division of TRAFFIC India. WWF-India has been working closely with the national and the state governments as well as other enforcement agencies to help study, monitor and influence action to curb illegal wildlife trade in the country. India is one of the world's biodiversity hotspots. Its porous borders allow for a wide range of products such as mongoose hair, snake skins, rhino horn, tiger and leopard claws, bones, skins, whiskers, elephant tusks, deer antlers, shahtoosh shawl, turtle shells, musk pods, bear bile, medicinal plants, timber and caged birds such as parakeets, mynahs, munias to be trafficked. This is endangering many of its species, including the iconic tiger, the rhino and smaller species such as the pangolin and otters. India has a strong legal and policy framework to regulate and restrict wildlife trade. Trade in over 1800 species of wild animals, plants and their derivatives, is prohibited under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. While government and other enforcement agencies are well-positioned to act, WWF-India through TRAFFIC India engages in training and building capacity of its frontline staff to quell this trade. Challenges in the field faced by conservationists, including our own teams, bring to light experiences that other agencies can act on. This will not only prove effective in combating illegal wildlife trade which is in need of scaling up, but also be able to curb the wildlife crime nexus. In keeping with the overall objective of WWF-India, this issue of the PANDA alerts its readers to the plight these animals are subjected to and calls for mass public awareness in order to sensitize its readers to the issue of wildlife crime and lead to a call for action. Details: New Delhi: World Wildlife Fund - India, 2014. 48p. Source: Internet Resource: Panda Newsletter Special Issue: Accessed October 17, 2014 at: http://awsassets.wwfindia.org/downloads/traffic_panda_8_oct.pdf Year: 2014 Country: India URL: http://awsassets.wwfindia.org/downloads/traffic_panda_8_oct.pdf Shelf Number: 133733 Keywords: Illegal Wildlife TradeIvoryWildlife Crimes (India)Wildlife Smuggling |
Author: Duffy, Rosaleen Title: Rhino Poaching: How do we respond? Summary: This report outlines the main actors in rhino conservation, the major main threats to rhinos in the 'Big 4' range states (Zimbabwe, Kenya, South Africa and Namibia) which together conserve almost 99% and 96% of Africa's wild white and black rhino respectively, and offers a review of a range of possible policy responses. The main conservation actors across the Big 4 can be grouped as: - Public sector conservation agencies, including government departments and parastatal boards - International organisations - Regional organisations - Locally based NGOs - Private sector - External agencies, including conservation NGOs and donors - Sub-state entities, including local communities The range of actors is slightly different in each country, and the relative importance of different actors varies across countries. The main threats to black and white rhinos are: - Poaching, driven by illegal demand for rhino horn from South East Asia - Disinvestment by some in the private sector due to the increasing costs and risks of protecting rhinos coupled with declining incentives for conserving rhino - Resources are currently insufficient to adequately protect some populations Currently poaching rates are lower than birth rates, so rhino numbers continue to rise. However, poaching at a continental level has increased significantly since 2007-8; and if this trend continues unabated the tipping point (where deaths start to exceed births and rhino numbers start declining) could be reached as early as 2014/2015. Therefore interventions to tackle poaching at this stage can be seen as a critically important preventative measure. There are 9 key findings from the review of possible policy responses: 1. Each range state requires a different menu of approaches that deal with both proximate and ultimate causes of the rises in rhino poaching. 2. Capturing the economic value of rhinos is important. 3. Even though it is illegal, there is currently a lucrative market for rhino horn products in some countries. 4. Efforts need to focus on demand reduction in end user communities, but there is insufficient knowledge of the dynamics of those markets. 5. Despite increased prison sentences in some rhino range states, poaching continues to escalate in some countries, while some states do not or did not have 'deterrence sentences' at all. 6. Dehorning can have a (limited) deterrence effect but is not a practical option for all rhino populations. 7. Community Based Natural Resource Management (CBNRM) can have a (limited) deterrence effect. 8. Each of the 4 range states faces a different combination of threats and their circumstances differ, therefore efforts need to be tailored and targeted 9. Effective Governance 'Matters'. Details: London, UK: Evidence on Demand, 2013. 35p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed October 22, 2014 at: http://www.evidenceondemand.info/rhino-poaching-how-do-we-respond Year: 2013 Country: Asia URL: http://www.evidenceondemand.info/rhino-poaching-how-do-we-respond Shelf Number: 133790 Keywords: Animal Poaching (Africa)Illegal Wildlife TradeIvoryRhinocerosWildlife ConservationWildlife Crime |
Author: iworry Title: Dead or Alive? Valuing an Elephant Summary: New ground-breaking report reveals how the loss of Africa's elephants threatens Africa's economies - and travel companies offering a chance to see the species - and highlights the need for global action. The analysis, conducted through our iworry campaign, compared the value of elephants to local economies to profits netted through the illegal ivory trade. Between January and August 2014, researchers tallied approximately 17.8 metric tons of ivory seized worldwide, harvested from 1,940 poached elephants. Most of these seizures occurred in Kenya, Gabon, China, and Vietnam, countries identified by CITES as doing relatively little to stem the tide of black-market ivory. We estimate the raw-ivory value of a poached elephant to be $21,000. In contrast, a living elephant is worth more than $1.6 million over its lifetime, largely because of its eco-tourism draw. The report lists travel companies, airlines, and local economies as benefiting from this largess of the world's largest land mammal, whereas the ivory trade may fund criminal and terrorist groups. Details: Nairobi, Kenya: David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, 2014. 12p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed October 30, 2014 at: http://iworry.org/elephants-worth-much-alive-dead/ Year: 2014 Country: Africa URL: http://iworry.org/elephants-worth-much-alive-dead/ Shelf Number: 133839 Keywords: Animal PoachingElephantsIllegal Ivory TradeIvoryWildlife Crimes (Africa) |
Author: Environmental Investigation Agency Title: Vanishing Point: Criminality, Corruption and the Devastation of Tanzania's Elephants Summary: The devastating poaching crisis in Tanzania 25 years ago was characterized by increased criminality, corruption, the proliferation of firearms, the failure of the judicial system and the perception that Tanzania was a sanctuary for criminals. Between 1977-87, Tanzania lost over 50,000 elephants, more than 50 per cent of its population. The Government concluded that without drastic action the country would lose both its elephants and international credibility. In 1989, recognising it could not tackle the situation alone and, in the face of considerable opposition from key allies, Tanzania proposed an international ban on all African ivory trade. As a result, it was hailed as a champion for African elephants and a global conservation leader. The ban succeeded for a decade. The poaching crisis was brought under control and many elephant populations either recovered or stabilised. In Tanzania, the population increased to about 142,788 by 2006, with over half in the Selous ecosystem. However, all the indicators that raised the alarm in the 1980s have made a disturbing reappearance and Tanzania's elephants are again being slaughtered en masse to feed a resurgent ivory trade. Tanzania is a key player in the illegal ivory trade. While the escalation in poaching is generally traced to 2009, evidence suggests the trend started four years earlier, indicating deeper entrenchment than previously acknowledged. Between 2009-13, there has been a devastating decline. The Selous population fell by 66 per cent in just over four years. Based on available evidence, Tanzania has lost more elephants to poaching during this period than any other country. In 2013 alone, it reportedly lost 10,000 elephants, equivalent to 30 a day. Tanzania's elephants continue to be poached to supply a growing demand in an unregulated illegal ivory market, predominantly in China. Seizure data implicates Tanzania in more large flows of ivory than any other country. It is also consistently linked to criminal cases featuring exceptionally large consignments of ivory recovered in places as diverse as Hong Kong, Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, Sri Lanka and Taiwan. The poaching crisis in Tanzania is due to a toxic mix of criminal syndicates, often led by Chinese nationals, and corruption among some Tanzanian Government officials. This report shows that without a zero-tolerance approach, the future of Tanzania's elephants and its tourism industry are precarious. The ivory trade must be disrupted at all levels of criminality, the entire prosecution chain needs to be systemically restructured and all stakeholders, including communities exploited by the criminal syndicates and those on the front lines of enforcement, given unequivocal support. All trade in ivory should be resolutely banned, especially in China. Details: London; Washington, DC: EIA, 2014. 36p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed November 10, 2014 at: http://eia-international.org/wp-content/uploads/EIA-Vanishing-Point-lo-res1.pdf Year: 2014 Country: Tanzania URL: http://eia-international.org/wp-content/uploads/EIA-Vanishing-Point-lo-res1.pdf Shelf Number: 134013 Keywords: Animal PoachingElephantsIllegal TradeIvoryWildlife Crime (Tanzania) |
Author: International Fund for Animal Welfare Title: Wanted -- Dead or Alive: Exposing Online Wildlife Trade Summary: IFAW has shared key results from its reports with national enforcement agencies in order that they might assess whether to investigate if traders have sold items in breach of the law. It is not possible to measure the scale of illegal online wildlife trade based on IFAW investigations alone. This requires law enforcement agencies to record and publish wildlife cybercrime prosecutions as well as the number of incidents or intelligence logs that relate to this issue. Sadly IFAW's investigations are taking place at a time when wildlife poaching levels are alarmingly high with reports of more than 100,000 elephants killed for their ivory in just three years1 and a recent increase in the number of large ivory seizures. The illegal trade in ivory, wildlife and wildlife parts and products is not only a threat to the conservation of species, but also to national and global security as well as to social and economic development in the countries in which it occurs. The illegal wildlife trade generates an estimated US $19 billion per year. It ranks fourth on the list of the most lucrative global illegal activities closely behind drugs, counterfeiting and human trafficking. Meanwhile, cybercrime is a growing area of concern, as was highlighted in the United Kingdom's Home Office Select Committee report of 2013 on e-crime, which states: "We live in a world where terms like 'cybercrime' no longer belong in the realm of science fiction. Modern devices such as smart phones and tablets have brought the internet not only to our fingertips but to our bedsides, our pockets and to our children. And yet there is strong evidence that access to such technology, with all its opportunities and benefits, can put businesses and families at increasing risk of exploitation and internet-based crime (e-crime)." It was in this context of high levels of poaching and the increasing threat of cybercrime that IFAW investigated the trade in endangered wildlife taking place on 280 online marketplaces in 16 countries during a six week period in 2014. Investigators found a total of 33,006 endangered wildlife and wildlife parts and products from species listed on the Convention of International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) Appendix I and II available for sale in 9,482 advertisements, estimated to be worth at least US $10,708,137. Of the advertisements, 54 per cent were for live animals while 46 per cent were for animal parts and products. Ivory, reptiles and birds were the most widely traded items, with ivory and suspected ivory featuring in almost one-third of all advertisements and reptiles accounting for one-quarter of the items found for sale. IFAW investigators submitted 1,192 intelligence files to law enforcers, which equates to almost 13 per cent of the advertisements. While it was not possible to determine the legality of each item provided to law enforcers based on the information available to the investigators, IFAW shared this information with enforcers because it believes that it could inform or be used as the grounds for future police or customs criminal investigations. At a time when poaching of endangered wildlife has reached unprecedented levels, the widespread availability of the internet has transformed some traditional criminal activity to the extent that law-breaking takes place on an extraordinary scale. IFAW believes it is essential that governments, policy makers, law enforcers and online marketplaces do not ignore online wildlife crime in their battle for justice. Governments must ensure they have robust laws in place that specifically tackle the unique challenges of wildlife cybercrime supported by sufficient enforcement capacity, while online marketplaces must commit to strong policies that are effectively implemented to prevent their platforms being abused by wildlife criminals. Lastly consumers must be made aware of the devastating cost of wildlife crime Details: London: IFAW, 2014. 62p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed January 30, 2015: http://www.ifaw.org/sites/default/files/IFAW-Wanted-Dead-or-Alive-Exposing-Online-Wildlife-Trade-2014.pdf Year: 2014 Country: International URL: http://www.ifaw.org/sites/default/files/IFAW-Wanted-Dead-or-Alive-Exposing-Online-Wildlife-Trade-2014.pdf Shelf Number: 134495 Keywords: Animal PoachingCITESCybercrimeIllegal Wildlife TradeIvoryWildlife Crime (International) |
Author: Montesh, Moses Title: Rhino Poaching: A New Form of Organised Crime Summary: African rhinos are suffering a new poaching onslaught for their priced horns. Despite intensified anti- poaching activities, the number of rhinos poached per day has continued to increase since 2008. During 2012, about 668 rhinos were poached while a higher number is projected for 2013. This trend of increased poaching will reverse overall positive rhino population growth in the long-term in South Africa. In response to this problem, a rhino emergency summit comprising of rhino range States' representatives, the private sector, government officials and non-governmental organizations was convened in Nairobi during April 2012. Following this summit, members proposed an integrated framework directed at reducing the demand and supply ratio associated with the use of rhino horn. The framework is envisaged to guide short- as well as medium- to long-term responses by range States directed at reducing the incentives for poaching and ensuring the persistence of rhinos. In this paper, the author will begin by outlining the extent of rhino poaching, the background to rhino poaching, the role of organised crime syndicates in rhino poaching, the demand and supply of rhino horns as well as proposing measures to combat rhino poaching. Details: Pretoria: University of South Africa, College of Law, 2012. 23p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed March 11, 2015 at: http://www.rhinoresourcecenter.com/index.php?s=1&act=pdfviewer&id=1368077595&folder=136 Year: 2012 Country: South Africa URL: http://www.rhinoresourcecenter.com/index.php?s=1&act=pdfviewer&id=1368077595&folder=136 Shelf Number: 134887 Keywords: Animal Poaching (South Africa)IvoryOrganized CrimeRhinocerosWildlife Crime |
Author: Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA) Title: High Profit/Low Risk: Reversing the wildlife crime equation Summary: In February 2014, global leaders convened for The London Conference on Illegal Wildlife Trade, an unprecedented gathering "to help eradicate illegal wildlife trade and better protect the world's most iconic species from the threat of extinction". The outcome was the London Declaration, calling for a range of actions including: the designation of wildlife crime as a serious crime; applying the same investigative techniques and tools currently applied to other transnational organised crimes; enhanced international cooperation; demand-reduction; supporting communities; and addressing corruption and money-laundering. International wildlife crime has long been recognised as a serious organised crime with far-reaching global impacts. It is destabilising, subverts the rule of law and the proceeds may fuel other organised criminal activities and conflict. While accelerating biodiversity loss, wildlife crime robs resource-dependent communities of livelihoods, undermines local and national economies and also poverty alleviation efforts. A single live wild elephant can generate over US$1.6 million for tourism revenue over its lifetime, yet some of the least developed countries are experiencing high levels of elephant poaching for ivory trade. Meanwhile, rangers risk their lives on the front line of ecosystems: in 10 years, an estimated 1,000-plus park rangers have been killed, 80 per cent by commercial poachers and armed militia groups. It has become increasingly dangerous to defend rights to land and the environment, yet killers of environmental defenders are not being brought to justice. The London Declaration of 2014 was one of a number of events, announcements and declarations from the international community, variously recognising the serious nature of wildlife crime and urging steps to address it. The Declaration itself lists 16 other wildlife-related meetings and initiatives which took place between 2010 and the London meeting and urges the full implementation of their measures; additionally, there have been several meetings since, including some at high-level. In March 2015, the Government of Botswana hosts the follow-up conference to review status of implementation of the actions agreed as part of the London Declaration. A year down the line, it is time for signatories to describe their progress against commitments, although formal indicators of activity are yet to be formulated. Wildlife crime has brought about devastating impacts in one year alone. The South African Government reported it lost 1,215 of its rhinos to poaching in 2014,9 an average of three rhinos killed every day in an escalating slaughter driven by resurgent rhino horn trade in Vietnam and China. Asian rhinos are also under threat: in 2014, 35 rhinos were poached in India. Elephants continue to face the devastating consequences of ivory trade, with a 2014 study finding 100,000 elephants had been killed over three years11 and initial reports show at least 26 tonnes of ivory seized internationally during 2014, representing at least 3,880 dead elephants; while 215 Asian big cats were intercepted in illegal trade, including 61 tigers. This briefing highlights examples of best practice, showing how countries have implemented some elements of the London Declaration. It also shows where barriers to implementation remain and the gaps which countries can fill to deter wildlife criminals. EIA supports the London Declaration commitments regarding anti-poaching and communities but, given EIA's organisational focus, the examples relate primarily to those sections of the London Declaration concerning legislative law enforcement and demand-reduction. Details: London; Washington, DC: EIA, 2015. 16p. Source: Internet Resource: A briefing for the Kasane Conference on Illegal Wildlife Trade March 25, 2015: Accessed April 15, 2015 at: https://drive.google.com/viewerng/viewer?url=http://eia-international.org/wp-content/uploads/EIA-High-Profit-Low-Risk-FINAL.pdf Year: 2015 Country: International URL: https://drive.google.com/viewerng/viewer?url=http://eia-international.org/wp-content/uploads/EIA-High-Profit-Low-Risk-FINAL.pdf Shelf Number: 135239 Keywords: Animal PoachingIllegal Wildlife TradeIvoryOrganized CrimeWildlife Crime |
Author: United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) Title: Transnational Organized Crime in Eastern Africa: A Threat Assessment Summary: Key Findings: - Transnational organized crime in Eastern Africa is a product of both illicit markets that span continents and an underlying weakness in the rule of law. - Due to conflict and poverty, Eastern Africa produces a large and vulnerable stream of smuggled migrants, who are abused and exploited at multiple stages of their journey. - More than 100,000 people paid smugglers to transport them across the Gulf of Aden or Red Sea to Yemen in 2012, generating an income for the boatmen of over US$15 million. - Around 80,000 of these migrants attempted to cross Yemen to Saudi Arabia, but many of these were waylaid by smugglers and subjected to a range of abuses, including confinement, beatings, extortion and rape. - Despite the large numbers, the flow of migrants is concentrated, with most embarking from two port areas (Obock, Djibouti and Boosaaso, Somalia) where interventions could be addressed. - Heroin has been trafficked to and through Eastern Africa since at least the 1980s, but a series of recent large seizures suggests that this flow has increased. - Some air couriering has been noted, but it appears the great bulk of the heroin is being transported by dhow from the Makran Coast, an area that spans Iran and Pakistan. - The local market is estimated to consume at least 2.5 tons of pure heroin per year, worth some US$160 million in local markets. The volumes trafficked to the region appear to be much larger, as much as 22 tons, suggesting substantial tran-shipment. Eastern Africa is a known transit area for heroin destined for South Africa and West Africa. - Given the prevalence of blood borne disease and known injection drug use, the spread of heroin throughout the region must be carefully monitored and addressed. - Recent research indicates that the rate of poaching in Eastern Africa has increased, rising to levels that could threaten the local elephant population. - The bulk of the large ivory shipments from Africa to Asia appears to pass through the container ports of Kenya and the United Republic of Tanzania, where interventions could be addressed. - It is estimated that between 5,600 and 15,400 elephants are poached in Eastern Africa annually, producing between 56 and 154 metric tons of illicit ivory, of which two-thirds (37 tons) is destined for Asia, worth around US$30 million in 2011. - Somali pirates brought in an estimated US$150 million in 2011, which is equivalent to almost 15% of Somalia's GDP. - Effective intervention has forced pirates to range ever further from the coast to attain their targets: in 2005, the average successful pirate attack was 109 km from the Somali coast; in 2012, it was 746 km. Ships have also become more effective at defending themselves. - The increase in risk associated with protracted expeditions and international countermeasures have contributed to a decline in piracy: in April of 2009 alone, pirates hijacked 16 ships, but after April 2011, they averaged less than one per month. There were no successful hijackings for ransom in the Somali area of operations in the first half of 2013. Details: Vienna: UNODC, 2013. 54p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 28, 2015 at: http://www.unodc.org/documents/data-and-analysis/Studies/TOC_East_Africa_2013.pdf Year: 2013 Country: Africa URL: http://www.unodc.org/documents/data-and-analysis/Studies/TOC_East_Africa_2013.pdf Shelf Number: 129829 Keywords: Animal PoachingDrug TraffickingElephantsHeroinHuman SmugglingIvoryMigrantsOrganized CrimePirates/PiracyWildlife Crime |
