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Date: November 25, 2024 Mon
Time: 8:09 pm
Time: 8:09 pm
Results for trafficking in animals
6 results foundAuthor: Pastor, Meghan A. Title: Legal, Moral and Biological Implications of Poaching and Illegal Animal Trafficking on an International Scale Summary: Poaching is a lucrative and international illegal business. According to some statistics, poaching is nearly a 20 million dollar trade, coming in third in profits after the illegal drug and arms trades. One of the most popular areas for poaching is the rainforest found in Brazil and Latin America, where some of the most varied and colorful fauna are found. (Giovanni, 2006) Other popular areas for poaching include China, India and Africa. Many of the animals that are captured to be sold later are either sold in open air markets such as Chatuchak in Thailand and others in China or are exported to other countries. (CNN) The majority of animals sold through illegal trafficking are bought by buyers in the United States, followed by Japan, Europe and the Middle East. (Dermota, 1995) They are often bought by rich collectors who enjoy “exotic pets”. According to Dermota’s research, a certain type of macaw can be sold in the United States for up to $10,000, while a certain monkey sells in Japan for over $50,000. With profits such as these, it is no surprise that many people have turned to the illegal animal market to make money. Certainly animal trafficking is a cruel prospect, even if one does not account for the animals that are killed just for their parts. Animals react poorly when being transported even under the best of circumstances. In a study by Hart et al in 2008 comparing the behavior and physical condition of a group of recently translocated African elephants to a group native to the area, it was found that the translocated elephants had an overall lower condition. As seen in Figure 1., the translocated elephants had a lower body condition than their native counterparts throughout all seasons that the study was performed. The body condition of the native elephants ranged from approximately 1.4 to 1.8 on a body scale ranging from 0 (poor) to 2 (good). The condition of the translocated elephants ranged from approximately 1.25 to 1.5. All seasons showed a lower value for the translocated elephants as compared to their native counterparts. They also had a higher mortality rate. (Hart et al, 2008) If these animals fared poorly under conditions that were optimized for their travel, it is no surprise that animals did not fare well under the poor conditions that are provided for them by poachers. Charles Bergman, a researcher who personally traveled to research the poaching issue, describes the conditions that these creatures travel under in their article, saying “They are smuggled in thermoses and nylon stockings, stuffed into toilet paper tubes, hair curlers and hubcaps.” (Bergman, 2009) With such disregard for the basic needs and comforts of the animal, it can be said that poaching is a cruel and unusual punishment for any animal that has to endure it. Not only that, but most animals either die or become sickly in transit. And the worst is yet to come. The rise of poaching as a global industry is not only a threat to individual animals, but to entire species. Details: Newport, RI: Salve Regina, 2010. 22p. Source: Internet Resource: Pell Scholars and Senior Theses, Paper 47: Accessed July 20, 2012 at: http://escholar.salve.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1047&context=pell_theses&sei-redir=1&referer=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2Furl%3Fsa%3Dt%26rct%3Dj%26q%3Dlegal%2520moral%2520and%2520biological%2520implications%2520of%2520poaching%2520and%2520illegal%2520animal%2520trafficking%2520on%2520an%2520international%2520scale%26source%3Dweb%26cd%3D1%26ved%3D0CFIQFjAA%26url%3Dhttp%253A%252F%252Fescholar.salve.edu%252Fcgi%252Fviewcontent.cgi%253Farticle%253D1047%2526context%253Dpell_theses%26ei%3DFzwJUPXXHcrX0QHgv9GGBA%26usg%3DAFQjCNGDh2iej63oOuT1jTs0M-iF8S1HGw#search=%22legal%20moral%20biological%20implications%20poaching%20illegal%20animal%20trafficking%20an%20international%20scale%22 Year: 2010 Country: International URL: http://escholar.salve.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1047&context=pell_theses&sei-redir=1&referer=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2Furl%3Fsa%3Dt%26rct%3Dj%26q%3Dlegal%2520moral%2520and%2520biological%2520implications%2520of%2520 Shelf Number: 125698 Keywords: Animal PoachingTrafficking in AnimalsWildlife Crime |