Author: Burgess, Meryl Title: Rhino poaching and East Asian policies: Facts and debates Summary: 2011-2012 saw the highest levels of poaching and illegal trade in rhino horn in many years, bringing some rhino species towards the verge of extinction in some African and Asian regions. Two of the world's five rhino species, the Javan and Sumatran species (found in Asia), have been reduced to only a few dozen while in Africa, the black and white rhino have been under increasing threat by poachers. With increasing wealth in East Asia, the demand for rhino horn - in use in traditional medicine - is also increasing; Rhino horns can fetch up to US$ 110,000 per kilogram. The issue is not simply a Chinese one: In South Africa, the number of poachers arrested has included Thai, Vietnamese and Chinese nationals. From this assessment of current challenges in the rhino poaching crisis, largely in South Africa, and a discussion of the possibility of legalising the rhino horn trade, this briefing makes recommendations for East Asian authorities on their role in the crisis. Details: Stellenbosch, South Africa: Stellenbosch University, Centre for Chinese Studies, 2012 4p. Source: Internet Resource: Policy Briefing: Accessed May 30, 2015 at: http://www.ccs.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/MB-rhino-poaching-policy-briefing_FINAL.pdf Year: 2012 Country: Asia URL: http://www.ccs.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/MB-rhino-poaching-policy-briefing_FINAL.pdf Shelf Number: 135827 Keywords: Animal PoachingIllegal Wildlife TradeIvoryRhinocerosTrafficking in WildlifeWildlife Crime |
Author: Maguire, Tom Title: An Illusion of Complicity: Terrorism and the Illegal Ivory Trade in East Africa Summary: A number of myths and misperceptions have grown alongside the illegal ivory trade - none more troubling than the alleged participation of terrorist groups. In East Africa, the Somali terror group Al-Shabaab has supposedly received up to 40 per cent of its running costs through the illegal ivory trade alone. This is a powerful narrative, espoused by some politicians, policy-makers and practitioners. But it is largely wrong. Evidence for Al-Shabaab involvement in poaching and trafficking remains extremely limited and controversial. Briefings given to policy-makers on terrorism and the illegal ivory trade continue to refer to unverified sources. This is a cause for concern: such a narrative risks diverting attention from the trade's main facilitators and, counter-intuitively, from Al-Shabaab's known funding sources. To address these misconceptions, this report explores the complex ecosystems of terrorism, poaching and ivory trafficking in East Africa. Its key findings are that: - Highly networked organised crime groups (OCGs), brokers and corrupt government officials continue to drive the illegal ivory trade across East Africa. Weak legislation and enforcement by security agencies provides a benign environment for their activities - The OCGs, brokers and corrupt officials involved - and the routes and methods used - likely overlap with other forms of organised crime (such as the trafficking of drugs, humans and small arms) - The majority of ivory that transits East Africa comes from source areas on the Tanzania-Mozambique border and in central Tanzania. These are far removed from Al-Shabaab territory - Few, if any, elephants are present directly within Al-Shabaab's area of influence in south-central Somalia and northeastern Kenya. The majority of elephants in Kenya roam at significant distances from the border - There is little evidence of large ivory flows transiting Somalia; established Kenyan and Tanzanian ports remain the primary points for export. This makes the assertion that Al-Shabaab's monthly ivory revenues total $200,000-$600,000 highly unlikely - Estimates of the proportion of Al-Shabaab funds raised from ivory trafficking rely on flawed sums. A range of other sources (including the taxation of charcoal and sugar) are more important to the terrorist organisation - Any Al-Shabaab involvement in the ivory trade to date is likely to have been opportunistic, ad hoc and small-scale. These findings suggest that the illusion of a terrorism - ivory trade nexus distracts policy-makers and law-enforcement agencies from effectively managing limited resources to tackle both terrorist financing and the illegal ivory trade. Details: London: Royal United Services Institute for Defence and Security Studies, 2015. 58p. Source: Internet Resource: Occasional Paper: Accessed September 30, 2015 at: https://www.rusi.org/downloads/assets/201509_An_Illusion_of_Complicity.pdf Year: 2015 Country: Africa URL: https://www.rusi.org/downloads/assets/201509_An_Illusion_of_Complicity.pdf Shelf Number: 136892 Keywords: Animal PoachingIllegal Wildlife TradeIvoryOrganized CrimeTerrorismTerrorist FinancingWildlife Crime |
Author: Nan, Jiang Title: A Crime Pattern Analysis of the Illegal Ivory Trade in China Summary: The illegal ivory trade fuels illegal elephant poaching in both Africa and Asia. The illegal ivory trade in China is considered a key threat to the survival of the elephant species: since 2009, China has become the largest illegal ivory market in the world. Although China has uncovered a great number of cases of illegal ivory trade with the seizure of illegal ivory in the past decade, this trade is still growing. A deeper understanding of the nature and patterns of illegal ivory trade through an analysis of ivory seizure data should improve the efficiency of efforts to prevent the illegal ivory trade in China. This paper analyses data on 106 seizures of illegal ivory that was collected from Chinese news reports between 1999 and 2014, with a particular focus on its frequency and illegal trade 'hotspot' locations in China. The analysis found three illegal ivory trade cycles (2001-2005, 2006-2010, and 2011-2014) and four hotspots. Preventing the illegal ivory trade will require more international cooperation and coordination between China and other countries. Details: Acton, ACT, AUS: Transnational Environmental Crime Project, Australian National University, 2015. 17p. Source: Internet Research: TEC Project Working Paper 1/2015: Accessed October 19, 2015 at: http://ips.cap.anu.edu.au/sites/default/files/IPS/IR/TEC/TEC%20Working%20Paper%201-2015.pdf Year: 2015 Country: China URL: http://ips.cap.anu.edu.au/sites/default/files/IPS/IR/TEC/TEC%20Working%20Paper%201-2015.pdf Shelf Number: 136999 Keywords: Animal PoachingCrime AnalysisCrime HotspotsElephantsIllegal TradeIvoryWildlife CrimeWildlife Trade |
Author: Knights, Peter Title: The Illusion of Control: Hong Kong's 'Legal' Ivory Trade Summary: For more than a century, Hong Kong has been a hub for the global ivory trade. Due to the region's high overall trade volumes, easy access to mainland China, and lax regulation and supervision, this role continues, despite the 1989 international commercial ivory trade ban. Hong Kong has been the gateway through which the tusks of hundreds of thousands of poached elephants have been laundered - first en route to Japan, and more recently, to China. Officials claiming to regulate the trade provide a facade of legitimacy while making no physical link between the ivory itself and the paper trail with which they legitimize it. In short, Hong Kong has been the ivory poacher's and smuggler's laundry. At the time of the 1989 ban, Hong Kong held 670 tonnes of ivory, much of it highly dubious in origin and laundered through the discredited quota system under the UN Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). Rather than set a deadline for selling off this stock and closely monitoring its disbursement, Hong Kong's Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD), the government agency charged with implementing CITES, has continued to allow unregulated sales for 26 years, making no meaningful checks to ensure the ivory is from the original stock and not from recently poached elephants. Traders admit they routinely replenish stocks with newly poached ivory, as there is no system to connect any individual tusk or ivory product to required documentation. Essentially, the AFCD has provided unlimited license to launder poached ivory. Nearly all of Hong Kong's ivory vendors flout even the most basic regulation: the requirement that vendors clearly display licenses in their stores. In international meetings, AFCD officials have defended - and even promoted - continued domestic trade, insisting that its system is airtight, when in fact nothing could be further from the truth. It's clear that the AFCD lacks the resources, capability and desire to monitor the ivory trade, even superficially. Though long-term sales trends indicate that Hong Kong's stockpile should have been exhausted around 2004, 111.3 tonnes remain unsold, a figure that has barely changed in recent years, when demand for ivory has been the highest-ever, fueled by mainland China's economic growth. A recent study indicated that over 90% of the ivory sold in Hong Kong is purchased by tourists from the mainland (47 million visited in 2014), with unscrupulous vendors coaching them on how to successfully evade detection when smuggling it back to China. According to the latest figures, up to 33,000 elephants are poached each year for their ivory. In a recent poll, 75% of the Hong Kong public interviewed supported a ban on ivory sales. China and the United States recently announced a joint commitment to ending all commercial ivory sales - a move that is undermined by Hong Kong's ongoing laundering and illegal exports. Details: San Francisco: WildAid, 2015. 16p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed February 2, 2016 at: http://www.wildaid.org/sites/default/files/resources/The%20Illusion%20of%20Control-Full%20Report.pdf Year: 2015 Country: Hong Kong URL: http://www.wildaid.org/sites/default/files/resources/The%20Illusion%20of%20Control-Full%20Report.pdf Shelf Number: 137738 Keywords: Animal PoachingElephantsEndangered SpeciesIllegal TradeIllegal Wildlife TradeIvoryWildlife CrimeWildlife Smuggling |
Author: Crosta, Andrea Title: Blending Ivory: China's Old Loopholes, New Hopes Summary: A report on an undercover investigation in mainland China and Hong Kong in an effort to expose the areas where illegal ivory opportunistically enters the legal ivory market, and where China's legal trade system and legal businesses are exploited to launder illegal ivory onto the legal market. The investigation was performed over a 10-month period in 2015. EAL investigators conducted two field missions to Hong Kong and four field missions to mainland China using various stories to garner meetings with ivory traders and other industry insiders. The team made extensive use of undercover filming and set up a series of entities to legitimize these back-stories. A few highlights from the report include: - Legitimate businesses and business people participate in and facilitate the laundering of illicit ivory through the legal ivory market by such means as 1) importing supposedly pre-ban, antique, and trophy hunting ivory, 2) the manipulation of the ivory registration system within China, 3) trading ivory privately and illegally without following the government's guidelines and restrictions, and 4) the use of the existing huge illegal raw ivory stocks (>1,000 tons) in the hands of a few traders. - Chinese traders now import ivory mainly via Hong Kong (or purchase worked ivory in Hong Kong), "legalize" it, and re-export the ivory to mainland China. - The company Beijing Mammoth Art Co LTD (ivory imports, retail sales, carving factory, trophy hunting), one of the most powerful ivory traders in China, and chosen as the main target of this investigation, confirmed to EAL investigators that they are connected to a company in Hong Kong called Tung's Carving Gallery (Tung Pit Wang), to import and work ivory in Hong Kong. The trader then re-exports the worked ivory to his business in Beijing to avoid Chinese ivory quotas and to facilitate import permitting. According to a source very familiar with the ivory industry (a maker of ivory carving machines) Beijing Mammoth Art also provides ivory to around 300 illegal small carving facilities in and around Beijing. - Among the galaxy of various connections, Beijing Mammoth Art is also linked to Beijing Tian Hao Bo Rui International Sports Exchange LTD (another importer in Beijing), Safari Taxidermy in Limpopo Province, South Africa, and another company, supposedly owned by Beijing Mammoth's "boss," that brokered the purchase and importation of live elephants to Chimelong Safari Park in Guangzhou from Zimbabwe. - Data shows how during the past two years Beijing Mammoth Art and Beijing Tian Hao Bo Rui have been importing ivory and trophies from all over Africa, including South Africa, Central African Republic, Mozambique, Somalia, Sudan and Tanzania. - According to our sources, over 1,000 metric tons of illegal ivory is being stockpiled in secret locations and warehouses in China by investors and traders who, regardless what the Chinese government decides, are still betting on future profits. - Through their trophy hunting connections in South Africa, the associates of Beijing Mammoth Art are apparently able to import rhino horns using a new method. After the rhino has been killed the whole animal is preserved by a taxidermist as a trophy. The full body mount is then sent to China and is imported legally as a hunting trophy. Once inside the country the real horn is removed and replaced with a fake one. - Rhino horn was available for sale in every facility visited by the investigative team. Rhino horn is still in high demand throughout China, with traders indicating they can sell it as quickly as they can acquire it. - EAL investigators also assessed the availability of other rare wildlife products because at the demand end of the trade chain (China), ivory traders consistently deal with multiple wildlife products. An ivory carver and trader in Beijing - also a collector of hunting trophies and rare wildlife products from around the world - also showed EAL investigators tiger teeth and tiger bone wine. Objects made of rhino horn and tiger teeth were showed to EAL investigators multiple times, often as pictures via the app WeChat. - There is evidence that the social pressure to end the ivory trade from the international community, and now the Chinese government, is mounting and having an effect on the market. Ivory traders in China were supposedly scheduled to meet in November of 2015 to discuss the future of the ivory trade, both legal and illegal. - We do want to express our appreciation to the Chinese government for its agreement to work toward closing down the domestic ivory trade, heightening efforts to reduce both the legal and illegal ivory markets, continuing efforts to reduce demand, and pledging to help solve the elephant poaching crisis. "One of the major findings of this report is an apparently growing uneasiness among illegal ivory traffickers in China to continue with their business," says Andrea Crosta, Executive Director of EAL. "There's a huge quantity of illegal ivory in China, over 1,000 tons, and it's unclear how to deal with it, but the traders are discussing, for the first time, the future of the ivory trade, both legal and illegal. There may be reason to have hope that the tide is finally turning in favor of elephants in Africa. Now it's in the hands of President Xi Jinping" he concludes. Also of significance is an alarming amount of rhino horn that is apparently readily available in China; the EAL investigation team was offered rhino horn at every facility they visited. "The traders we spoke with claim that they can sell rhino horn as quickly as they can get their hands on it," says Crosta. "Other wildlife products - tiger wine, tiger bone wine - are also readily available and easily obtainable." The undercover footage collected over the course of this investigation will be publicly shared following the premiere of the feature documentary 'Ivory' in May 2016. The documentary, produced by Terra Mater Factual Studios and Microsoft Co-Founder Paul G. Allen's Vulcan Productions, will reveal the fight against poachers and traffickers across Africa and Asia unlike any other documentary previously made. The film follows the ivory supply chain and will include EAL's investigation into the blending of China's legal and illegal ivory markets. Details: Los Angeles: Elephant Action League, 2015. 45p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed February 4, 2016 at: http://elephantleague.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/EAL-BLENDING-IVORY-Report-Dec2015.pdf Year: 2015 Country: China URL: http://elephantleague.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/EAL-BLENDING-IVORY-Report-Dec2015.pdf Shelf Number: 137759 Keywords: Animal PoachingElephantsIllegal Wildlife TradeIvoryWildlife ConservationWildlife Crime |
Author: U.S. Senate. Committee on Foreign Relations Title: Ivory and Insecurity: The Global Implications of Poaching in Africa Summary: Ivory poaching, like all forms of illegal wildlife trade, is a profitable business. Indeed, the U.S. State Department estimates the market price of poached ivory at $400 per pound. Global Financial Integrity recently estimated the global value of the illicit trade in all forms of wildlife, excluding fishing, at between $7.8 and $10 billion. In recent years, organized crime syndicates, militias, and even terrorist elements have taken notice of the profits that can be made in the illegal trafficking of wildlife, generating an alarming up-tick in the scale of the industry and posing serious national security concerns for the United States and our partners. Details: Washington, DC: GPO, 2012. 68p. Source: Internet Resource: S Hrg. 112-602: Accessed march 30, 2016 at: https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/CHRG-112shrg76689/pdf/CHRG-112shrg76689.pdf Year: 2012 Country: Africa URL: https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/CHRG-112shrg76689/pdf/CHRG-112shrg76689.pdf Shelf Number: 138494 Keywords: Animal PoachingElephantsIllicit TradeIvoryOrganized CrimeTerrorist FinancingWildlife Crime |
Author: Lo, Cheryl Title: The Hard Truth: How Hong Kong's Ivory Trade is Fuelling Africa's Elephant Poaching Crisis Summary: In recent years, the global illegal wildlife trade has exploded, expanding to meet vastly increased demand for wild animal products. Underpinned by crime syndicates, wildlife is trafficked in the same way as drugs or weapons: it is now the fourth-largest illicit trade, valued at over US$ 19 billion annually. Of grave concern to WWF is the effect of this trade on elephants - over 30,000 are killed every year in Africa, primarily for their tusks. The majority of the illegal ivory harvested is sent to Asian markets, particularly China and Thailand, with Hong Kong playing a key role in this trade. Hong Kong currently has a legal stockpile of ivory taken from wild elephants, amassed before African elephants were listed under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) and enacted in local legislation in 1990. Today, Hong Kong ivory traders claim to conduct their business by using this stockpile from 25 years ago. The current size of this stockpile is 111.3 tonnes and it lies in the possession of over 400 license holders. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Illegal ivory is accessible in Hong Kong. The city ranks fifth globally in terms of the quantity of ivory seized - over 33 tonnes have been confiscated since 2000. A recorded conversation with an ivory trader revealed that a buyer in Hong Kong can make a "purchase order" for ivory directly from Africa, thus fuelling the ongoing poaching crisis. Legal ivory is used as a front for the illegal ivory trade. Traders claim to the government that they are selling very little ivory, yet Hong Kong has an extensive ivory business. One major ivory trader explained that "laundering" is easy, whereby traders use the stockpile of legal ivory as a front while they instead sell smuggled, illegal ivory to unsuspecting buyers. Loopholes exist in the licensing system. These enable the system to be exploited by unscrupulous businesses, perpetuating the illegal ivory trade and driving the rapid decline in elephant populations. A major ivory trader suggested best licensing practices to the government, but this proposal was not adopted. Also, the government does not perform forensic testing to confirm the age of ivory being displayed, stored or sold. The re-export of ivory from Hong Kong without permits is illegal, but rampant. Over 90 per cent of ivory buyers are mainland Chinese tourists, yet it is illegal to take ivory across Hong Kong's borders without a permit. An ivory trader described how buyers can simply smuggle their purchases across the border. This presents a huge challenge to Hong Kong Customs, as the city welcomes 60 million visitors every year. Inadequate deterrents and prosecution. The maximum penalties for smuggling and selling illegal ivory under Hong Kong Law are harsh, but often only low penalties are given. Between 2011 and 2013, most prosecutions resulted in relatively small fines, with only about 10 cases resulting in short prison sentences. Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) has limited resources to inspect ivory traders. There are only eight inspectors who are tasked with checking all the shops selling items derived from rare and threatened species in Hong Kong. The regulatory system lacks transparency. Most key information relating to the ivory trade is not publicly available. In view of the lack of effectiveness in regulating ivory trafficking and trade and the toll it is taking on elephant populations, it's time to re-write the future of elephants by banning ivory sales in Hong Kong. WWF calls for the Hong Kong government to rapidly phase out the commercial processing and sale of ivory, based on a firm plan and a short timeline. Hong Kong has earned an international reputation as a law-abiding society, and must ensure that this reputation is maintained. The threats posed by global crime syndicates and the legal loopholes in local regulations are a serious challenge to our rule of law, therefore WWF calls the Hong Kong government to take all available measures to disrupt and prosecute those who prey on and profit from the illegal trade. Only firm, robust and immediate action can halt the trade in ivory and save the elephants. WWF's detailed study of the ivory trade in Hong Kong assesses the effectiveness of the existing regulatory system through an analysis of government data and information from other specialist organizations in the field, supplemented by information collected by field investigators who posed as authentic ivory buyers to conduct interviews with ivory traders. The research has included conversations with three traders, who claimed to have access to at least 15 to 20 tonnes of ivory between them. This is a large sum compared with the 111.3 tonnes of legal ivory stockpile held by all businesses in Hong Kong. All three traders pointed to a number of irregularities in the Hong Kong ivory trade. The study has uncovered several fundamental flaws in the current regulatory system and evidence of widespread illegality relating to the ivory trade. The evidence in this report demonstrates the systemic flaws in Hong Kong's illegal and under-regulated trade, which is directly fuelling present-day poaching activities in Africa. The study identifies seven major weaknesses in the current system of regulation. In recent years, the global illegal wildlife trade has exploded, expanding to meet vastly increased demand for wild animal products. Underpinned by crime syndicates, wildlife is trafficked in the same way as drugs or weapons: it is now the fourth-largest illicit trade, valued at over US$ 19 billion annually. Of grave concern to WWF is the effect of this trade on elephants - over 30,000 are killed every year in Africa, primarily for their tusks. The majority of the illegal ivory harvested is sent to Asian markets, particularly China and Thailand, with Hong Kong playing a key role in this trade. Hong Kong currently has a legal stockpile of ivory taken from wild elephants, amassed before African elephants were listed under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora(CITES) and enacted in local legislation in 1990. Today, Hong Kong ivory traders claim to conduct their business by using this stockpile from 25 years ago. The current size of this stockpile is 111.3 tonnes and it lies in the possession of over 400 license holders. Details: Hong Kong) World Wildlife Fund - Hong Kong, 2015. 24p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 2, 2016 at: http://assets.worldwildlife.org/publications/816/files/original/wwf_ivorytrade_eng_eversion.pdf?1442844784 Year: 2015 Country: Hong Kong URL: http://assets.worldwildlife.org/publications/816/files/original/wwf_ivorytrade_eng_eversion.pdf?1442844784 Shelf Number: 138891 Keywords: Animal PoachingElephantsIllegal Ivory TradeIllegal TradeIllegal Wildlife TradeIvoryWildlife Crime |
Author: Hubschle, Annette Michaela Title: A Game of Horns: Transnational Flows of Rhino Horn Summary: A multi-sectorial regime of protection including international treaties, conservation and security measures, demand reduction campaigns and quasi-military interventions has been established to protect rhinos. Despite these efforts, the poaching of rhinos and trafficking of rhino horn continue unabated. This dissertation asks why the illegal market in rhinoceros horn is so resilient in spite of the myriad measures employed to disrupt it. A theoretical approach grounded in the sociology of markets is applied to explain the structure and functioning of the illegal market. The project follows flows of rhino horn from the source in southern Africa to illegal markets in Southeast Asia. The multi-sited ethnography included participant observations, interviews and focus groups with 416 informants during fourteen months of fieldwork. The sample comprised of, amongst others, convicted and active rhino poachers, smugglers and kingpins, private rhino breeders and hunting outfitters, African and Asian law enforcement officials, as well as affected local communities and Asian consumers. Court files, CITES trade data, archival materials, newspaper reports and social media posts were also analysed to supplement findings and to verify and triangulate data from interviews, focus groups and observations. Central to the analysis is the concept of "contested illegality", a legitimization mechanism employed by market participants along the different segments of the horn supply chain. These actors' implicit or explicit contestation of the state-sponsored label of illegality serves as a legitimising and enabling mechanism, facilitating participation in gray or illegal markets for rhino horn. The research identified fluid interfaces between legal, illegal and gray markets, with recurring actors who have access to transnational trade structures, and who also possess market and product knowledge, as well as information about the regulatory regime and its loopholes. It is against the background of colonial, apartheid and neoliberal exploitation and marginalization of local communities that a second argument is introduced: the path dependency of conservation paradigms. Underpinning rhino conservation and regulation are archaic and elitist conservation regimes that discount the potential for harmonious relationships between local communities and wildlife. The increasing militarization of anti-poaching measures and green land grabs are exacerbating the rhino problem by alienating communities further from conservation areas and wild animals. The third argument looks at how actors deal with coordination problems in transnational illegal markets. Resolving the coordination problems of cooperation, value and competition are considered essential to the operation of formal markets. It is argued that the problem of security provides an additional and crucial obstacle to actors transacting in markets. The systematic analysis of flows between the researched sites of production, distribution and consumption of rhino horn shows that the social embeddedness of actors facilitates the flourishing of illegal markets in ways that escape an effective enforcement of CITES regulations. Details: Koln,Germany: International Max Planck Research School, 2016. 418p. Source: Internet Resource: Dissertation: Accessed May 18, 2016 at: http://kups.ub.uni-koeln.de/6685/ Year: 2016 Country: Africa URL: http://kups.ub.uni-koeln.de/6685/ Shelf Number: 139087 Keywords: Animal PoachingIllegal MarketsIllegal Wildlife TradeIvoryOrganized CrimeRhinocerosWildlife CrimeWildlife Trafficking |
Author: Fenio, Kenly Greer Title: Poaching Rhino Horn in South Africa and Mozambique: Community and Expert Views From the Trenches Summary: This report illustrates attitudes garnered from nine focus groups in several poaching communities in and around South African and Mozambican game parks, and approximately 15 in-depth interviews with experts working in the parks. Although the communities exhibited differences, there also exist a common set of conditions in them: economically marginalized populations, anger toward the status quo, huge financial incentives from poaching, widespread corruption, and porous borders, all of which highlight the complex interaction of economic and political factors in perpetuating illicit wildlife trafficking. Until conservation and anti-poaching and trafficking efforts are ramped up, demand is reduced in Asian countries such as Viet Nam, and communities nearest the parks see it in their interest to protect endangered animals such as the rhino, gaining greater traction through efforts to bring an end to poaching will be difficult. Executive Summary This report examines the key drivers of rhino poaching - which illustrate the complex interaction of economic and political factors - as highlighted in focus group discussions in poaching communities and interviews with park rangers and other experts around parks in South Africa and Mozambique. Several drivers for poaching came out of this research, each of which is discussed in the report and summarized briefly here. The Limpopo National Park and Kruger National Park belong to the Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park that straddles South Africa, Mozambique, and Zimbabwe. Transfrontier parks were created to allow ecosystems to flow undisturbed across international borders, but with this also comes the uncontrolled movement of humans through Porous Borders. While Kruger has funding to monitor those entering for tourism at official access points, rangers in Limpopo claim they can't distinguish between Mozambicans who live in Limpopo park and others who are simply passing through. This makes it easy for poachers to cross national borders undetected. This section also delves into the nuances of How Poaching Occurs. Anger and Marginalization within the communities toward the parks is a salient issue. Community members identify very little in the way of employment, profit or opportunity trickling down to them from official park services. A lack of perceived opportunities has translated into anger toward park officials and, for some, a desire to protect illegal hunters: "we know the poachers, but because the park doesn't want to help us, we don't want to help [the park]." Many participants claim park animals kill their cattle, and the parks offer little to no compensation. They also have little faith in negotiations with conservation authorities because of weak follow-through on park promises to scale up community development. Yet some still see killing the animals as morally wrong. Park managers claim that locals are less likely to enforce the law if given employment because they are more easily corruptible and more vulnerable to pressure from poachers. While community development and education occurs in the way of boreholes, wildlife education in schools, and job creation for neighboring communities, programs seem to fluctuate greatly from community to community, making it difficult to instill the belief that the parks are beneficial for all. Economic Incentives lure many youth into poaching. Locally available jobs like farming, animal husbandry, selling charcoal, or irregular work in neighboring cities simply cannot compare with "the gold in the horn." Some participants see the poachers "as role models," and argue they "do good things for the community" and facilitate job creation when they spend their wealth locally. The income can be used for "sending children to school, nice houses, and expensive cars and clothes." Survival in economically depressed communities thus takes precedence over wildlife conservation, and the debate ensues between poaching for daily subsistence versus for greed. For young people particularly, there is substantial peer pressure to compete with friends for the status that comes from having a disposable income to buy new things. Embarking on an adventure to kill a rhino becomes more attractive than remaining idle in a community with few economic alternatives. Efforts to introduce counter-incentives have found limited success. While tipoff hotlines exist, some say they are unlikely to take advantage of these programs. To some extent, this is because there is limited awareness of them, but more compellingly, community members Fear retribution, as well as exhibit other types of fear. In some communities, poaching remains secretive even among acquaintances: a hunter with a horn is in danger of being robbed and killed before he can get his prize to the traffickers. Finally, Political Will and Corruption play their part. While both countries now have official policies in place against poaching and trafficking, experts say implementation is fraught with complications because of corruption on multiple levels. Both rangers and community members claim crooked police officials peddle (and recycle) arms. Community members also acknowledge dishonest rangers disclose rhino locations to poachers, and some say the problem will only end when "corrupt officials at the top" are brought to justice. Few prosecutions have occurred in comparison to the ideal and those who are convicted often pay minimal fines and do little, if any, jail time. Several participants note that after only a few months "you see that person back on the street." This section examines attitudes, and also provides a current overview of recent agreements, partnerships, and evolution in laws in the two countries. The report then examines Solutions from community and expert perspectives. In discussing steps to improve the situation, community members and park rangers tend to focus on three ideas. (1) The need for more local community programming to draw community buy-in to the mission of the parks and goals of conservation. One step in the right direction seems to be the appointment of Rhino Ambassadors, or community members who serve as liaisons between the parks and communities. But in an environment of tight budgets, governments have tended to prioritize security measures over community development and education programs. (2) Enforcing laws already on the books to deter the police and high-level politicians that rangers and community members repeatedly stated they believe are involved in trafficking. (3) There needs to be increased technical capacity for enforcement that includes basic logistics - vehicles for Limpopo's rangers who are often on foot, and more advanced surveillance equipment to keep up with increasingly sophisticated poaching techniques. Rangers and some community members note that certain areas are well known for detecting and catching poachers, which deters criminals from entering these locales. Conservation experts agree it is possible to decrease poaching, but it requires resources "now, not tomorrow." In the words of one ranger who has worked in conservation for over 25 years: "once the human eye detects a change in nature, it's too late." Details: Washington, DC: U.S. Department of State, 2014. 42p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 23, 2016 at: http://conservationaction.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/Poaching-Rhino-Horn-in-South-Africa-and-Mozambique-2014.pdf Year: 2014 Country: Africa URL: http://conservationaction.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/Poaching-Rhino-Horn-in-South-Africa-and-Mozambique-2014.pdf Shelf Number: 139136 Keywords: Animal PoachingIvoryPark RangersRhinocerosTrafficking in WildlifeWildlife CrimeWildlife Trafficking |
Author: Economists at Large Title: Horn of Contention: A review of the literature on the economics of trade in Rhino horn Summary: Poaching of rhinos in Southern Africa has increased dramatically in recent years. There is considerable debate within policy circles and the conservation movement as to the best policy response to increased poaching. Because many of the factors driving poaching and illegal trade in rhino horn are economic, many stakeholders are looking to economics for potential policy responses. In particular, there are suggestions that a legalised, heavily regulated trade in rhino horn could reduce rates of poaching. This paper is a review of studies on the economics of trade in endangered wildlife in general and on rhino horn in particular. Two studies reviewed are from formal academic literature and another four are less formal articles or "grey literature". The formal studies are from peer-reviewed journals, but do not explicitly address the recent increase in rhino poaching. The grey literature are less rigorous, but have the benefit of focussing on recent events in Africa. The formal studies suggest that predicting the outcome of liberalising trade is complex and difficult to determine. Although it may decrease pressure on poaching, as rhino horn becomes increasingly supplied through the non-lethal legal trade, there is also a real risk that trade could drive an increase in poaching through any combination of five mechanisms: - Through legal and illegal markets coexisting and interacting in complex ways. - Through reducing the stigma attached to consumption of the product. - By potentially reducing the supply costs of illegal supply. - By potentially facilitating the laundering of illegal supply in with legal supply. - As a result of uncertainty around the response of illegal suppliers to competition from a legal market. The articles from the grey literature are all overtly pro-trade, generally assuming that: - Legal markets will "hijack" consumers from illegal markets and that legal and illegal horn would be perfectly substitutable. - Stigma effects are small and that efforts to reduce demand through education and information would be ineffective. - Increased surveillance funded by rhino horn sales would increase poaching costs. - Technical advances such as DNA technology would minimise laundering. - Smugglers with market power would respond to the introduction of a legal trade passively, accepting reduced sales, rather than competing to retain market share. Little empirical evidence is offered to support these views. Under certain conditions these assumptions may hold, but it is unclear if these conditions are in place in either supplying or consuming countries. We suggest further research should be undertaken before any formal steps are taken towards legalising trade in rhino horn. Details: Yarmouth, MA: International Fund for Animal Welfare, 2013. 28p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 23, 2016 at: http://www.ifaw.org/sites/default/files/Horn-of-Contention.pdf Year: 2013 Country: Africa URL: http://www.ifaw.org/sites/default/files/Horn-of-Contention.pdf Shelf Number: 139137 Keywords: Animal PoachingAnimal SmugglingIllegal Wildlife TradeIvoryRhinocerosWildlife CrimeWildlife Trade |
Author: International Rhino Coalition Title: Assessing the Risks of Rhino Horn Trade Summary: INTRODUCTION: In April 2014 economists, conservationists, researchers, consumer state representatives and wildlife law consultants from around the world gathered in Pretoria to discuss the risks or rhino horn trade in South Africa. This report is a summary of their presentations. Topics include the impact of a legal ivory trade on Africa's elephant population, wildlife trade management in Vietnam and the work of WildAid in consumer states to name a few. Details: Cape Town, South Africa: Conservation Action Trust, 2014. 85p. Source: Internet Resource: A Journal of Arguments Presented at the April 2014 Conference in South Africa: Accessed June 1, 2016 at: http://conservationaction.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/Assessing-the-risks-of-the-rhino-horn-trade.pdf Year: 2014 Country: International URL: http://conservationaction.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/Assessing-the-risks-of-the-rhino-horn-trade.pdf Shelf Number: 139270 Keywords: Illegal Wildlife TradeIvoryRhinocerosWildlife CrimeWildlife Management |
Author: Cakaj, Ledio Title: Tusk Wars: Inside the LRA and the Bloody Business of Ivory Summary: New field research from the Enough Project shows that the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) is weakened to an unprecedented point, counting only 120 armed fighters in its ranks, scattered across three countries in central Africa. Despite its weakened state, the LRA continues to pose a threat to local populations in Central African Republic (CAR), the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), and in South Sudan, with 150 recorded attacks and 500 abductions of civilians for the first eight months of 2015 and 200,000 people displaced. Based on new interviews with recent LRA defectors, LRA founder and leader Joseph Kony was based in the Sudan-controlled enclave of Kafia Kingi as of May 2015, an area he has rarely moved from since 2011. His initial base in 2011 was reportedly 10 miles from the Sudan Armed Forces garrison in Dafak, South Darfur, and his last known location in May 2015 was at the foot of Mount Toussoro at the Kafia Kingi-CAR border. According to recent LRA defectors, Kony is unlikely to move deeper into South Darfur, as that area is more populated and insecure, and he would be much more likely to be spotted. There is a slight possibility that Sudanese army troops are unaware of the exact whereabouts of Kony himself, but LRA defectors have consistently claimed that the local Sudanese military personnel has knowledge of the presence of LRA groups in Kafia Kingi, a stark contrast to the Government of Sudan's persistent denials of LRA presence in its territory. Kony has gradually lost some control over his troops, who are increasingly likely to leave the ranks or disobey his orders. Nine of Kony's personal bodyguards made an attempt on his life in mid-2015 - the first time that has ever occurred. African Union forces and U.S. advisors have also made communications within the LRA very difficult, with Kony out of touch with some of his commanders for months or even years at a time. U.S.-led defection campaigns are having some success, as recently escaped LRA fighters express they trust U.S. advisors more than they do the A.U. forces, and seven recent defectors walked for a month attempting to access a U.S. base in CAR. On October 23, 2015, President Obama reauthorized the U.S. support mission for an additional year. Despite the successes of the A.U.-U.S. counter-LRA mission, Kony has continued to traffic ivory, secured by fighters in DRC's Garamba National Park. New field research by the Enough Project provides new details about the traffic of ivory from DRC into Kafia Kingi, and the transaction between the LRA and Sudanese merchants. In Enough Project staff interviews conducted earlier in 2015, ex-LRA combatants described trading ivory directly with Sudan Armed Forces officers. Under direct orders from Kony, LRA commanders, in particular his two oldest sons, Salim and Ali, barter the ivory with merchants from the South Darfur town of Songo, in exchange for food, uniforms, and ammunition. One LRA group is based in DRC's Garamba National Park (GNP), where it poaches elephants and secures the ivory. Another group, led by a young man called Owila, then transports the ivory from northeastern DRC to Kafia Kingi through CAR. The tusks are likely trafficked to Nyala, South Darfur, and on to Khartoum for export abroad, primarily to Asia. Details: Washington, DC: Enough Project, 2015. 28p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed June 7, 2016 at: http://www.enoughproject.org/files/Tusk_Wars_10262015.pdf Year: 2015 Country: Congo, Democratic Republic URL: http://www.enoughproject.org/files/Tusk_Wars_10262015.pdf Shelf Number: 139293 Keywords: Animal PoachingIvoryWildlife CrimeWildlife Trafficking |
Author: Rademeyer, Julian Title: Tipping Point: Transnational organised crime and the 'war' on poaching Summary: More than six thousand rhinos have fallen to poachers' bullets in Africa over the past decade. Dozens more have been shot in so-called "pseudo-hunts" in South Africa. Across Europe, castles and museums have been raided by criminal gangs in search of rhino horn trophies. And in the United States, businessmen, antique dealers - even a former rodeo star and a university professor - have been implicated in the illicit trade. Driven by seemingly insatiable demand in Southeast Asia and China, rhino horn has become a black market commodity that rivals the value of gold and platinum. The impact of rampant poaching and deeply entrenched transnational criminal networks over the past decade has been severe. Today there are estimated to be about 25,000 rhino left in Africa, a fraction of the tens of thousands that existed just half-a-century ago. Numbers of white rhinos ( Ceratotherium simum ) have begun to stagnate and decline, with 2015 population figures estimated at between 19,666 and 21,085. While the numbers of more critically endangered black rhino ( Diceros bicornis ) - estimated to number between 5,040 and 5,458 - have increased, population growth rates have fallen. Since 2008, incidents of rhino poaching have increased at a staggering rate. In 2015, 1,342 rhinos were killed for their horns across seven African range states, compared to just 262 in the early stages of the current crisis in 2008. The vast majority of poaching incidents occurred in South Africa, home to about 79% of the continent's last remaining rhinos. The country's Kruger National Park - which contains the world's largest rhino population - has suffered the brunt of the slaughter. While South Africa experienced a marginal dip in poaching figures in 2015 - the first time that the numbers had fallen since 2008 - this was offset by dramatic spikes in poaching in Namibia and Zimbabwe, two key black rhino range states. Namibia, which had experienced little to no poaching from 2006 to 2012 saw Global Initiative against Transnational Organized Crime Tipping Point: Transnational organised crime and the 'war' on poaching incidents increase from four in 2013 to 30 in 2014 and 90 in 2015. In Zimbabwe, 51 rhinos were killed, up from twenty in 2014. It was the country's worst year on record since 2008, when 164 rhinos were lost to poachers. While Vietnam remains a key destination and transit country, growing numbers of Chinese nationals have been arrested and prosecuted in recent years in Africa, Europe, Asia and the United States for smuggling rhino horn. Research conducted by TRAFFIC has pointed to a thriving online market for rhino horn on Vietnamese and Chinese social media platforms. There is some evidence of divergent markets in Vietnam and China with demand for "raw", unworked rhino horn in the former and carvings, libation cups and fake antiques - commonly referred to as zuo jiu - in the latter. In Vietnam, for instance, a number of artisanal villages are known to produce rhino horn bangles, bracelets, beads and libation cups for Chinese buyers. China has also emerged a significant destination for antique rhino horn carvings that have been auctioned in Europe, the United States and Australia. The killing shows little sign of slowing. Despite the valiant efforts of many law enforcement and government officials, prosecutors and game rangers, the transnational criminal networks trafficking rhino horn are as resilient as ever and - with rare exceptions - impervious to attempts to disrupt their activities. Fragmented law enforcement strategies - often led by environmental agencies with little political power and no mandate to investigate or gather intelligence on organised crime networks - have had little impact on syndicates that operate globally, with tentacles reaching from Africa to Europe, the United States and Asia. Borders, bureaucracy and a tangle of vastly different laws and legal jurisdictions are a boon to transnational criminal networks and a bane to the law enforcement agencies rallied against them. Entities like Interpol, Europol, CITES and the World Customs Organisation are only as good as the government officials in member states who are delegated to work with them. Again and again, their efforts to target syndicates in multiple jurisdictions are hamstrung by corruption, incompetence, governments that are unwilling or incapable of acting, a lack of information-sharing, petty jealousies and approaches to tackling crime that wrongly emphasise arrests and seizures over targeted investigations and convictions as a barometer of success. Details: Geneva, SWIT: Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime, 2016. 64p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed July 15, 2016 at: http://globalinitiative.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/Global-Initiative-Tipping-Point-Part1-July-2016.pdf Year: 2016 Country: South Africa URL: http://globalinitiative.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/Global-Initiative-Tipping-Point-Part1-July-2016.pdf Shelf Number: 139645 Keywords: Animal PoachingIvoryOrganized CrimeRhinocerosRhinosTrafficking WildlifeWildlife CrimeWildlife Trafficking |