Author: Great Britain. Parliament. House of Commons. Environmental Audit Committee Title: Wildlife Crime. Third Report of Session 2012-13. Summary: Wildlife protection laws in the UK are fractured and are being inconsistently applied in the courts, according to a report by Parliament's cross-party environmental watchdog. Wildlife legislation has become so complex that prosecutions fail and even specialist enforcement professionals struggle to implement it effectively. Hundreds of birds of prey have been deliberately poisoned with substances such as carbofuran that have no legal use. The Government could easily make possession an offence under legislation that has been on the statute book since 2006. The lack of sentencing guidelines on wildlife offences means that some offenders are being neither punished nor deterred in the courts. The CPS is failing to train its prosecutors to handle complex wildlife cases. The inflexible implementation in UK law of international agreements covering the trafficking of endangered species squanders limited resources. For example, a vet might have to be present when samples are taken from imported endangered species, which includes not only living animals but mahogany furniture. Internationally, the report examines how the rhino, tiger and elephant are being driven to extinction by growing demand for illegal wildlife products in south-east Asia and China. It calls on the Government to exert robust diplomatic pressure in favour of the development and enforcement of wildlife law at the next CITES (the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) meeting in March 2013. In particular, the Government should focus attention on the damaging effect of ‘one-off’ sales of impounded ivory, which has been found to actually fuel demand for ivory products, and seek an unequivocal international ban on all forms of ivory trade. Details: London: The Stationery Office Limited, 2012. 2 volumes Source: Internet Resource: Accessed November 9, 2012 at: http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201213/cmselect/cmenvaud/140/140.pdf Year: 2012 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201213/cmselect/cmenvaud/140/140.pdf Shelf Number: 126897 Keywords: Animal PoachingEndangered SpeciesIllegal IvoryTrafficking in AnimalsWildlife Crime (U.K.) |
Author: Dogs Trust Title: Puppy Smuggling: An investigation into the illegal entry of dogs into Great Britain under the Pet Travel Scheme Summary: Dogs Trust has carried out an in-depth six month investigation into the trafficking of puppies from Eastern Europe into the UK. The investigation focused on the puppies travelling into Great Britain under the non-commercial Pet Travel Scheme [PETS]. The numbers of animals coming in under PETS from Eastern Europe has increased rapidly since 2012 when changes to the legislation made it easier for people to enter Great Britain with puppies. According to Defra the number of dogs entering Great Britain via PETS rose by 61% in the first year when controls were relaxed. Just 2.5% of pets were found to be non-compliant with PETS in 2012. This does not account for any of the nondeclared smuggled dogs. Our investigation shows the ease with which dealers, especially those in Eastern Europe, can evade or fool customs officials since the introduction of PETS, as these figures from Defra suggest: Between 2011 and 2013 the number of dogs entering the UK from Lithuania has increased by 780%; in Hungary a 663% increase in dogs travelling under PETS into the UK was recorded . Worryingly, this increase only accounts for dogs that are declared; it does not account for the number of dogs that are smuggled into the UK. The impact of these changes and the increased volume of puppies entering the UK illegally have worrying implications for both the puppies' welfare and for the control of rabies and the tapeworm Echinococcus multilocularis UK, as many puppies are imported from countries that are classified as having rabies. Defra admitted in March 2013 that something needed to be done, yet it will have taken 21 months for any changes to the PETS to be introduced and Dogs Trust believes the proposals are nowhere near sufficient to tackle this growing problem. Our investigation reveals how the PETS scheme is being used as a cover by commercial dealers from Hungary and Lithuania on a regular basis to illegally import puppies into the UK. These dealers were aided and abetted by unscrupulous vets in Eastern Europe, who, in collusion with the dealers, are prepared to issue pet passports with falsified data. Passports are issued by vets for puppies they have not seen; the age of puppies are changed to evade contravening PETS; dogs banned under the Dangerous Dogs Act are being brought into the country; and false vaccination stamps are added indicating rabies vaccinations had been given to puppies when they had not actually been administered. Unlike rabies, there are no initiatives to control Echinonoccus multilocularis in countries where it is endemic. Dogs Trust wonders whether an individual that is prepared to falsify rabies vaccinations would bother with tapeworm treatment or measures to prevent other diseases? Dogs Trust's evidence also reveals the ineffective controls at UK border ports which allows this illegal, commercial trade of puppies to enter the UK almost unhindered. This is especially so during the weekends when there are no APHA or Trading Standards personnel on physical duty at the main ports of entry such as Dover and the Eurotunnel. Trading Standards personnel are not available to assist out of hours. Wise to this knowledge, many dealers we made contact with travel with puppies over the weekend. Transporters are rarely stopped, and if they are caught travelling with incorrect paperwork there is no penalty. They are simply made to return to where they came from. The likelihood of their paperwork being questioned is low and a search of their vehicle extremely unlikely. This means they can declare up to five puppies whose paperwork may get checked, then have a further undisclosed number of puppies hidden in their vehicle which will escape any scrutiny. Details: London: Dogs Trust, 2014. 48p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 5, 2017 at: https://www.dogstrust.org.uk/press-materials/dt_puppy_smuggling_report_v12_web(1).pdf Year: 2014 Country: United Kingdom URL: https://www.dogstrust.org.uk/press-materials/dt_puppy_smuggling_report_v12_web(1).pdf Shelf Number: 146736 Keywords: Animal SmugglingAnimal WelfareDogsTrafficking in Animals |
Author: Dogs Trust Title: Puppy Smuggling: The Scandal Continues. A follow up investigation into the illegal entry of dogs into Great Britain under the Pet Travel Scheme Summary: Dogs Trust reveals the findings of a follow-on undercover investigation into the cruel puppy smuggling trade. Underage and unvaccinated puppies continue to travel illegally from Central and Eastern Europe to Great Britain destined to be sold online to unsuspecting members of the public by commercial dealers and breeders. The charity also 'smuggled' a stuffed toy dog in a carry-crate from Europe onto British soil multiple occasions without any enforcer identifying her as fake - begging the question, what else could have been in that crate and why is it still so easy to smuggle puppies? The charity first highlighted the influx of illegally landed puppies from Central and Eastern Europe in November 2014, following a relaxation of the Pet Travel Scheme in 2012. These findings were then presented to DEFRA, who heralded the already-planned changes to the Pet Travel Scheme (which came into force on 29th December 2014) as the solution. Dogs Trust had strong suspicions that the changes would be ineffective - the findings of our second investigation have proven us correct. The illegal puppy trade continues to boom and the potential risks to human and dog health and welfare remain. Dogs Trust's second undercover investigation has gathered further evidence of corruption from vets and breeders in Lithuania and Romania, and the worrying ease in which commercial transporters can illegally bring puppies into Great Britain under a scheme designed for pet owners. Our experiment with Mitzi, the stuffed toy dog, shows the urgent need for visual checks of pets travelling with passports. In the absence of any physical sight check at the borders, corrupt dealers can smuggle underage, sickly, or undocumented puppies into Great Britain - bringing with them a risk of disease. Details: London: Dogs Trust, 2015. 32p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 5, 2017 at: https://www.dogstrust.org.uk/puppysmuggling/final%20use%20this%20one%20puppy%20smuggling_2.8.pdf Year: 2015 Country: United Kingdom URL: https://www.dogstrust.org.uk/puppysmuggling/final%20use%20this%20one%20puppy%20smuggling_2.8.pdf Shelf Number: 146737 Keywords: Animal SmugglingAnimal WelfareDogsTrafficking in Animals |