Author: Rademeyer, Julian Title: Beyond Borders: Crime, conservation and criminal networks in the illicit rhino horn trade Summary: The Global Initiative against Transnational Organized Crime, the WWF and the Geneva Environment Platform organised the Geneva launch of "Beyond borders: Crime, conservation and criminal networks in the illicit rhino horn trade", the second of two reports investigating the illegal trade in rhino horn and law enforcement responses, on 13 July 2016 in the International Environment House. Six thousand rhinos have fallen to poachers' bullets in Africa over the past decade and only about 25,000 remain - a fraction of the tens of thousands that roamed the parts of the continent fifty years ago. Driven by the seemingly insatiable demand in Southeast Asia and China, rhino horn has become a black market commodity rivalling gold and platinum in value. This report, the second of two, is a major investigation into Southern African rhino horn trafficking networks. It focuses on rhino poaching, smuggling and organised crime in Zimbabwe and Mozambique, two source countries for rhino products where legal and law enforcement frameworks to curb rhino poaching are in place, yet poorly implemented. It also investigates the involvement of the diplomatic world in the rhino horn trade including recent revelations of North Korean embassy involvement. Details: Geneva, SWIT: Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime, 2016. 44p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed July 15, 2016 at: http://globalinitiative.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/Global-Initiative-Beyond-Borders-Part2-July-2016-1.pdf Year: 2016 Country: South Africa URL: http://globalinitiative.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/Global-Initiative-Beyond-Borders-Part2-July-2016-1.pdf Shelf Number: 139646 Keywords: Animal PoachingIvoryOrganized CrimeRhinocerosRhinosTrafficking WildlifeWildlife CrimeWildlife Trafficking |
Author: De Wet, Neil J. Title: The South African regulatory framework relating to illegal trade in rhino horn Summary: The purpose of this study is to determine whether the current South African regulatory framework related to the illegal trade in wildlife, provides the means to regulate the illegal trade in rhino horn effectively. In an effort to combat and eradicate the illegal trade in wild species and parts therein, South Africa has enacted numerous laws and it has ratified various international conservation Conventions. However, with more than 800 rhinos having been killed in 2013 alone, it is doubtful whether these laws and conventions are adequate. The first chapter is an introductory chapter summarising the latest statistics on rhinos fatalities as a result of poaching, an estimate on their numbers as well giving a brief overview of what laws and conventions will be discussed in this study. In the second chapter the historical development of the trade in rhino horn is dissected, who the culprits are and the reason why rhinos are poached for their horn. The third chapter analyses international conventions that have been adopted by South Africa, including conventions such as the Convention on International Trade in Enangered Species, the Convention on Biological Diversity and agreements such as the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade. The fourth chapter will focus more on the regional contributions which the African Union and Southern African Developing Community have made in an effort to combat the illegal trade in endangered species and their products such as rhino. The fifth and final chapter discusses South African legislation which comprises of the National Environmental Management Act, National Environmental Management Biodiversity Act, National Environmental Management Protected Areas Act and the Criminal Procedure Act so as to determine what influence it has had in the effort to regulate the illegal trade in rhino horn. The conclusion that can be drawn from this study is that the South African regulatory framework on paper is indeed adequate enough to regulate and even eradicate the illegal trade in rhino horn. The reason, however, for it's currently failure is attributable to a lack of enforcement of these measures as a result of a lack of provisions holding entities accountable. Details: Potchefstroom, South Africa: North-West University, 2014. 81p. Source: Internet Resource: Dissertation: Accessed July 18, 2016 at: http://www.rhinoresourcecenter.com/pdf_files/144/1441177074.pdf Year: 2014 Country: South Africa URL: http://www.rhinoresourcecenter.com/pdf_files/144/1441177074.pdf Shelf Number: 139649 Keywords: Illegal Wildlife TradeIvoryRhinoWildlife CrimeWildlife Trade |
Author: Lau, W. Title: A rapid survey of UK ivory markets Summary: Although the antiques ivory market in the UK appears to have declined significantly there are still thousands of ivory items on sale in London's markets, according to surveys carried out this April by TRAFFIC. Researchers from TRAFFIC visited 13 antiques markets and two areas with antiques shops across London and also carried out online searches to record the number of ivory items on sale. Their findings are published in A rapid survey of UK ivory markets. They found a wide range of ivory items offered for sale, including figures (56%), household goods (27%), jewellery (9%) and personal items (8%); similar items were found for sale or auction online. However, compared to surveys carried out in 2004, the researchers found fewer individual market stalls offering ivory, declining from around 640 stalls in 2004 to 200 in 2016, while the total number of ivory items for sale also declined, from around 6,000 items to 3,200 over the same period. Links with the current elephant poaching crisis appear tenuous at best, as researchers found no new or raw (unworked) ivory for sale, and only one item that was reportedly after the 1947 cut-off date for antique ivory. The nationality of buyers appeared to have changed too: in 2004 they were mainly American and European tourists, while in 2016 traders reported that travellers and citizens from East Asian countries and territories, including mainland China, Japan and Hong Kong were predominant. Reasons proposed to explain the apparent physical market decline include the emergence of online sales and/or stricter legislation which, according to traders, has led to reduced prices and demand for ivory items. However, according to the study, comparisons should be made with caution as "the surveys conducted in 2004 and 2016 were not identical due to various unavoidable factors." Although the global ivory trade was banned in 1989, antique ivory (carved or "worked" products acquired before 3rd March 1947), and raw or carved "pre-Convention" ivory can be traded under certain circumstances. According to figures from CITES (the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora), between 2005 and 2014, the UK was a net (re-)exporter of ivory for commercial purposes, comprising 990 kg and ~54,000 ivory pieces, some 31% of the EU's total. However, the study found evidence of potential irregularity. Of concern was a significant imbalance between the UK's reported exports of only 17 raw tusks, but importers' records showing 109 tusks originating from the UK. Furthermore, according to UK domestic measures, only worked specimens (antique or pre-Convention), not raw ivory, can legally be re-exported for commercial purposes. According to the study "it would be essential to clarify the reasons for these discrepancies." Meanwhile seizure data "show that the UK plays a role in illegal ivory trade...in particular as a transit country, with ivory seizures...having increased in recent years." The researchers found mixed understanding amongst traders of what constitutes legal ivory sales. All traders were aware of there being a specific cut-off date for antiques and many of the stricter rules regarding ivory importation into, for example the USA and China, but some were far less knowledgeable. More worrying, some even suggested transporting ivory items in personal luggage or sending them by post, without documentation. Few dealers were able to provide proof of age or documentation to prove legal acquisition of their ivory for sale. Details: Cambridge, UK: TRAFFIC, 2016. 56p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed September 3, 2016 at: http://static1.1.sqspcdn.com/static/f/157301/27217988/1472570776477/UK-ivory-markets.pdf?token=9dlmId6A55I5yg%2BP8VExwqLxWRk%3D Year: 2016 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://static1.1.sqspcdn.com/static/f/157301/27217988/1472570776477/UK-ivory-markets.pdf?token=9dlmId6A55I5yg%2BP8VExwqLxWRk%3D Shelf Number: 140135 Keywords: Illegal MarketsIllegal tradeIvory |
Author: Henson, David W. Title: Wildlife Law Enforcement in Sub-Saharan African Protected Areas A Review of Best Practices Summary: Unprecedented levels of poaching of elephants, rhinos and other high value charismatic species across Africa is severely threatening the future of these species and the ecosystems they inhabit. As poaching groups increase in size, number and sophistication, it is more important than ever that law enforcement responses in protected areas are robust, reliable, and effective. A strategy to combat this crisis must address root causes, such as international demand for ivory and rhino horn, as well as drivers and enabling conditions, such as poverty and the lack of livelihood options for rural communities, corruption and weak governance. Further, in addition to direct poaching threats, the loss of habitat to agriculture and natural resource extraction and a growing human population, particularly around protected areas, will increasingly threaten the survival of elephant and rhino populations. Therefore, conservation of these species must take a holistic, long-term approach. While improved law enforcement in protected areas is just one element of this approach, it is an essential component and can achieve significant results in the short to medium-term. This report aims to contribute to the international effort to combat wildlife crime in Sub-Saharan African protected areas by providing a systematic and evidence-based review of law enforcement practices that have proved to be effective in different situations, and by identifying emerging best practice. Details: Cambridge, UK and Gland, Switzerland: IUCN, 2016. 92p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed September 6, 2016 at: https://portals.iucn.org/library/sites/library/files/documents/SSC-OP-058.pdf Year: 2016 Country: Africa URL: https://portals.iucn.org/library/sites/library/files/documents/SSC-OP-058.pdf Shelf Number: 147853 Keywords: Animal PoachingIvoryWildlife ConservationWildlife CrimeWildlife Law Enforcement |
Author: Martin, Esmond Title: No Oasis: The Egyptian Ivory Trade in 2005 Summary: A comprehensive survey of the ivory trade in Egypt, focused upon the cities of Cairo, Luxor, Aswan, Hurghada and Sharm el-Sheikh, was undertaken in March and April 2005. The principal findings of that effort can be summarized as follows: - Raw elephant ivory tusks are still being imported illegally into Egypt, albeit in very limited quantities. Such shipments reportedly originate in the Democratic Republic of Congo and southern Sudan and are moved overland from Sudan into Egypt. Other reports suggested that a few tusks also may come from India, but such information could not be substantiated. Compared with the late 1990s, however, the quantity imported has declined markedly. - The price paid by craftsmen and owners of the ivory workshops in Cairo for a 2-5 kg raw ivory tusk averaged about USD190/kg, while larger tusks weighing 10-19 kg cost around USD345/kg. When adjusted for inflation in 1998 USD terms, these prices are 200-250% of those documented for comparable tusks noted in surveys in 1998 and 1999. This price increase may be credibly attributed to three factors: increased law enforcement, a reduction in supply in Egypt and the increasing cost of elephant ivory at its source in neighbouring African countries. - Somewhere between 25 and 50 ivory craftsmen, some located in and around Khan al-Khalili, the main market in Cairo, are estimated still to be carving ivory today, but their numbers have fallen to somewhere between one-quarter and one-half of the 100 carvers identified in 1998 and most only carve ivory on a parttime basis. This continues the significant decline in the number of ivory carvers in Egypt, documented with comparable data for the years 1989 and 1998 (Martin and Stiles, 2000). - A total of 130 retail outlets were found selling ivory products in the five cities and towns surveyed. Cairo, Luxor and Aswan collectively had 142 shops in 1998 but, by 2005, the number of retail outlets selling ivory had apparently fallen to 119 in these three cities, indicating an overall reduction of about 15-20%. - The number of ivory items seen for sale at the retail level numbered 10 709 in 2005, less than half the number observed in 1998 (21 460). While the scale of the trade has apparently fallen in all cities surveyed, the greatest decline in the number of ivory products on the retail market was noted in Aswan and Luxor, where only 373 and 1308, respectively, were found in 2005 compared to 3388 and 6445 ivory products observed in 1998. - Cairo, with 83% of the ivory items seen for sale, continues to be the major outlet for ivory products in Egypt. Luxor accounted for 12% of the ivory products observed and Aswan had only three per cent. In sharp contrast, the huge tourist resorts of Hurghada and Sharm el-Sheikh displayed only negligible amounts of ivory. - The most common items found for sale were figurines of Egyptian gods and humans - 34%; animal figurines, such as scarabs, camels and elephants - 30%; pendants - 9%; necklaces - 6%; and bangles - 4%. It is worth noting that there were almost no ivory name seals or chopsticks, key ivory products for the Asian market, found during the survey. - The main buyers of ivory products were reportedly tourists from Italy and Spain, followed by those from France and unspecified Latin American countries. This largely mirrored the findings of the 1998 survey. Local Egyptians apparently consume virtually no ivory themselves. - Retail prices for worked ivory items sold in Egypt in 2005, adjusted for inflation in US dollars (USD) terms, appear to be anywhere from twice to over four times those of late 1998. In 2005, a typical 10-cm human figurine cost about USD185, a medium-sized bead necklace was USD51, a 2.5-cm bangle was USD35, a 5- cm pendant was USD14 and a small ring was USD7. - There were very few antique ivory pieces observed for sale (less than one per cent of the total number of ivory products surveyed). Equally, only a very small number of ivory items that had been manufactured in other countries were found for sale on the Egyptian market. Thus, virtually all of Egypt's ivory trade comprises products that were locally produced in recent times. - The Egyptian Government has made significant efforts, particularly from 1999 through to 2003, to seize elephant tusks and illegal worked ivory items in several parts of the country. Altogether, over 3.5 t of ivory has been seized during this period. Improved law enforcement has been partly responsible for the decline of the Egyptian ivory industry and various shopkeepers indicated awareness concerning the illegality of the trade or had experienced government pressure to curtail sales directly. - Although ivory trade in the country is under pressure and has declined considerably since 1999, the scale of the current trade at retail level is still significant and of conservation concern. In this regard, Egypt has not conformed with the CITES requirements for controls on the internal trade in ivory contained in Resolution Conf. 10.10 (Rev. CoP12). - To reduce the availability of elephant ivory products in key markets throughout the country and to ensure compliance with all CITES requirements, it is recommended that Egypt: - review and improve policy, legislation and regulatory measures so that they fulfil the requirements of CITES Resolution Conf. 10.10 (Rev. 12); - address implementation and enforcement deficiencies; - raise awareness and publicity on wildlife trade controls; and - be reviewed as part of the CITES Standing Committee process for assessing domestic ivory markets worldwide, with a view to including Egypt as a priority country for attention within the context of the Action plan for the control of trade in African elephant ivory. Details: Cambridge, UK: TRAFFIC International, 2005. 32p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed September 8, 2016 at: http://www.traffic.org/mammals Year: 2005 Country: Egypt URL: http://www.traffic.org/mammals Shelf Number: 147904 Keywords: ElephantsIllegal TradeIllegal Wildlife TradeIvory |
Author: Krishnasamy, Kanitha Title: Malaysia's Invisible Ivory Channel: An assessment of ivory seizures involving Malaysia from January 2003 - May 2014 Summary: Malaysia does not have an open domestic ivory market, unlike at least seven other Southeast Asian countries. However, its position in the global illicit ivory trade has become more prominent since 2009 when its role as a principal transit gateway for ivory en route to consumer markets in other Southeast and East Asian countries emerged. This occurrence has made Malaysia the world's paramount illicit ivory transit country, according to data in the Elephant Trade Information System (ETIS), which tracks ivory seizures globally since 1989. The ETIS report to the 62nd CITES Standing Committee meeting in July 2012 identified Malaysia as one of eight countries most heavily implicated in the illegal ivory trade chain. Malaysia was the only country that served as purely a transit country among this group of African source and Asian end-use nations. To better understand this trade dynamic, TRAFFIC assessed information from ivory seizures from a period of over 11 years (nearly 11 and a half years), from January 2003 to May 2014 - all seizures were either made by Malaysian authorities, or made outside the country, but with Malaysia identified as part of the trade chain. Findings highlight that a total of 66 ivory seizures have been connected to Malaysia, cumulatively recording 63 419 kg of ivory over this period. Although only 26 of all seizures were large-scale seizures (>500 kg), these alone logged in a total weight of 60 404 kg, accounting for 95% of the total volume seized. This report discusses some insights from the seizures over this period, as well as highlighting needs and opportunities in order for Malaysia to remove itself from its current position as a country of international concern for illicit trade in ivory under CITES. For its part, Malaysia has made a total of 19 seizures from January 2003-February 2013 totalling close to 15 tonnes of ivory. Five of these, representing 94% of total volume seized in the country, were large-scale seizures, one of which represents the third largest seizure in ETIS. The large-scale seizures in Malaysia occurred in all three of the nation's leading seaports: Ports of Klang, Pasir Gudang and Penang. However, based on seizures made outside Malaysia during the assessed period, Malaysia has been implicated in at least 47 other seizures, involving more than 48 tonnes of ivory that had already passed through a Malaysian port undetected or was destined for the country. A vast majority of these were raw ivory, with only a small proportion being worked ivory that had already passed through a Malaysian port undetected or was destined for the country. This occurrence is the primary reason Malaysia has been identified as a key transit country in the global ivory trade. These seizures involve the import, export and re-export of ivory (and other prohibited wildlife parts) from at least 23 known countries and territories around the world, at various points of the trade route. Almost 75% (n=35) of these 47 seizures were made by other countries after the shipment passed a Malaysian port unstopped, amounting to 33 889 kg of ivory. Seventeen of the 47 seizures originated from Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda - the three major exit points for the world's illegal elephant ivory trade. These three countries alone exported 66% (31 868 kg) of the total volume of ivory seized during this period involving Malaysia, with Kenya and Tanzania each moving more than 13 tonnes of ivory. Tanzania's role in moving large quantities of ivory through Malaysia has been documented since at least 2003, while the other two became more prominent since 2010. From all the seizures involving Malaysia as a transit or destination country, 16 437 kg of ivory from 13 seizures occurred in 2013 alone-the highest annual record over the 12-year period. Seven of these 13 seizures took place in the month of October, amounting to more than 8000 kg of ivory. At least 23 rhino horns were also trafficked along with the ivory between August 2010 and December 2013, with 15 horns seized in a single shipment from Uganda. In two of these shipments involving 20 rhino horns from Kenya and Uganda, Malaysia was listed as the country of destination. Outside this study period, between April 2015 and August 2015, four other seizures by Australia, Kenya, Thailand and Viet Nam have been reported. These involved more than 5 tonnes of ivory that had either passed through Malaysia or listed Malaysia as the country of destination. Such occurrences serve to reinforce that Malaysian ports continue to be used to move large quantities of ivory, and more concerning, appears to becoming more frequent at a time when the poaching of African Elephants is at its most critical level. Not a single arrest or prosecution occurred with respect to any Malaysian ivory seizure during the assessed period. However two prosecutions occurred in 2015, outside the assessed period. Malaysia's geographical proximity to the world's major ivory consumers-China and Thailand - and its efficient and well-developed port infrastructure, which ranks amongst the world's most elite ports, are important factors behind the country being used to smuggle ivory repeatedly. Although the sheer quantity, volume and speed of cargo moving through Malaysia's major seaports involving tens of millions of containers each year makes the detection of illicit ivory shipments extremely challenging, it is not an insurmountable task. Collaborative action, including risk profiling and targeting, as well as timely communication between source and consumer countries have already resulted in a number of successful seizures globally, and indeed forms part of Malaysia's National Ivory Action Plan that was submitted to CITES pursuant to the recommendations of the CITES Standing Committee. Such measures must continue, conducted in tandem with other essential actions, without which Malaysia will continue to be a prominent player in the illegal ivory trade. Details: Selangor, Malaysia: TRAFFIC, Southeast Asia Regional Office, 2016. 34p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed September 20, 2016 at: http://static1.1.sqspcdn.com/static/f/157301/27231847/1473276463457/Malaysia-ivory-analysis.pdf?token=qaFgzHXTokA8FTKZWmPcJE3QWpI%3D Year: 2016 Country: Malaysia URL: http://static1.1.sqspcdn.com/static/f/157301/27231847/1473276463457/Malaysia-ivory-analysis.pdf?token=qaFgzHXTokA8FTKZWmPcJE3QWpI%3D Shelf Number: 145620 Keywords: ElephantsIllegal IvoryIllegal TradeIllicit IvoryIvoryWildlife Crime |
Author: Vigne, Lucy Title: Vietnam's Illegal Ivory Trade Threatens Africa's Elephants Summary: - The Vietnamese illegal ivory trade is now one of the largest in the world. - Of all the ivory industries in Asia, Vietnamese carvers have multiplied in number and increased their production of illegal ivory items the most rapidly since 2008. - Tusks are smuggled into Vietnam, nearly all from Africa, with only a few nowadays from domesticated and wild elephants in Laos and Vietnam. - In early 2015 the largest proportion of tusks was seized officially in Haiphong; this changed to Danang in the latter half of 2015. - Wholesale prices for raw tusks in Vietnam were about the same in 2015 as in mainland China, around USD 1,100/kg for a 1-3-kg tusk. - Historically ivory carving was an insignificant art form in Vietnam. - While Vietnamese ivory carvers have increased greatly in number, we did not hear of any foreigners working ivory in Vietnam. - Ivory artisans earn on average USD 260 a month, considerably less than in mainland China. - We talked to ivory carvers in Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC), in Buon Ma Thuot and in three northern villages who were optimistic about their business. - Legislation prohibiting the ivory trade in Vietnam remains unclear. A loophole in the law allows worked ivory crafted before 1992 to be legally sold in Vietnam, although with the current weak law enforcement, nobody mentioned this to us, nor did hardly any vendor mention to us that exports were illegal. - We saw no posters or other public notices in Vietnam publicizing that the trade in ivory is illegal. - In HCMC, Hanoi, one town and village in the Central Highlands, and two villages in the north we counted 242 open outlets with 16,099 ivory items on display, for retail sale. - Of these items, 9,893 (or 61%) were in one northern village that had not been counted before in a survey. - Nearly all the ivory items for sale in Vietnam are new or recently carved and illegal. - Vietnam has one of the largest number of newly worked illegal ivory items openly offered for retail sale in the world. - Most objects are pendants and other small items, usually jewellery. - There were few ivory antiques, the majority being in HCMC, popular with Chinese customers. - Hardly any expensive ivory items for retail sale were seen. The most expensive new item was a 17-cm human figure for USD 2,500 in HCMC. The most expensive old items were a carved tusk and a large urn for USD 20,000 each in an antique shop in HCMC. - The cheapest ivory item was USD 2 for a thin ring in one northern Vietnam village. - Retail ivory prices for common comparable items were three times more in Beijing and Shanghai than in HCMC and Hanoi and seven times more than in a village selling the most worked ivory seen in Vietnam. This is due to cheaper labour in Vietnam, fewer overheads, and nearly all illegal items for sale that require no expensive paperwork. - There appears to be little law enforcement within Vietnam against the illegal ivory workshops and retail shops, especially in the smaller locations that few Western foreigners visit. - Nearly all the customers we saw shopping for ivory were from mainland China; they particularly like to visit Vietnam's northern villages to buy ivory items, both wholesale and retail, as the prices are considerably lower than elsewhere in the country. - The chances of Chinese being arrested for carrying illegal ivory items crossing the border from Vietnam into China are extremely small due to ineffective law enforcement. - A growing online illegal ivory trade is expanding among Vietnamese and mainland Chinese. - Other elephant products are sold wholesale and retail in Vietnam, especially in the western region nearer to Cambodia and Laos. Products include bones, feet, hairs, meat, molars, skin and tails. - We saw no raw mammoth ivory and only one item for sale: a pendant. - In 2008 a detailed survey of Vietnam counted 2,444 ivory items on view for sale. In 2015 our survey found this number had risen by 6.6 times. A main reason was the expansion of ivory carving and sales in one particular village in the north to meet demand from mainland Chinese, and an increase in ivory items for sale in the Central Highlands area of Buon Ma Thuot to meet demand for the growing number of Asian tourists going there. - While the illegal rhino horn trade in Vietnam has been heavily criticized, its recently booming ivory trade has been largely overlooked due to a lack of information about it. - Corruption and mismanagement in Vietnam have abetted this expanding and flourishing illegal ivory trade, allowing retail displays to remain wide open and enabling smuggling of the many Vietnamese-carved illegal new ivory items into mainland China. Details: Nairobi, Kenya: Save the Elephants, 2016. 88p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed September 22, 2016 at: http://savetheelephants.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/2016_VietnamReportFINAL_0.pdf Year: 2016 Country: Vietnam URL: http://savetheelephants.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/2016_VietnamReportFINAL_0.pdf Shelf Number: 145603 Keywords: ElephantsIllegal IvoryIllegal TradeIvoryRhinosWildlife Crime |
Author: LaFontaine, Peter Title: Elephant vs. Mouse: An investigation of the ivory trade on Craigslist Summary: As perhaps the major online platform for classified advertisements, Craigslist.org has made a name for itself as a site where buyers can find just about anything - whether that's a used bicycle, rare book, or, as this report will show, an expensive ivory carving or elephant hide boots. We wanted to better understand the scope and scale of the ivory trade on Craigslist; if the site was currently a venue for trade in ivory and elephant parts, it could also be a potential partner in the fight to reverse the tide of poaching. Details: Yarmouth Port, MA: International Fund for Animal Welfare, 2015 Source: Internet Resource: Accessed September 22, 2016 at: http://www.ifaw.org/sites/default/files/IFAW-craigslist-ivory-report-2015.pdf Year: 2015 Country: International URL: http://www.ifaw.org/sites/default/files/IFAW-craigslist-ivory-report-2015.pdf Shelf Number: 144862 Keywords: ElephantsIllegal TradeIvoryWildlife Crime |
Author: Smith, Lucy Olivia Title: The Costs of Illegal Wildlife Trade: Elephant and Rhino. A study in the framework of the EFFACE research project Summary: African elephants and rhino are facing an uncertain future, placed at risk in the short term by increasing demands for ivory and rhino horn and in the long term by habitat loss, degradation and fragmentation from expanding human settlements. It is the short term threat of poaching, however, that puts elephant and rhino at immediate risk of extinction in the wild. Since 2007, illegal poaching has risen precipitously year after year to meet the insatiable market demand of mainly Asian consumers. The high value of ivory, and particularly rhino horn, have established these items as lucrative black market commodities, which has led to the trade becoming highly organised and professionalised. Historically, both elephants and rhino became nearly extinct because of unsustainable hunting. The mass slaughter and near elimination of both species during the twentieth century led to concerted rehabilitation missions. In the 1960's an international coordinated effort called "operation rhino" involved the re-population of white rhino to southern Africa using just a few individuals. For elephants, unregulated poaching and hunting led to the introduction of important protection measures in the late 1980s with a 1989 Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) ban on commercial trade of ivory and the inclusion of elephants on the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List as "vulnerable." Elephant poaching levels are also the highest in over 25 years. Both elephants and rhino are currently listed in Appendix I of CITES meaning that commercial trade in wild-caught specimens is illegal. As a result of these efforts, elephant and rhino populations experienced a decade of low levels of poaching (from 1995 to 2007) that saw their populations begin to rehabilitate. This brief period, however, came to an end in 2007 when poaching levels escalated dramatically and continued to increase on an annual basis. For rhino in particular, the poaching rate over time exhibits the magnitude of growing demand with an average of only fourteen poached rhino individuals per year between 1990 and 2007 increasing to over a thousand in 2014. Poaching for ivory and particularly rhino horn is driven by the high value these products have on the black market. According to the wildlife trade monitoring network TRAFFIC, the street price of Rhino horn is $100,000/kg compared to the price in 1990 which at the time was estimated at $250-500/kg, with a single horn weighing between 1-3kg, depending on the age and species. Thus, the poached value of a rhino individual ranges between $100,000 - $300,000. The price of ivory has tripled in the last three years in China. Uncarved ivory is worth $2,100 per kilo and an elephant on average has 10 kilos per tusk, thus the black market revenue of one poached elephant is approximately $21,000. Demand from consumers is not abating and parallels the purchasing power of Asia's rising middle class which finds rhino and ivory to be symbolic of prestige and wealth. However, what is fundamentally new is the surge in demand of rhino horn from Vietnam stemming from a rumour around 2008 when a Vietnamese politician claimed to be treated for cancer with rhino horn. Contrary to popular belief, rhino horn is not a common ingredient of traditional Chinese medicine and its use now is distinctly a new trend tied to increased wealth and its perceived medicinal qualities. The number of multimillionaires in Vietnam has grown 150% in the last five years. At the same time, cancer rates in Vietnam are increasing 20-30 % annually with an estimated 150,000 new cases each year making for a long waiting list for radiation therapy and lack of capacity to deal with cancer in conventional facilities. Scientifically rhino horn is composed of carotene and is the same chemical composition as a human finger nail, thus making the trade not only unsustainable but scientifically misguided. On the other hand, ivory has been traded throughout history, but demand from Asian countries particularly Vietnam (for rhino horn) over the last decade has led to a resurgence in poaching pushing many African elephant populations towards extinction. Details: Berlin: Ecologic Institute, 2015. 35p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed October 13, 2016 at: http://efface.eu/sites/default/files/EFFACE%20D3.2c%20-%20Quantitative%20and%20monetary%20analysis%20of%20Elephant%20and%20Rhino%20hunting.pdf Year: 2015 Country: International URL: http://efface.eu/sites/default/files/EFFACE%20D3.2c%20-%20Quantitative%20and%20monetary%20analysis%20of%20Elephant%20and%20Rhino%20hunting.pdf Shelf Number: 145536 Keywords: Animal PoachingElephantsIllegal Wildlife TradeIvoryRhinosWildlife Crime |
Author: International Fund for Animal Welfare Title: An Investigation of Hawaii's Online Ivory Trade Summary: Over the last decade, surging consumer demand for ivory has triggered a nearly unprecedented poaching wave, one that threatens to drive African elephants toward extinction unless the killing - and demand for tusks and carvings - is halted soon. Many countries including the United States have moved this issue to the top of their conservation policy agendas, most importantly by restricting their domestic ivory markets. The U.S. federal government is expected to finalize a strong ivory trade ban soon that will address imports, exports, and interstate trade, and several states have passed laws to complement the federal rule by restricting intrastate ivory commerce. Hawai'i, which has perhaps the country's biggest remaining market for ivory products, is poised to follow suit. These local efforts are crucial to stopping sales of illegally-imported items - Law enforcement officials estimate that some 90% of smuggled shipments leak past border inspections and find their way into the marketplace, where they are largely indistinguishable from older, legal ivory. For this report, investigators compiled advertising and sales data from 47 Hawai'i-based retailers and individual sellers engaged in the online trade of elephant ivory and related wildlife products, including walrus tusks, whale teeth and bone, mammoth ivory, and hippopotamus teeth. They found a total of 4,661 products in stock or for sale, with an overall value of more than $1.22 million, over a six-day period. The vast majority of this inventory (85.5%) was elephant ivory. Few of these retailers provided any evidence that their wares had been legally imported into the state. Some 28% of the sellers (14 of 47) referred to their advertised items as being "pre-ban," "antique," or "vintage," but only one of the 47 provided supplemental documentation of legal import. Taken together, this large overall inventory and scant proof of legality are cause for concern. Add to this the fact that Hawaii is a known destination for illegal ivory shipments, and the case grows for strong restrictions on intrastate ivory sales. Details: IFAW, 2016. 20p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed October 19, 2016 at: http://www.ifaw.org/sites/default/files/IFAW-2016-Hawaii-Market-Report.pdf Year: 2016 Country: United States URL: http://www.ifaw.org/sites/default/files/IFAW-2016-Hawaii-Market-Report.pdf Shelf Number: 145898 Keywords: Animal PoachingElephantsIllegal TradeIvorySmugglingWildlife Crime |
Author: White, Natasha Title: The White Gold of Jihad: violence, legitimisation and contestation in anti-poaching strategies Summary: Since 2011, elephant poaching and the illegal ivory trade have been labelled a "serious threat to peace and security". Rigorous military training and weapons have been provided to rangers, national armies have been deployed in protected areas, and shoot-to-kill policies have been (re-)adopted. Within the framework of political ecology, the article critically approaches this "war" for Africa's elephants. Adopting the tools of discourse analysis, it explores how such violence has been legitimized by the "transnational conservation community" and, in turn, how this has been contested by other actors. It argues that the "war" has been legitimized by drawing on two broader threat discourses – the ivory-crime-terror linkage and the 'ChinaAfrica' threat. Through the discursive creation of a boundary object, poaching has 'become' a human concern that appeals to actors typically outside the conservation community. In the final Section, the case of the Lord's Resistance Army's poaching activities in Garamba National Park is explored, to show how the knowledge upon which judgements are made and decisions are taken is ahistorical, depoliticized and based on a series of untenable assumptions Details: Unpublished paper, 2013. 21p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed march 6, 2017 at: http://jpe.library.arizona.edu/volume_21/White.pdf Year: 2013 Country: Congo, Democratic Republic URL: http://jpe.library.arizona.edu/volume_21/White.pdf Shelf Number: 145586 Keywords: Animal PoachingConservationElephantsIvoryWildlife Crime |
Author: Pant, Hitesh Title: Zero poaching and social sustainability in protected areas : a study of Chitwan National Park, Nepal Summary: Protected areas (PAs) embody a historical legacy of value contestation and human exclusion. While the rise of community-based conservation in the 1980s sought to reconfigure this mechanism by running a counter narrative arguing that biodiversity conservation and development were mutually reinforcing objectives, exclusionary PAs continue to maintain a strong position in the conservation discourse. The militarization of PAs as a response to the rise in global poaching has allowed state and non-state conservation agencies to wield extensive power as a moral imperative to preserve iconic species. This undertaking is notable in the recent "zero-poaching" campaign, which aims to shut all incidences of illicit mega-fauna poaching within national parks. Supported by prominent conservation groups, the campaign has been able garner momentum after Nepal, one of its member countries, declared four non-consecutive years of zero poaching in its PAs. While conservation groups in Nepal repeatedly stress that they work in tandem with local groups in park buffer zones to deter wildlife crime and support community development, the mechanisms of these social transformations are less evident in the campaigns' media reports, and their modes of operation less scrutinized. Drawing on concepts developed from Antonio Gramsci's studies on cultural hegemony, I review the historical development of anti-poaching from its roots in England in the 18th century to its internationalization in the mid twentieth century. The modern turn towards heightened militarization as a win-win solution for conservation and development is specifically studied within the context of Nepal's Chitwan National Park (CNP), which has been globally recognized as a model for species protection after achieving successive years of zero poaching. I apply a document analysis to test the extent to which CNP adheres to zero poaching’s objective of local participation and inclusive development. Both state and non-state organizations have utilized the mass media to promote the idea of community-led conservation, but the park’s five year management plan reveals that it fails to fully incorporate guidelines from the zero poaching toolkit. Zero poaching marks a turn within international conservation to mainstream an anti-poaching strategy that follows on sustainability’s criteria of transdisciplinary research, mainly by promoting a management technique that aims to account for different value systems, views and interests of stakeholders across the supply chain of wildlife crime. However, to turn into a counter-hegemonic force in conservation, it needs to become a reactionary agent against the old framing of human-wildlife conflict and poaching that still inhibits holistic social sustainability in its target regions Details: Lund University Centre for Sustainability Studies, 2016. 43p. Source: Internet Resource: Thesis: Accessed March 6, 2017 at: http://lup.lub.lu.se/luur/download?func=downloadFile&recordOId=8893925&fileOId=8893927 Year: 2016 Country: Nepal URL: http://lup.lub.lu.se/luur/download?func=downloadFile&recordOId=8893925&fileOId=8893927 Shelf Number: 141355 Keywords: Animal PoachingConservationElephantsIvoryPublicity CampaignsWildlife Crime |
Author: Stiles, Daniel Title: Ivory Trade, Terrorism and U.S. National Security: How Connected Are They? Summary: EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 1. This report examines the contention advanced by the United States government that poached ivory is being used to finance insurgency and terrorist groups in Africa. 2. The report also analyzes whether any organized groups that engage in elephant poaching and ivory trafficking in Africa pose a national security threat to the United States, which also has been posited by the government. 3. The U.S. government has used these contentions as a justification for imposing severe new restrictions on the import, export and sale of elephant ivory in the U.S. as declared in USFWS Director's Order No. 210. 4. The three groups that have specifically been named in U.S. documents as financing their activities with poached ivory, and which pose a national security threat, are AlShabaab, the Lord's Resistance Army and the Janjaweed. Each of these groups is examined in this report. 5. This report concludes that the only group under review that poses a national security threat to the U.S. is Al-Shabaab. The evidence that they engage in elephant poaching and finance their terrorist activities with ivory has been found lacking in credibility. 6. The Lord's Resistance Army has poached ivory and exchanged tusks for food and other goods, including possibly arms, at a low level. The LRA do not, however, pose a security threat to the U.S. 7. The Janjaweed have engaged in extensive elephant poaching and ivory trafficking, but they pose no current security threat to the U.S. The Janjaweed do not advocate an extremist Islamic philosophy such as that articulated by Al-Qaeda. Their hostile, scorched earth style military activities have been confined to non-Arab African populations of the Sudan and Central African Republic. 8. The severe new restrictions on trade in legal ivory already in the U.S., therefore, are based on a false premise. Restricting trade in legal ivory in the U.S. will have absolutely no effect on the financing of groups that pose a security threat to the U.S. 9. There is illegal ivory in the U.S. that has been smuggled in. The smuggling would no doubt continue even with further trade restrictions, as it is already illegal so new law will change nothing. The U.S. authorities have been ineffective in administering law already in existence, which is sufficient to control the illegal importation of new ivory from poached elephants if enforced properly. 10. The current elephant poaching crisis is caused by East Asian ivory dealers and carving factories buying poached ivory. Effective policy to reduce elephant poaching should therefore be directed at them, not at law-abiding American citizens. Details: Unpublished report, 2014. 25p. Source: Internet Resource: Confidential Draft: Accessed March 6, 2017 at: http://danstiles.org/publications/ivory/42.Ivory&National%20Security.pdf Year: 2014 Country: Africa URL: http://danstiles.org/publications/ivory/42.Ivory&National%20Security.pdf Shelf Number: 146424 Keywords: Animal PoachingElephantsIllegal TradeIvoryNational SecurityTerrorist FinancingTrafficking in WildlifeWildlife Crime |
Author: Goga, Khalil Title: Rhino poaching and Rhino Horn Traffic in South Africa Summary: While rhino poaching has often been portrayed as a conflict between 'dark' and 'bright' agents, the reality of the trade is far more complex and compromises a host of actors in a variety of fields in legitimate and illegitimate spheres. As it is explained in this document, it is critical to understand the participation of agents operating within lawful public and private positions, who participate in various activities from the poaching to the final consumption and use of the rhino horn. Details: Bogota: VORTEX Foundation, 2017. 19p. Source: Internet Resource: The Global Observatory of Transnational Criminal Networks - Research Paper No. 9. VORTEX Working Papers No. 23: Accessed July 5, 2017 at: http://docs.wixstatic.com/ugd/522e46_838df24339064fcf9a0a510bb1ebed18.pdf Year: 2017 Country: South Africa URL: Shelf Number: 146506 Keywords: Animal PoachingCriminal NetworksIvoryOrganized CrimeRhinocerosWildlife Crime |
Author: Goga, Khalil Title: Background on South Africa, Rhino Poaching and Rhino Horn Trafficking Summary: The purpose of this descriptive document is to present relevant background information about South Africa and the criminal markets of rhino poaching and rhino horn traffic. The document consists of seven parts related to South Africa: (i) An introduction to relevant economic and political characteristics, (ii) relevant crime rates, (iii) an introduction to relevant characteristics of organized crime, (iv) a background and description of the rhino horn market, (v) an introduction to the police and enforcement agencies that investigate and prosecute rhino poaching and rhino horn traffic, (vi) statistics of arrests related to rhino poaching and (vii) a conclusion. Details: Bogota: VORTEX Foundation, 2017. 19p. Source: Internet Resource: The Global Observatory of Transnational Criminal Networks - Research Paper No. 8. VORTEX Working Papers No. 22: Accessed July 5, 2017 at: http://docs.wixstatic.com/ugd/522e46_b3f5958be5a64ce19c1fd2f42fb6424d.pdf Year: 2017 Country: South Africa URL: http://docs.wixstatic.com/ugd/522e46_b3f5958be5a64ce19c1fd2f42fb6424d.pdf Shelf Number: 146507 Keywords: Animal Poaching IvoryOrganized Crime Rhinoceros Trafficking in Wildlife Wildlife Trafficking |
Author: Haas, Timothy C. Title: Combating Rhino Horn Trafficking: The Need to Disrupt Criminal Networks Summary: The onslaught on the World's wildlife continues despite numerous initiatives aimed at curbing it. We build a model that integrates rhino horn trade with rhino population dynamics in order to evaluate the impact of various management policies on rhino sustainability. In our model, an agent-based sub-model of horn trade from the poaching event up through a purchase of rhino horn in Asia impacts rhino abundance. A data-validated, individual-based sub-model of the rhino population of South Africa provides these abundance values. We evaluate policies that consist of different combinations of legal trade initiatives, demand reduction marketing campaigns, increased anti-poaching measures within protected areas, and transnational policing initiatives aimed at disrupting those criminal syndicates engaged in horn trafficking. Simulation runs of our model over the next 35 years produces a sustainable rhino population under only one management policy. This policy includes both a transnational policing effort aimed at dismantling those criminal networks engaged in rhino horn trafficking-coupled with increases in legal economic opportunities for people living next to protected areas where rhinos live. This multi-faceted approach should be the focus of the international debate on strategies to combat the current slaughter of rhino rather than the binary debate about whether rhino horn trade should be legalized. This approach to the evaluation of wildlife management policies may be useful to apply to other species threatened by wildlife trafficking. Details: s. PLoS ONE 11(11): e0167040. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0167040 Source: Internet Resource: Accessed September 1, 2017 at: http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0167040 Year: 2016 Country: Asia URL: http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0167040 Shelf Number: 146989 Keywords: Animal PoachingIvoryRhino HornRhinocerosTrafficking in WildlifeWildlife Crime |