Author: Four Paws International Title: Puppy Trade in Europe: Research on the impact of illegal businesses on the market, on consumers, on the one-health concept and on animal welfare Summary: The puppy trade business (with mostly breed puppies) grew more professional and more industrial in the last 5 years. The profit margin all through the trade chain and the little to none existent law enforcement seems to make it an easy gamble with a lot of wins. They drug the puppies and drive with them through the whole of Europe. This industrial scale of puppy trade needs to be targeted. Stronger law enforcement needs to be put in place to control known traders and their veterinarians. In the frame of its 2013 Puppy Trade Campaign, FOUR PAWS has mandated an investigator to lead a field investigation to identify puppy trade networks in Europe. The goal was to identify the biggest puppy traders likely to be illegal traders using harmful or illegal practices and breaching current puppy trade, transport and animal welfare legislation. Out of a range of identified targets, several puppy traders were chosen to be investigated more in detail. During its 8 month inquiry, the investigator visited around 50 places. This permits to shed light on how puppy trade businesses are operating today. The interviews, collected documents and detailed observation led to identify around 30 international trade links that appear to be operational. In parallel to this investigation, FOUR PAWS has lead several actions against illegal puppy trade. Among other, the organisation has created a platform (www.stoppuppytraders.org) to gather testimonies of people who bought a puppy that was sold through illegal practices, got seriously ill or died. Moreover, a collaboration with several two online websites of classified adds in Germany and Austria has contributed to raising consumer awareness on illegal puppy trade. The identified practices and collected information might contribute to understand how the puppy trade market could be controlled in a better way. This summary report will present the results of FOUR PAWS's investigation and actions on the puppy trade market. It will give an overview on the European Puppy Market and in more detail, it will permit to understand the puppy production and distribution process, and all the welfare, and health consequences arising from it. Details: Brussels: Four Paws International, 2013. 20p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed November 18, 2017 at: http://www.vier-pfoten.eu/files/EPO/Materials_conf/Puppy_Trade_in_Europe/REPORT_EUROPEAN_PUPPY_TRADE.pdf Year: 2013 Country: Europe URL: http://www.vier-pfoten.eu/files/EPO/Materials_conf/Puppy_Trade_in_Europe/REPORT_EUROPEAN_PUPPY_TRADE.pdf Shelf Number: 148260 Keywords: Animal Smuggling Animal Welfare Dogs Trafficking in Animals |
Author: Ares, Elena Title: Puppy smuggling Summary: Under the EU Pets Travel Scheme or PETS, vaccinated and microchipped dogs, cats and ferrets are allowed to travel between EU countries for non-commercial reasons as long as they have a pet passport and have complied with all the requirements of the scheme, which include a rabies vaccination. The PETS scheme is designed to allow a maximum of five pets to travel with their owner, rather than for the commercial movement of animals intended for sale as pets. Under the scheme, pet owners must fill in a declaration confirming that they are not going to sell or transfer the ownership of the pet. An approved transport company must be used for the travel of pets unless travelling between the UK and Ireland. There is evidence that the scheme is being abused to import very young puppies illegally for the UK pet trade, with animal charities raising concerns about the welfare and health of the animals being imported. In addition there is evidence puppies are being hidden and smuggled into the UK. In response, there have been calls from charities to address the issue and strengthen the requirements for travelling with pets once the UK leaves the EU. Details: London: House of Commons Library, 2017. 24o, Source: Internet Resource: Debate Pack: Accessed February 14, 2018 at: http://researchbriefings.parliament.uk/ResearchBriefing/Summary/CDP-2017-0205#fullreport Year: 2017 Country: United Arab Emirates URL: http://researchbriefings.parliament.uk/ResearchBriefing/Summary/CDP-2017-0205#fullreport Shelf Number: 149151 Keywords: Animal Smuggling Animal Welfare Dogs Trafficking in Animals |