Author: Nkoke, Christopher Sone Title: Ivory Markets in Central Africa: Market Surveys in Cameroon, Central African Republic, Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo and Gabon: 2007, 2009, 2014/2015 Summary: Weak governance, corruption and shifting trade dynamics are significant factors seriously undermining the control of ivory trafficking throughout five countries in Central Africa, according to a new TRAFFIC study launched today. Ivory Markets in Central Africa for investigations and analysis spanning a decade In the first comprehensive assessment of ivory trade in the region in nearly two decades, investigators from TRAFFIC visited major cities across Cameroon, Central African Republic (CAR), Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Gabon in 2007, 2009 and 2014/2015. The investigators posed as buyers at known and newly identified ivory markets and workshops throughout the Congo Basin, interviewing everyone that they encountered connected to the ivory industry. In addition, discussions were held overtly with major stakeholders, including government officials in the five countries. The illegal and unregulated domestic ivory markets in (each of) the five Central African countries have been one of the main sources fuelling ivory trade in the region, as well as in West and Southern Africa and beyond (especially to Asia) in recent years. The report's findings show that open ivory markets in the region are disappearing, largely due to increased enforcement and competition with underground criminal networks. In its place, high-level corruption and poor governance are helping enable sophisticated international trade. Corruption, Collusion and Weak Political Pressure Current legislation prohibits domestic ivory trade in all countries except Cameroon. However, according to the report "there is a loose and ambiguous interpretation of the law in all countries, not only by the authorities in charge of enforcement, but also by many other actors...enforcement efforts are hampered by corruption, often involving high-level governmental officials, insufficient human and financial resources, mismanagement and weak political will." In DRC, one ivory trader interviewed claimed to have a relative in the army who supplied him with raw ivory. He also alleged that the main suppliers are government officials and, to some extent, UN peace keepers, who have the ability to move around the country frequently. Also in DRC, researchers recorded well-informed claims that the FARDC, the country's official army, was one of the main groups responsible for elephant poaching in Virunga National Park, with the ivory exported by the non-State "Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda" (FDLR) to whom the army would sell arms and military equipment. Open Ivory Markets Shifting Underground Throughout the multi-year investigation, market research showed that the region's open illegal ivory markets are disappearing or going underground, often in the face of increasing pressure from authorities conducting frequent law enforcement operations. TRAFFIC investigators recorded less than 1 kg of ivory products openly displayed in 2014/2015 within CAR, Congo, Gabon and Cameroon, compared to around 400 kg in 2007, and more than 900 kg in 1999 between all four countries. The one exception was the ivory market in Kinshasa, DRC, where over 400 kg of ivory products were recorded in 2015. DRC, however, has recently committed to stronger enforcement against the illegal ivory market in Kinshasa, a milestone which TRAFFIC and WWF supported last month. Carved ivory items were said to be bought by a mixture of African and non-African buyers: the former mainly acting as middlemen for foreign buyers. In 2014/2015 80% of foreign buyers were ethnic Asians, especially Chinese but also Malaysians and Vietnamese. In earlier studies, in 2007 and 2009, other nationalities were more regularly mentioned as buyers including French, Japanese, Koreans, Lebanese, Portuguese, Russians, Spaniards, and US Americans, according to the report. Rising International Criminal Networks "The generally positive news contained in this report about the decline of Central African ivory markets needs to be weighed against the fact that, throughout this sub-region, there are still many issues to be addressed and underlying trade dynamics may be shifting beyond local markets," according to Sone Nkoke of TRAFFIC and lead author of the report. common theme heard throughout the sub-region were allegations concerning Chinese citizens operating within organized criminal networks as key actors in the ivory trade. The sharp increase in raw ivory prices locally in recent years was ascribed to "high demand and limited supply owing to the shift to exportation through transnational ivory networks and syndicates with greater financial resources." The study found that "ivory trade in the region is shifting from an open domestic retail trade of worked ivory to underground transactions with a focus on the export of raw ivory to foreign markets, especially China." Among other key issues identified was the lack of robust and transparent mechanisms in place to ensure effective management of stockpiles in all the target countries. In Kinshasa, DRC, the investigators found raw tusks and worked ivory pieces in unsecured government offices - signalling a high potential for leakage into the local market. In Bangui, Central African Republic, the investigators were unable to perform a stockpile survey in 2015 as the storage facility had been looted by rebels. "Real concerted efforts are needed to address the serious decline in elephant populations throughout Central Africa: this is no longer just a wildlife issue, but an ecological disaster strongly driven by highly-organized crime syndicates. Criminals involved in international ivory trade are regularly exploiting weak State governance, and official collusion, confusion and corruption," said Sone Nkoke. "Clearly Central African countries face significant governance and enforcement challenges in regulating elephant poaching and ivory trafficking. They urgently need to ramp up their efforts to implement a range of commitments that they have made at multiple international fora over the last ten years," said Paulinus Ngeh, Director of the TRAFFIC Central Africa Regional Office. "Such efforts will need to be continuously and transparently monitored for quality and action." Central African States have pledged commitments to stop elephant poaching and illegal ivory trade under CITES, the African Union Common Wildlife Strategy, and other regional strategies, as well as under the United Nations fora on combatting corruption. Follow-through on these commitments is crucial to sustain wildlife in the region. Details: Yaounde, Cameroon and Cambridge, UK: TRAFFIC, 2017. 116p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed September 9, 2017 at: http://www.traffic.org/home/2017/9/7/new-traffic-study-lifts-lid-on-central-africa-ivory-markets.html Year: 2017 Country: Africa URL: http://www.traffic.org/home/2017/9/7/new-traffic-study-lifts-lid-on-central-africa-ivory-markets.html Shelf Number: 147176 Keywords: Animal PoachingElephantsIllegal MarketsIllegal TradeIllegal Wildlife TradeIvoryOrganized CrimePolitical CorruptionTrafficking in WildlifeWildlife Crime |
Author: Rademeyer, Julian Title: Diplomats and Deceit: North Korea's Criminal Activities in Africa Summary: Much has been written about state-sponsored North Korean criminal activity in Asia and Europe. But relatively little attention has been devoted to North Korea's illicit activities in Africa, which run the gamut from trafficking of rhino horn and ivory to gold and tobacco. This report - which draws on hundreds of pages of documents, academic research, press reports and interviews with government officials, diplomats and defectors in Southern Africa and South Korea - presents an overview of evidence implicating North Korea in criminal activity ranging from smuggling and drug trafficking to the manufacturing of counterfeit money and black market cigarettes. It examines North Korea's current involvement in Africa, the complex history of African-North Korean relations and allegations that the country's embassies in several African states are intimately connected to a complex web of illicit activity aimed at bolstering the Kim Jong-un regime and enriching cash-strapped diplomats. An analysis of press reports and other publicly available information conducted by the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organised Crime shows that North Korean diplomatic passport holders have been implicated in at least 18 cases of rhino horn and ivory smuggling in Africa since 1986. Despite North Korea's waning influence on the continent, incriminating evidence linking its diplomats to ivory and rhino horn smuggling continues to emerge. The report includes interviews with a number of high-level North Korean defectors about their knowledge of, and stated involvement in, a range of criminal activities. They claim that smuggling by North Korean diplomats is widespread, with couriers traveling regularly to Pyongyang and Beijing in China with diplomatic bags stuffed with contraband. "[D]iplomats...would come from Africa carrying rhino horn, ivory and gold nuggets," explained one defector who ran a North Korean front company in Beijing. "Every embassy [in Africa] was coming two or three times every year." The persistent abuse of diplomatic immunity by North Korean diplomats and agents poses a particularly vexing problem for law enforcement. Increasing economic sanctions and isolationist policies designed to cripple North Korea's nuclear weapons capabilities are. Details: Geneva, SWIT: Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime, 2017. 39p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed September 25, 2017 at: https://conservationaction.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/TGIATOC_Diplomats_and_Deceit_DPRK_Report_1868_web_.pdf Year: 2017 Country: Korea, North URL: https://conservationaction.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/TGIATOC_Diplomats_and_Deceit_DPRK_Report_1868_web_.pdf Shelf Number: 147433 Keywords: Animal Poaching Illicit Trade Ivory IvoryOrganized Crime Smuggling Wildlife Crime |
Author: Aucoin, Ciara Title: Guns, poison and horns: Organised wildlife crime in Southern Africa Summary: The incident monitoring component of the new ENACT project is an effort to systematically record instances of transnational organised crime in Africa to strengthen the evidence base of the scale and impact of the phenomenon. The pilot phase of the study focused on the topic of wildlife crime, and covered 10 countries in Southern Africa between 2000 and 2016. Information was collected on 27 different variables including crime type, location, date, species involved and state responses. Key points - The ENACT incident monitoring pilot used media monitoring to track reported incidents of organised wildlife crime in the southern region of Africa between 2000 and 2016. - Since 2010, the number of wildlife crimes in the region has nearly tripled. - Incidents are dominated by poaching, trafficking and transnational trade in rhino horn, ivory, abalone, big cat parts and pelts (in descending order). - Based on review of the pilot, modifications were made to the methodology for the next phases. - Media monitoring and in-depth qualitative research must be used in tandem (with supplemental techniques where possible) to gather a more robust sense of the scale, scope, structure and operation of organised crime in Africa. Details: Pretoria: ENACT Project, 2017. 16p. Source: Internet Resource: Research Paper, Issue 01: Accessed September 26, 2017 at: https://enact-africa.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/enact-paper1.pdf Year: 147463 Country: Africa URL: https://enact-africa.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/enact-paper1.pdf Shelf Number: 147463 Keywords: Animal PoachingIvoryOrganized CrimeWildlife Crime |
Author: Vigne, Lucy Title: The Ivory Trade of Laos: Now the Fastest Growing In the World Summary: Executive summary - From 2013 to 2016, Laos's retail ivory market has expanded more rapidly than in any other country surveyed recently. - Laos has not been conforming with CITES regulations that prohibit the import and export of ivory. Since joining CITES in 2004, only one ivory seizure into Laos has been reported to the Elephant Trade Information System (ETIS). - Almost no arrests, let alone prosecutions and punishments, have been made of smugglers with ivory coming in or out of the country. - Most worked ivory for sale in Laos originates from elephants poached in Africa. - Ivory has also been entering Laos illegally from Thailand, as Thai traders have been offloading their ivory following the imposition of much stricter regulations there. - In late 2013 the average wholesale price of raw ivory sold by Lao traders peaked at about USD 2,000/kg. - By late 2016, the average wholesale price of raw ivory in Laos had declined to USD 714/kg, in line with prices elsewhere in the region. This price was much higher than in African countries, such as Sudan (Omdurman/Khartoum), where the average wholesale price of ivory was USD 279/kg in early 2017. This price differential is due to the extra expenses incurred in transport and bribes to government officials on the long journey to Asia. - In Laos, the decline in the wholesale price of raw ivory between 2013 and 2016, as elsewhere in the region, was mainly due to the slowdown in China's economy, that resulted in an oversupply of illegal ivory, relative to demand. - Ivory items seen for sale in Laos are carved or machine-processed in Vietnam by Vietnamese and smuggled into Laos for sale, or are processed by Chinese traders in Laos on new computerdriven machines. Ivory carving by Lao people is insignificant. - In Laos, the survey found 81 retail outlets with ivory on view for retail sale, 40 of which were in the capital, Vientiane, 21 in Luang Prabang, 8 in Kings Romans, 5 in Oudom Xay, 3 in Pakse, 2 in Dansavanh Nam Ngum Resort and 2 in Luang Nam Tha. - The survey counted 13,248 ivory items on display for sale, nearly all recently made to suit Chinese tastes. Vientiane had 7,014 items for sale, Luang Prabang 4,807, Kings Romans 1,014, Dansavanh Nam Ngum Resort 291, Oudom Xay 93, Luang Nam Tha 16, and Pakse 13. - Most outlets, displaying the majority of worked ivory, also sold souvenirs, Chinese herbal teas or jewellery, or were hotel gift shops. - Outlets were usually owned by traders from mainland China. The number of Chinese-owned shops had risen in Laos from none recorded in the early 2000s to several in 2013, including one main shop in Vientiane's Chinese market and two on the main tourist street of Luang Prabang. By 2016, there were 22 and 15 outlets, respectively, in these two areas, both of which are popular with Chinese visitors. By 2016, Chinese outlets with ivory had also sprung up in other locations, mainly those visited by the increasing number of Chinese. - In 2016, the most common ivory items for sale were pendants, followed by necklaces, bangles, beaded bracelets and other jewellery, similar to items for sale in 2013, but in far larger quantities. - The least expensive item was a thin ring for USD 3 and the most expensive was a pair of polished tusks for USD 25,000. - Retail prices for ivory items of similar type were higher than elsewhere in Kings Romans, which is visited primarily by wealthier Chinese visitors with money to spend. - Mainland Chinese buy over 80% of the ivory items in Laos today. There are sometimes buyers from South Korea and other Asian countries, according to vendors. - Laotians today generally buy amulets that are made of bone or synthetic material, rather than ivory items. - Virtually no mammoth ivory items were seen for sale. - Retail prices in Laos for worked ivory on display were considerably lower than in China, as most items in China at that time were in expensive licensed outlets incurring higher official paperwork costs. Lao prices for worked ivory were a little lower than in the cities of Vietnam as Lao shop owners have smaller overheads. - In the absence of effective law enforcement, vendors believe that sales of ivory items in their shops to Chinese consumers will continue to do well, in line with the anticipated increase in the number of Chinese in Laos and the projected expansion in Chinese investment. - Nearly all the items seen for sale today originate from illegally imported (post-1990) ivory. There is virtually no law enforcement so shops are able to display these items openly. Details: Nairobi, Kenya: Save the Elephants, 2017. 92p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed September 29, 2017 at: http://www.savetheelephants.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/2017-Vigne-Lao-Ivory-Report-web.pdf Year: 2017 Country: Laos URL: http://www.savetheelephants.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/2017-Vigne-Lao-Ivory-Report-web.pdf Shelf Number: 147501 Keywords: Animal PoachingElephantsIllegal TradeIvorySmugglingWildlife Crime |
Author: Eastern and Southern Africa Anti-Money Laundering Group - ESAAMLG Title: A Special Typologies Project Report on Poaching, Illegal Trade in Wildlife and Wildlife Products and Associated Money Laundering in the ESAAMLG Region Summary: 1. The majority of ESAAMLG member countries have vast resources in wildlife, which during the last few years have seen unprecedented targeting by both individuals and syndicates involved in poaching and other illegal wildlife activities. This typology project focused on poaching and illegal trade in wildlife and wildlife products and associated money laundering in the ESAAMLG Region. 2. Illicit wildlife trafficking is one of the most lucrative types of transnational organized crime today, with annual revenues estimated to be between USD 7.8 billion and USD 10 billion per year1 (excluding fisheries and timber). These illegal proceeds are suspected to be laundered into the financial systems worldwide. 3. Common to wildlife poaching is its localized and cross-border phenomenon which is often orchestrated by well organised, sophisticated and at times heavily armed poachers. The cross border nature of poaching puts the illegal activity beyond the capacities of most governments in the Region. Poaching invariably transcends into illegal wildlife trade which has been associated with well organised crime groups which through the unlawful trade and complex laundering means of the proceeds have amassed a lot of resources. The resources include immediate large amounts of disposable cash, modern technology and established corrupt transportation routes. 4. The Independent newspaper, a daily publication in Britain, reported on 6 February 2014 that the dangerous criminal networks that run the global wildlife trade have been allowed to persist and prosper as a result of "chronic government failures" to treat them seriously. The report further states that the industry (dealing in illegal wildlife business) is the world's fourth biggest illegal trade after narcotics, human trafficking and counterfeiting. Feedback from regional wildlife NGOs (using former Police officers as consultants), indicated that the criminal networks involved in smuggling drugs, humans, extra are almost always the same networks involved in smuggling wildlife products. This is because they already have an established "network" - and the wildlife product is just a different product. 5. The ESAAMLG region, given its vast resources in wildlife is uniquely placed to study and uncover the illegal trends in this industry, in an effort to assist governments of its member states and other stakeholders in setting up an informed policy framework on wildlife resources. 6. The findings in this report also confirms that despite arresting traffickers and seizing illegal wildlife products, law enforcement have failed to arrest or convict, let alone confiscate/forfeit illegally acquired assets by the criminal masterminds wreaking havoc in this area across Africa. A report by the Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA), which has been investigating illegal wildlife trade for more than three decades states; "Despite record seizures of illegal ivory, not a single criminal kingpin involved in the international illegal trade of ivory has been prosecuted and convicted to date. That is a damning indictment. With less than 3,500 wild tigers left, elephant numbers plummeting and rhinos under attack again, we need to get it right,". 7. Azzedine Downes, a researcher on wildlife poaching, in an article titled; "When it comes to poaching, hate the crime not the criminal", highlights factors contributing to wildlife poaching being: the amounts of money generated, low risk of arrest, lenient penalties, killing and thefts done quickly, inexpensive and little social stigma associated with the crime (compared to other crimes such as murder, robbery, kidnapping, etc). The ESAAMLG Region, through this study found indications which may support the above factors as contributing to the ever increasing incidences of wildlife poaching and associated wildlife illegal trade in the region. 8. The ramifications of poaching and other wildlife crimes and illegal trade are horrendous. ESAAMLG member countries' future generations stand the possible risk of not seeing the wonderful wildlife which the Region has been naturally enriched with. This study found that cultural beliefs which do not have their origin in the ESAAMLG Region and the huge financial benefits derived from wildlife illegal trade and their successful laundering could be some of the factors fuelling poaching of wildlife in the Region. In summary the study, among other things, presents indications, trends and typologies to help understand how these crimes are organised, identify the players, proceeds generated and their movement with specific attention being paid to the laundering trends of the illegal proceeds. Ultimately the study is intended to influence policy change by the ESAAMLG member countries in their approach to combatting illegal wildlife activities and mitigate the gaps in combating wildlife crimes and laundering of the generated illegal proceeds. 9. The project was approved by the ESAAMLG Council of Ministers at its meeting in Luanda, Angola, in September 2014. The project team consisted of Mozambique, Zambia, Kenya, Tanzania, Botswana, Zimbabwe, South Africa and Namibia. Namibia was the project chair. C. Executive summary 10. This typology report primarily looks at the poaching, trafficking and the proceeds thereof (illegal trade), in the ESAAMLG member countries and Africa as a secondary part of the scope. Given the significant demand for wildlife and wildlife products harvested in member countries, it is clear that there are significant financial flows associated with these crimes. Such financial flows constitute proceeds of crime, and thus fall within the ambit of money laundering, and to a certain extend these financial flows may in one way or the other be used to support terrorist financing activities in Central Africa. 11. The major finding is that wildlife crimes, particularly rhino and elephant poaching are escalating at alarming levels, with extinction being a reality. The study further found that a number of vulnerabilities in wildlife crime combatting frameworks across the various member countries are exploited by syndicates committing these crimes. The most common shortcoming highlighted by member countries as a hindrance to adequate and effective combative efforts is the general lack of resources for the various wildlife crime combative stakeholders aided by corrupt public officials. 12. The report aims to provide an overview on the: - Predicate offences of wildlife crimes; - Syndicates and persons committing these crimes and their methods of operation; - Notable trends and typologies in the flow of finances related to these crimes; - Notable preventative measures in place to mitigate these wildlife crimes and related financial flows; - Areas within combative and intelligence frameworks that may need improvement; Destination countries (regions) of poached wildlife products. 13. The study found that there is a growing demand for wildlife and wildlife products mostly in the Asian countries and U.S.A. In an effort to supply this demand, it came to the fore that organized transnational criminal syndicates have created networks that facilitate the execution of poaching and related wildlife crime activities and the trafficking of wildlife and wildlife products from mainly African countries to consumer destinations in Asia and U.S.A. These networks involve recruitment of locals who are in the ESAAMLG region into poaching activities for minimal financial rewards, the bribing of authorities at crucial points of entry and exits such as border posts and airports to help facilitate the smuggling of wildlife and wildlife products, ultimately compromising the border security. 14. It is however worth noting that despite the case studies indicating a lucrative business with significant financial gains in trading wildlife products such as ivory, almost all ESAAMLG member countries could not provide details on financial flows such as methods and techniques used to fund poaching activities in cases investigated. This is compounded by the fact that most ESAAMLG member countries' economies are predominantly cash based. Additionally, the study could not obtain data and information related to methods used to pay for the wildlife and wildlife products by end users and/or kingpins of the organized criminal syndicates, in the consumer countries. This lack of information in itself may explain why authorities in member countries did not paint successful wildlife crime combatting efforts as per information requested for this study. 15. The study equally found that the FIUs in member countries are hardly involved in investigative operations (tactically or strategically) concerning wildlife crimes. Apart from South Africa, LEAs in other member countries such as the police and the various environmental authorities do not have engagements through formal MoUs with the resident FIUs, let alone foreign FIUs, in an effort to coordinate and benefit from the strengths of one another. It goes without saying that despite the transnational nature of wildlife crimes, countries generally reported poor international cooperation as an area of concern in the combatting of wildlife crimes. 16. The study equally reviewed counter wildlife trafficking efforts in Asian countries, as destinations of wildlife and wildlife products. It is worth noting that information requested from most of the countries identified as the largest consumers of illegal wildlife products harvested from ESAAMLG member countries has to date not been provided by the relevant authorities in those countries. In two of the countries where wildlife and wildlife products from ESAAMLG member countries are consumed, it was surprising to find that these countries have only criminalised possession of wildlife and wildlife products, if same is originating from within their jurisdictions. This means, in these countries, being found in possession of wildlife and wildlife products from Africa is not a criminal offence. 17. Despite the various counter wildlife trafficking laws in most Asian countries advocating for investigative authorities to liaise with and involve the countries of origin of the wildlife and wildlife products seized or found in their jurisdictions, there were hardly any cases provided by such jurisdictions to show if this is indeed happening. In almost all cases provided for this study, by Asian countries, the wildlife crime investigations do not engage with relevant African authorities and the seized wildlife products such as rhino horns and elephant tusks are destroyed, if not reserved for local state museums. These factors may point a need to strengthen international cooperation, with the aim of enhancing combative efforts both locally and in consumer jurisdictions. Details: Dar es Salaam - United Republic of Tanzania: ESAAMLG Typologies Working Group, 2016. 131p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed November 8, 2017 at: https://www.esaamlg.org/userfiles/Typologies%20Report%20on%20the%20Wildlife%20Crimes%20and%20Related%20ML.pdf Year: 2016 Country: Africa URL: https://www.esaamlg.org/userfiles/Typologies%20Report%20on%20the%20Wildlife%20Crimes%20and%20Related%20ML.pdf Shelf Number: 148054 Keywords: Animal PoachingIllegal Wildlife TradeIvoryMoney LaunderingOrganized CrimeTerrorist FinancingTrafficking in WildlifeWildlife CrimeWildlife Trafficking |
Author: Flynn, Melanie Title: Sentencing Wildlife Trade Offences in England and Wales: Consistency, Appropriateness and the Role of Sentencing Guidelines. Summary: 'Sentencing wildlife trade offences in England and Wales: consistency, appropriateness and the role of sentencing guidelines' is a new report commissioned by WWF-UK. The report examines the state of sentencing for wildlife trade offences in England and Wales, and explores the possible benefits of creating sentencing guidelines for such offences. The research examined 174 cases of illegal wildlife trade between 1986 and 2013 that resulted in convictions in courts of England and Wales and found that: - Most cases (74%) resulted in non-custodial sentences with only 58% including a fine - Fines were low - 88% were ≤$2,500, and 70% were less than the wildlife product value - When custodial sentences were used, the length of imprisonment was short - usually under ten months Overall, sentencing was considered to be inconsistent and lenient when the high profits and significant harms of offending were taken into account. Our report showed that one of the reasons for the lenient sentences imposed in the UK is that judges and sentencers might not be informed about the seriousness of the crime or the harm caused. We are therefore urging the Sentencing Council to create sentencing guidelines for wildlife trade offences, which would set out clear ways that appropriate sentences can be reached. Details: Woking, Surrey: World Wildlife Fund UK, 2017. 157p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed November 15, 2017 at: https://www.wwf.org.uk/sites/default/files/2017-01/WWF-UK%20Report%20-Sentencing%20wildlife%20trade%20offences%20in%20England%20and%20Wales.pdf Year: 2017 Country: United Kingdom URL: https://www.wwf.org.uk/sites/default/files/2017-01/WWF-UK%20Report%20-Sentencing%20wildlife%20trade%20offences%20in%20England%20and%20Wales.pdf Shelf Number: 148295 Keywords: Illegal Wildlife TradeIvorySentencing GuidelinesWildlife Crime |
Author: Stiles, Daniel Title: An Assessment of the Illegal Ivory Trade in Viet Nam Summary: Viet Nam acceded to CITES on 20 April 1994. A series of government laws and decrees prohibit the hunting of elephants and other listed wild species (Prime Minister's directive 134/TTg, 1960; Council of Minister's decree 39/CP, 1963) and the use, trade and transport of products derived from them (Ministry of Forestry decision number 276/QD, 1989; Council of Minister's decree 18/ HDBT, 1992; Prime Minister's directive 359/TTg, 1996; Government Decree No. 48/2002/ND-CP, 2002; Government Decree 82/2006/ND-CP, 2006). The elephant is classed in category IB, patterned after CITES Appendix I, which means there is a complete ban on all trade of the species' products. In July 2000 the Revised Criminal Code set out regulations for the prosecution of cases of illegal exploitation of rare and precious wild species, including elephants. Since 1999, TRAFFIC has been carrying out country surveys of trade in ivory, along with trade in live elephants in some cases. TRAFFIC carried out an investigation of Viet Nam's role in elephant and elephant product trade in 2000 (Anon., 2002). In 2008, TRAFFIC set out to compile existing and new information on the trade specifically in elephant ivory in Viet Nam in consultation with relevant experts and stakeholders. The following locations were surveyed between 4 April and 4 May, 2008: Ho Chi Minh City Vung Tau Phu Quoc island Ha Tien Nha Trang Hue Ha Noi Ha Long City The main findings of this survey were: - A total of 669 retail outlets were surveyed in the eight localities. Of these, 73 (11%) were selling ivory, totalling 2 444 items. - Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC) had the most outlets (49) and ivory items (1 776) with Ha Noi second with 10 outlets and 407 pieces. Hue was a distant third with eight outlets selling a total of 141 items. - At least 17 craftsmen work ivory in Viet Nam in the places surveyed, with the highest number in and around Ha Noi, followed by HCMC and Hue. - Most of the raw ivory used in 2008 was said to originate in Laos, with small amounts coming from Viet Nam and Cambodia. Mammoth ivory from Russia is also used in small quantities. No African raw ivory was found. - Raw ivory prices were extremely high, possibly the highest in the world in 2008. Tusks weighing 1-3 kg sold for USD500-1 242/kg, with verbal reports of up to USD1 500/kg. Small, solid cut pieces and tusk tips weighing less than 1 kg were even more expensive, ranging from USD769/kg to USD1 863/kg. - The cause of the great ivory price rise seen in 2008 is continued demand for ivory from local and foreign consumers coupled with a restriction of supply. Seizures made in Viet Nam and elsewhere in recent years of African and Asian ivory suggest that most raw ivory supply is directed towards China. - Worked ivory prices were commensurately high. - The main buyers of ivory were visiting Chinese (including Hong Kong and Taiwan) and Thais, local Vietnamese, American-Vietnamese and Europeans, in that order. - The scale of the ivory market is smaller than in 1990, based on the number of craftsmen working ivory and the number of outlets selling ivory, but there are signs that demand is increasing. - African ivory was being illegally imported and used from the late 1990s to at least 2004. No evidence of African ivory being smuggled into Viet Nam was identified during the 2008 survey. The absence of African ivory imports is placing increased pressure on Asian elephants in Viet Nam and neighbouring countries to satisfy demand. - Fewer ivory items were seen in HCMC and Ha Noi shops in 2008 than in 2001, 2 182 compared to 3 039, but worked ivory is increasingly being sold directly to buyers through middlemen or on the Internet, bypassing retail outlets. - The average size and weight of worked ivory items is decreasing over time, with a higher proportion of <5 cm pieces seen in 2008 than in 2001. - Viet Nam has complied with recommendations in CITES Resolution Conf. 10.10 (Rev. CoP14) to control the ivory industry by enacting legislation that prohibits all possession and dealing in raw and worked ivory. A major loophole in enforcing this legislation is that retail outlets are allowed to sell ivory in stock at the time of the prohibition (1992). This allows some shopowners to restock illegally with recently made worked ivory. - Viet Nam has also fulfilled its obligations to the CITES Monitoring the Illegal Killing of Elephants (MIKE) programme by setting up a monitoring site (Cat Tien National Park) and establishing the baseline data. - Viet Nam has unfortunately not implemented certain of the recommendations contained in CITES Resolution Conf. 10.10 (Rev. CoP14). Its reporting record to ETIS has been extremely erratic and incomplete and it has not established a nationwide procedure, particularly in retail outlets, informing tourists and other non-nationals that ivory is illegal to purchase and it is illegal for them to export ivory and import it into their home countries. - Overall assessment - The scale of the Viet Nam ivory market remains modest on a global scale. Although there were 28% fewer worked pieces seen for sale in HCMC and Ha Noi in 2008 than in 2001, the great increase in prices of raw and worked ivory, the larger number of outlets selling ivory, and the observed upsurge in activity of craftsmen working ivory between 2001 and 2008 all strongly suggest that demand for ivory is rising, though a restriction of supply between 2001 and 2008 also contributed to the price rise. Less ivory on the shelves of outlets may in fact be the result of increased sales coupled with decreased availability of raw material to enable replacement. A contributing factor to fewer pieces seen in shops could be the fact that more buyers order items directly from craftsmen through middlemen, or commission items on the Internet, so the ivory never enters a retail outlet. Viet Nam has not complied with some important recommendations of CITES Resolution Conf. 10.10 (Rev. CoP14) and there are weaknesses in national legislation that allow the continued trading in illegal ivory. Details: Petaling Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia: TRAFFIC Southeast Asia, 2008. 37p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed January 20, 2018 at: http://www.trafficj.org/publication/08_Assessment_illegal_ivory_trade_VietNam.pdf Year: 2008 Country: Vietnam URL: http://www.trafficj.org/publication/08_Assessment_illegal_ivory_trade_VietNam.pdf Shelf Number: 114838 Keywords: ElephantsIllegal TradeIvoryTrafficking in WildlifeWildlife CrimeWildlife Trafficking |
Author: May, Victoria Title: A Review of Wildlife Crime Court Cases in Malawi 2010-2017 Summary: Between 10,000 and 100,000 species are estimated to be going extinct each year, which is around 1,000 times higher than the natural extinction rate . Africa's elephants are declining at catastrophic rates. In 2014, the National Academy of Science in the United States published data showing that c. 40,000 Savannah elephants were poached each year in Africa between 2009 and 2013. At this rate of decline, this iconic species could be extinct in the wild by 2025. In Malawi over 50% of elephants have been lost in the last 25 years, and Kasungu National Park now supports c. 50 elephants down from c. 2,000 in the late 1980s. The illegal trade in ivory is driving the killing of our elephants, and armed criminal gangs now pose a real and immediate threat to our rangers and local communities. The volume of illicit ivory trafficked globally tripled between 1998 and 2011, and more than doubled between 2007 and 2011 . Between 2009 and 2014 there were over 90 seizures of ivory that weighed more than 500 kg, with a total weight of more than 170 tonnes. This included an ivory seizure in my own country in May 2013 of c. 2.6 tonnes. Unfortunately, the Convention on International Trade of Endangered Flora and Fauna (CITES) recently listed Malawi as a country of "primary concern" in terms of elephant ivory trafficking. The same report proclaimed Malawi to be the principal transit hub for illicit ivory in Southern Africa. This is something that we Malawians are fully committed to rectify and we have made some significant steps forwards, including amending and strengthening our principle wildlife legislation and increasing our wildlife crime investigation capacity. However, wildlife poaching and trafficking is no longer solely a wildlife conservation issue and wildlife authorities cannot succeed if they attempt to tackle wildlife crime alone. The illicit ivory trade is a multi-million-dollar criminal enterprise. It spans continents and contributes to the degradation not only of natural environments, but also our communities, rule of law, and security. It is evident that, in terms of crime profits, IWT now ranks alongside trafficking in drugs, arms and humans. So, whilst wildlife poaching and trafficking remain urgent conservation issues, they must also be seen as serious organised crimes that threaten states. A strong response is required, and by all arms of government. This includes wildlife authorities, but also wider law enforcement agencies, legislators and the judiciary. This project is evidence that here in Malawi we are adopting a collaborative inter-agency approach to tackling these serious crime, including the critical engagement of our Judiciary. This report presents legal analysis of all available elephant and rhino crime court cases concluded in Malawi since 2010. It also appraises the impact of courtroom monitoring and public-private prosecution on wildlife crime court outcomes, both of which were introduced in Malawi in July 2016. The purpose of this analysis was to develop a series of recommendations on the management and reporting of wildlife crime. All findings are based on data collected from courts across the country. Details: Lilongwe, Malawi: Lilongwe Wildlife Trust, 2017. 36p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed February 2, 2018 at: https://www.lilongwewildlife.org/wp-content/uploads/Wildlife-Justice-Report-Final.pdf Year: 2017 Country: Malawi URL: https://www.lilongwewildlife.org/wp-content/uploads/Wildlife-Justice-Report-Final.pdf Shelf Number: 148975 Keywords: Animal PoachingElephantsIllegal Wildlife TradeIvoryTrafficking in WildlifeWildlife Crime |
Author: Slobodian, Lydia Title: Wildlife Cases in Tanzanian Courts Summary: Illegal killing and trade is a major threat to wildlife particularly in Africa. The current levels of elephant and rhino poaching are the highest in decades driven by burgeoning demand for ivory. East African countries, especially Tanzania, are increasingly implicated as source or transit countries for illegal ivory and rhino horn. It is against this backdrop that IUCN, in collaboration with the University of Dar es Salaam, has carried out this analysis of court cases related to illegal wildlife trade in mainland Tanzania with the aim of providing information to strengthen the judicial chain with regards to wildlife legislation. Details: Gland, Switzerland: IUCN, 2016. 62p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed February 27, 2018 at: https://portals.iucn.org/library/sites/library/files/documents/2016-044.pdf Year: 2016 Country: Tanzania URL: https://portals.iucn.org/library/sites/library/files/documents/2016-044.pdf Shelf Number: 149269 Keywords: Animal Poaching Illegal Wildlife Trade IvoryWildlife Crime |
Author: Lau, W. Title: Closing Strategy: Ending Ivory Trade in Hong Kong Summary: Elephant poaching and illegal ivory trade have increased considerably in the past decade. This has occurred despite international control measures through the listing of the Asian Elephant Elephas maximus and African Elephant Loxodonta africana in the appendices of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), which restricted the international commercial trade of ivory from 1990. It has resulted in calls for urgent deterrent actions that go beyond CITES requirements, including domestic measures to address the illegal trade. CITES is given effect in Hong Kong through the Protection of Endangered Species of Animals and Plants Ordinance (Cap. 586) which controls the import, (re-)export and local trade of ivory. Hong Kong was once a prominent trading centre for ivory in the 1970s and 1980s, but the industry contracted considerably following the implementation of CITES trade restrictions in 1990, and waning demand from traditional overseas consumers. However, resurgence in international ivory trade activity in the past decade, both legal and illegal, have also reinvigorated Hong Kong's local ivory market. This has led many conservation advocates to campaign for a ban on ivory trade in Hong Kong. The Hong Kong Government's proposal to phase out local ivory trade, which was first announced in January 2016 and developed in June 2016, as well as additional enforcement and licensing measures, would be a significant commitment if passed through Hong Kong's Legislative Council, in line with ambitions in China, the USA and elsewhere to take drastic actions against illegal ivory. This report presents an assessment of commercial ivory trade in Hong Kong. Market surveys of ivory outlets were conducted during two periods-August and December 2015-with a rapid survey in November 2016 revisiting most of the same shops. These surveys occurred during a period when denouncements of the local ivory trade were at their most vocal, with new government measures and the possible cessation of local ivory trade bringing about significant uncertainties for local ivory traders. In this respect, this report captures the market conditions and sentiments at a critical moment in Hong Kong's ivory trading history. In addition, CITES trade data on import and re-export of preConvention ivory from Hong Kong between 2000 and 2015, as well as government seizure reports, were analysed to examine the extent to which Hong Kong plays the role of a trading hub for the international ivory trade, and discrepancies with local sentiments about the state of Hong Kong's ivory industry. Physical market surveys in the two main survey periods in 2015 found that while ivory is still readily available in Hong Kong, the vast majority of ivory retail outlets have to supplement their operations by selling a range of other goods, whether it is mammoth ivory, stone and timber carvings, other precious jewellery or antiques. Dealers generally spoke of a sluggish ivory market at the time of the surveys. When these ivory outlets were revisited in 2016, seven outlets appeared to have closed down for business, and two dealers spoke of plans to downsize by closing branch stores and to focus on the wholesale side of their ivory business. Overall, a consolidation of the market appears to be occurring. Larger specialist outlets were still making sales, but smaller outlets with a few ivory items displayed had fewer active transactions. Local ivory trade is controlled through a licensing system whereby premises have to be licensed before they can commercially trade in pre-ban ivory (pre-1990), and the licence must be displayed on their premises. Market surveys found that only 38% of outlets had licences displayed or had claimed to possess one. When questioned about whether ivory items can be taken out of Hong Kong, 36% of local ivory dealers were willing to sell ivory to buyers intending to depart from Hong Kong, encouraging the smuggling of small ivory items as personal effects without going through the due process of acquiring a CITES permit. 42% of traders accurately mentioned the need to have adequate CITES documentation with their purchase. Outlets that had licences displayed were only slightly less likely to suggest that smaller pieces of ivory might go unnoticed by enforcement authorities if taken across Hong Kong's borders. These findings present the shortcomings in the existing regulatory system, both in terms of compliance with existing regulations, as well as current perceptions of any law enforcement deterrent. According to CITES trade data, a considerable quantity of pre-Convention ivory has been imported into Hong Kong between 2010 and 2014, totalling 6,056 ivory pieces plus 4,554 kg. The majority of these imports were sourced from European countries. More than half of the ivory imported was raw ivory. Meanwhile, declared re-exports of pre-Convention ivory amounted to 323 ivory pieces plus 3,264 kg during the same period. Data from the CITES trade database show that raw ivory re-exports during this time were all destined for mainland China, indicating that the market in China is probably a driver for Hong Kong's raw ivory imports. It is puzzling, however, that part of the inflows of raw ivory into Hong Kong remained in the city, according to CITES data, even though there are no more ivory carving factories in Hong Kong and most carvers only operate on a part-time basis undertaking repair and bespoke work. The current proposal to phase out the local ivory trade, which as of the report's publication has still to be passed by the Hong Kong Legislative Council, will be a monumental step towards ending Hong Kong's once prominent role in the global ivory trade. However, a potential scenario that may develop even before a local trade ban is in place is that it could cause a surge in ivory trade out of Hong Kong. It is pertinent that law enforcement agencies remain vigilant that it does not lead to an increase of illegal trade activities. Several major ivory markets around the world have already imposed restrictions on the import of pre-Convention ivory, which would make Hong Kong's re-exports of ivory to those countries illegal, especially that of mainland China, which has had a blanket import ivory ban in place since 2016. Online ivory trade could be one method by which ivory dealers attempt to liquidate their stock, and much greater effort is required of Hong Kong's enforcement agencies to work with social media and e-commerce platforms to prevent illegal ivory transactions from taking place. Current plans to maintain an antique ivory trade, which would restrict trade to only a small pool of ivory items in Hong Kong, should also be monitored closely in future to prevent the laundering of non-antique ivory, or inadvertently encourage consumer demand for that ivory. The report recommends that the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) take the following actions immediately to improve management of local ivory trade in Hong Kong while the trade is being phased out: - Assess the status, use and possible re-export of pre-Convention raw ivory that has been legally imported into Hong Kong in recent years, through follow up with licensed traders that had imported the items; - Ensure that aggregate figures and trends in Hong Kong's ivory stockpiles are published in the public domain not more than two months after year end, with a high degree of data resolution that includes quantities of raw/worked ivory, quantities by weight class, and types of ivory products; - Develop information circulars on recent legislative changes and domestic measures in key trading markets such as China, Europe and the USA, to make certain that licensed ivory dealers in Hong Kong are aware of the rapidly evolving changes to international and domestic trade measures, particularly new restrictions that are either now in place or being planned; - Require ivory traders to display an AFCD notice and poster in all licensed premises, and increase enforcement of this requirement so that potential customers have the means to identify lawful practices prior to the implementation of the proposed phase out plan; - Clarify with licensed ivory dealers the conditions for selling through online platforms. In addition, the Hong Kong SAR Government is encouraged to implement the following measures to tackle illegal ivory trade: - Following the example of China's implementation of its ivory ban, Hong Kong should hasten the local ivory trade phase out process, starting with the cessation of ivory possession licences being issued or renewed, in order to lessen the opportunity for laundering of illegal ivory from other markets into Hong Kong if a long grace period was provided; - Require regular monthly reporting of transactions by licensed ivory dealers to AFCD, which would enable ivory stock movements to be closely tracked; - Expand the current hologram system forlabelling registered ivory to allregistered stockpiles, for all commercial pre-ban ivory over 100 g, to minimise confusion about product legality for consumers; - Regulate the trade in antique ivory with a product marking and record keeping system so that future antique ivory trade can be managed and overseen by government authorities; - Review Hong Kong's stockpile management system for confiscated ivory, ensuring that there is a system in place for electronic record-keeping, safe storage and periodic audit of stockpiles. - Enhance co-operation of law enforcement agencies on wildlife crimes, including working with overseas counterparts and taking advantage of innovative communication and information sharing models that exist in other regions of the world, as well as local co-operation between AFCD, the Hong Kong Police Force and the Customs and Excise Department through joint operations and skills training; - Review maximum penalties for wildlife crimes to levels that reflect the seriousness of organized criminal involvement; - In line with the CITES Resolution on Demand Reduction (Resolution Conf. 17.4), develop supportive policies to encourage evidence-based strategies and campaigns targeting specific consumer groups to change behaviours about the consumption of ivory. Details: Hong Kong: Traffic, 2017. 48p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed march 20, 2018 at: http://www.trafficj.org/publication/17_Closing_Strategy_HK.pdf Year: 2017 Country: Hong Kong URL: http://www.trafficj.org/publication/17_Closing_Strategy_HK.pdf Shelf Number: 149541 Keywords: Animal PoachingElephantsIllegal TradeIvoryIvory TradeWildlife ConservationWildlife Crime |
Author: Rossi, Alessandra Title: Uganda Wildlife Trafficking Assessment Summary: The report, "Uganda Wildlife Trafficking Assessment," produced by TRAFFIC as part of the USAID-funded Wildlife TRAPS Project, provides a comprehensive look at Uganda's illegal and legal wildlife trade, poaching trends, and wildlife trafficking routes over the last 10-15 years. Uganda is home to a spectacularly diverse array of wildlife, housing more than half of the world's remaining mountain gorillas, 50% of Africa's bird species, almost 40% of Africa's mammal species, and 19% of Africa's amphibian species. "Uganda's incredible biological diversity is one of the world's great treasures, and the rightful heritage of all Ugandans," says Mark Meassick, Mission Director of the USAID Mission to Uganda. "Successfully managing wildlife conservation is not only fundamental to achieving Uganda's sustainable development goals, it is our collective responsibility to future generations." Despite serving as a trafficking hub, the majority of Uganda's wildlife does not face major threats from organized poaching inside the country's borders. Elephant poaching is less of a concern in Uganda as compared to ivory trafficking, although some poaching episodes are still registered by the authorities. In fact, Uganda's elephant population has increased slightly in recent years. Terrestrial smuggling routes exist between Uganda and neighbors Tanzania, Kenya, South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and extend to at least the Central African Republic. The main international destinations for wildlife products being smuggled from Uganda are China and Viet Nam. "Uganda relies on its wildlife and natural resources to support its economy, growth and development through tourism. Wildlife conservation and sustainable use are therefore paramount for the country's global development objectives," says TRAFFIC's Alessandra Rossi, author of the assessment. The report also provides an overview of the main bird, reptile and mammal species in Uganda that are legally and illegally traded. Birds: Uganda has seen a decrease in the legal bird trade since 2006, which can be attributed to a number of factors including habitat degradation and stricter protection measures put in place and enforced by the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA). The most targeted species for illicit trade taking place in Uganda are the Grey Crowned-crane (the national bird of Uganda) and the Shoebill. Reptiles: Reptiles were traded mainly between 2000 and 2005, with a prevalence of trade in chameleon species, followed by the Leopard Tortoise. Trade declined between 2005 and 2009 for most reptile species before resuming slowly from 2009 to 2014. Overall, though, the reptile trade is in decline, due to dwindling wild populations and a change in UWA's management strategy to promote trade in captive bred species. The illegal trade in reptiles often runs alongside the legal trade, largely due to the difficulty in identifying reptile shipments. Mammals: Hippopotamus teeth are heavily traded between Uganda and Hong Kong. Despite a ban in 2014 to protect declining hippopotamus populations, this trade has continued illegally in Uganda. Poaching of mammals in Uganda is practiced mainly for meat and due to human-wildlife conflict, with the exception of pangolins, which have been heavily targeted for poaching and trafficking in the country. Between 2012-2016, over 1,400 pangolins were seized in Uganda. To reduce the threat of poaching and trafficking in Uganda, the report offers recommendations for governments, conservation groups and the donor community to take action. They include suggestions for strengthening law enforcement and managing ivory stocks, as well as wildlife seizure and trade information, increasing regional collaboration, and working with communities to raise awareness around wildlife conservation issues. FOR MORE INFORMATION: View the full report Photos for media use Report Citation: Rossi, A. (2018). Uganda Wildlife Trafficking Assessment. TRAFFIC International, Cambridge, United Kingdom. About IUCN The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) is a membership Union uniquely composed of both government and civil society organisations. It provides public, private and non-governmental organisations with the knowledge and tools that enable human progress, economic development and nature conservation to take place together. About Wildlife TRAPS The USAID-funded Wildlife Trafficking, Response, Assessment and Priority Setting (Wildlife TRAPS) Project is an initiative that is designed to secure a transformation in the level of co-operation between an international community of stakeholders who are impacted by illegal wildlife trade between Africa and Asia. The project is designed to increase understanding of the true character and scale of the response required, to set priorities, identify intervention points, and test non-traditional approaches with project partners. About USAID The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is responsible for the majority of overseas development assistance from the United States Government and leads international development and humanitarian efforts to save lives, reduce poverty, strengthen democratic governance and help people on their journey to self-reliance. About UWA Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) is a semi-autonomous government agency that conserves and manages Uganda's wildlife for the people of Uganda and the whole world. This agency was established in 1996 after the merger of the Uganda National Parks and the Game Department, and the enactment of the Uganda Wildlife Statute, which became an Act in 2000. UWA is mandated to ensure sustainable management of wildlife resources and supervise wildlife activities in Uganda both within and outside the protected areas. Details: Cambridge, UK: TRAFFIC International, 2018. 124p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed April 16, 2018 at: http://static1.1.sqspcdn.com/static/f/157301/27882787/1523867065007/Uganda+Wildlife+Assessment_FINAL.pdf?token=JL3Pc0bxP725CIqZ38NV%2FBfUG0s%3D Year: 2018 Country: Uganda URL: http://static1.1.sqspcdn.com/static/f/157301/27882787/1523867065007/Uganda+Wildlife+Assessment_FINAL.pdf?token=JL3Pc0bxP725CIqZ38NV%2FBfUG0s%3D Shelf Number: 149798 Keywords: Animal PoachingIllegal Wildlife TradingIvorySmugglingTrafficking in WildlifeWildlife CrimeWildlife Trafficking |
Author: International Fund for Animal Welfare Title: Ivory Seizures in Europe: 2006-2015 Summary: The biggest threat to elephants today is poaching. Indeed, the African elephant population declined by more than 50% between 1979 and 1989, mainly due to poaching to supply the international ivory trade. Practically all ivory for sale in the world has come at the cost of an elephant's life. There have been some strong political moves in recent years with China and the US introducing domestic ivory bans, as people recognise that the existence of legal markets around the world provides a cover for illegal ivory to be traded. Each year more than 20,000 elephants are being slaughtered because of consumer demand and ivory traders creating a desire to own ivory products. It is virtually impossible to fully calculate the scale of this illegal ivory market. This report seeks to investigate the quantities of seized, illegal ivory that have been reported across the European Union (EU) and to use this data to gain a better understanding of the role the EU plays in enabling the continuation of this trade as a consumer, exporter and transit point for the illegal ivory trade. The international ivory trade has been banned by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Fauna and Flora (CITES) since 1989. Yet, the CITES agreement did not cover the sale of ivory obtained before that date. Moreover, CITES data indicates that illicit trade in ivory has tripled since 1998, leading to a 'serious conservation crisis'. As a new party to CITES since July 2015, the EU has a decisive role to play in controlling its internal ivory market as well as its international imports and exports. This IFAW research indicates that the EU plays a significant role in the global ivory trade. Between 2011 and 2014, member states detailed seizures of around 4,500 ivory items reported as specimens and an additional 780 kilograms as classified by weight. EU countries are key transit points for illegal ivory, either exported to other countries or kept within Europe, under the guise of ivory items acquired legally or as reported antiques, with some items being stained to appear as antiques. By exporting ivory items which are antique and legal to South-East Asian markets, European countries are fuelling the demand for ivory and helping to create a desire to own it. Between 2003 and 2014, 92% of EU exports of preConvention tusks went to China or Hong Kong. Six of the EU member states (Austria, France, Germany, Hungary, Netherlands and Portugal) stated definitively that they have observed an increase in the number of re-export certificate applications over the past few years. Yet several other countries either made no applications for the re-export of ivory in recent years or the numbers of applications received/certificates issued were so small that it was impossible to discern any significant trends (Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, Greece, Ireland, Latvia, Sweden and Slovakia). This report looks at each European country in turn, where data is available, highlighting key cases of ivory seizures as well as the largest volume of ivory seized by the authorities. Finally, the report puts forward a number of key recommendations for the EU. There is an urgent need for a common method of recording ivory seizures, and an EU-wide standardised monitoring system of the ivory trade. As countries already have to report to CITES authorities through the CITES Biennial Reports, not all seizures are made publicly available, which has hindered our data collection for this report. There needs to be a greater level of transparency and the EU needs to make ivory seizure data publicly available in a report every year, recorded in a consistent manner to compare country data across the EU. We hope this research will encourage a full European-wide ban and that individual countries, such as France and the UK, will lead within Europe to introduce the strongest legislation, which will send a powerful political message across the world. It is only by closing down the ivory markets once and for all, and removing consumer demand and desire for ivory products, that we will have any chance to save the remaining elephant populations and ultimately protect this iconic species from extinction. Details: London: IFAW, 2017. 35p. Source: Internet Resource: accessed April 20, 2018 at: https://s3.amazonaws.com/ifaw-pantheon/sites/default/files/legacy/ifaw_ivory_seizures_europe_proof_4.pdf Year: 2017 Country: Europe URL: https://s3.amazonaws.com/ifaw-pantheon/sites/default/files/legacy/ifaw_ivory_seizures_europe_proof_4.pdf Shelf Number: 149866 Keywords: Animal PoachingElephantsIvoryWildlife Crime |
Author: Jayanathan, Shamini Title: Stopping poaching and wildlife trafficking through strengthened laws and improved application: Phase 1: An analysis of Criminal Justice Interventions across African Range States and Proposals for Action Summary: This report sets out the findings of Phase 1 of a project to further Sustainable Development Goal 15 and in particular, 15.7 "Take urgent action to end poaching and trafficking of protected species of flora and fauna and address both demand and supply of illegal wildlife products" The project supports the Elephant Protection Initiative's (EPI) primary objective to enable full and timely implementation of the African Elephant Action Plan (AEAP). It is focused on the AEAP's Priority Objective 1: REDUCE ILLEGAL KILLING OF ELEPHANTS AND ILLEGAL TRADE IN ELEPHANT PRODUCTS and its key strategies: Harmonize national policies and laws relevant to conservation and management of African elephants within and across range States where possible. Strengthen the laws relevant to conservation and management of African elephants. Strengthen the enforcement of laws relevant to conservation and management of African elephants. The project focuses on the passage of wildlife crime along the 'criminal justice pathway': beginning with the legislative framework for prosecuting wildlife crime; turning to the investigator to prosecution 'handover'; prosecution capability, judicial handling of such cases at trial, sentencing and mutual legal assistance (MLA). It does not consider intelligence handling initiatives, policing per se or frontline protection projects. This report aims to: present a snapshot of the status of the criminal justice pathway; and past, current and planned interventions by various stakeholders including government and non-government organisations and development partners; and propose a scope of work for Phase 2: identifying existing and new cross-cutting tools and initiatives, including best practice laws and standard operating procedures, that are of general application across jurisdictions; cross-overs and opportunities for better partnerships and collaborations; and some country-specific observations and recommendations for action within the context of global, regional and national strategies (where they exist). The aim of Phase 2 will be to enable more effective government and non-government collaborations to deliver change in the criminal justice pathway, measurable by increased rates of conviction and stronger deterrent penalties. Details: Stop Ivory and the International Conservation Caucus Foundation (ICCF) Group , 2016. 79p. Source: Internet Resource: accessed May 30, 2018 at: http://www.internationalconservation.org/publications/ICCF_StopIvory_Report.pdf Year: 2016 Country: Africa URL: http://www.internationalconservation.org/publications/ICCF_StopIvory_Report.pdf Shelf Number: 150379 Keywords: Animal PoachingElephantsIvoryTrafficking in WildlifeWildlife ConservationWildlife CrimeWildlife Law EnforcementWildlife Trafficking |
Author: Aucoin, Ciara Title: Tackling supply and demand in the rhino horn trade Summary: The majority of responses to the growing illegal trade in rhino horn aim to curb supply through frontline enforcement and security in parks and reserves in Southern Africa, particularly South Africa. They include recent advances in legalising the trade. Far less effort has been made to involve local communities in anti-poaching efforts or reduce the appetite for rhino horn in East Asia. This policy brief reviews available information on supply and demand in rhino horn markets, analysing the main responses and their impacts. It advocates greater policy coherence in supply-side measures and more regional and international cooperation in demand-side campaigns. Key points - Responses to the illicit trade in rhino horn have mainly focused on the supply side. The burden of implementing security measures cannot only fall on the under-resourced departments responsible for maintaining national parks. - Improving the protection of rhinos is necessary, but not sufficient. Community-led activities that are well coordinated and funded are needed to ensure local people become key stakeholders in rhino conservation. - Policy focus on curbing the demand for rhino horn must be increased to balance supply-side policy interventions. This requires more support and resources for research and public awareness campaigns in demand countries. Details: Pretoria: ENACT Project, 2018. 12p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed June 5, 2018 at: https://enact-africa.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/2018_03_28_PolicyBrief_Wildlife.pdf Year: 2018 Country: South Africa URL: https://enact-africa.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/2018_03_28_PolicyBrief_Wildlife.pdf Shelf Number: 150470 Keywords: Animal PoachingIllegal TradeIvoryRhinoswildlife ConservationWildlife CrimeWildlife Law Enforcement |
Author: TRAFFIC Title: Slow Progress: A Reassessment of Japan's Ivory Market in 2018 Summary: Key Points - Market surveys conducted by TRAFFIC in 2017 revealed widespread illegal export of ivory from Japan's domestic market and recommended that the Japanese government should urgently address this issue and consider market closure with narrow exemptions, as called for by CITES Resolution Conf. 10.10 (Rev. CoP17). - TRAFFIC conducted a follow-up survey of Japan's physical ivory market and auctions in 2018 to reassess their vulnerability to supplying illegal export after China's ivory trade ban in December 2017 and to track compliance with new domestic regulations introduced in June 2018. - Availability of ivory products declined by nearly half in surveyed indoor antique fairs, possibly as a result of stricter government oversight. It showed a smaller decline in the outdoor antique markets and remained similar in art and antique districts. While it was difficult to characterize the overall market dynamics, certain sellers expressed sentiments towards phasing out of ivory sales due to tightening regulations. - Widespread facilitation of illegal ivory export appeared to have diminished slightly. Though the proportion of interviewed sellers refusing to sell to foreign customers or domestic customers with intention to export increased from 9% to 26% in 2018, a majority still indicated willingness to sell to such customers, going from 73% in 2017 to 60% in 2018. - Newly manufactured ivory products of styles preferred in foreign (e.g Chinese) markets were identified at two new stores targeting foreign visitors in Tokyo's tourist area, one of which just opened in 2018. - Lax domestic regulation was no longer mentioned by sellers as a characteristic of their trade. However, the rate of non-compliance with new regulations (business registration and display of registration information) was high in antique markets and tourist areas where 42% to 83% of sellers did not display registration information. The proportion of apparently unregistered businesses was 31% amongst permanent shops. In contrast, 100% of hanko shops were registered with 95% displaying the registration information. - A reduction was seen in the illegal display of whole tusks (without registration cards), going from 68% in 2017 to 10% in 2018. However, whole tusks comprised less than 0.5% of the over 5,000 ivory items observed during the survey, and proof-of-legality is still not required under the new regulation for all ivory items other than whole tusks. - The number of whole ivory tusks traded at a major auction house declined by over 60% in 2018 compared to 2017 with all of them legally advertised; however, trade in tusks at other outlets was not assessed in this survey. - TRAFFIC recommends that the Japanese government: 1) urgently introduce the specific policy, legislative and regulatory measures previously recommended in TRAFFIC's 2017 report to ensure its market does not contribute to poaching or illegal trade; and 2) further increase enforcement efforts to deter illegal export and effectively implement the new regulations. - TRAFFIC also recommends that the CITES Standing Committee considers the case for Japan's inclusion in the National Ivory Action Plan (NIAP) process to evaluate and monitor its actions and progress against the conditions set out in Resolution Conf.10.10 (Rev. CoP17). Details: Tokyo, Japan, TRAFFIC, 2018. 17p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed October 5, 2018 at: https://www.traffic.org/publications/reports/japans-domestic-ivory-market/ Year: 2018 Country: Japan URL: https://www.traffic.org/site/assets/files/11142/slow-progress-japan-ivory-markets-1.pdf Shelf Number: 152848 Keywords: Environmental CrimeIllegal Wildlife TradeIvoryPoachingWildlife Crime |
Author: Meijer, Wander Title: Demand under the Ban: China Ivory Consumption Research Post-Ban 2018 Summary: The research for this report conducted between May and July 2018 reveals Chinese citizens claim to have purchased significantly less ivory since the ban was implemented. But the incidence of ivory purchase among regular outbound travelers stands out compared to the other buyers' segments. While the results of this research show that the ivory ban in China is generating positive changes, more efforts like strengthening market supervision, law enforcement and public education are recommended for to ensure the long-term success of ivory trade ban. Details: Beijing, China: TRAFFIC and World Wildlife Fund, 2018. 78p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed October 12, 2018 at: https://c402277.ssl.cf1.rackcdn.com/publications/1179/files/original/Demand_under_the_Ban_-_China_Ivory_Consumption_Research_Post-Ban_2018.pdf?1537976366 Year: 2018 Country: China URL: https://c402277.ssl.cf1.rackcdn.com/publications/1179/files/original/Demand_under_the_Ban_-_China_Ivory_Consumption_Research_Post-Ban_2018.pdf?1537976366 Shelf Number: 152910 Keywords: Animal PoachingElephantsIvoryWildlife ConservationWildlife Crime |