MISSOULA, Mont. (AP) – A Washington state man accused of helping kill thousands of birds pleaded guilty in federal court on Wednesday to shooting eagles on an American Indian reservation in Montana and selling their feathers and body parts on the black market. Travis John Branson pleaded guilty to conspiracy, wildlife trafficking and two counts […]
Tag: wildlife trafficking
10 Shocking Acts of Animal Cruelty in Africa: Uncovering Barbaric Practices
Africa is renowned for its rich wildlife and diverse ecosystems, attracting tourists from all over the world. However, behind the breathtaking landscapes and majestic creatures lies a dark reality – numerous barbaric acts of cruelty against animals. In this article, we expose 10 shocking practices that highlight the urgent need for increased Conservation efforts and […]
US national arrested in South Africa on wildlife trafficking, weapons charges
A U.S. national has been arrested in South Africa on wildlife trafficking and firearms charges, South African authorities have announced. Derek Lewitton, a Texan, was arrested Dec. 22 following a raid on his Harmony Gate Estate ranch in Limpopo Province by the South African Police Services’ Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI) units. Limpopo Police […]
Togo monkey seizure turns spotlight on illicit wildlife trafficking from DR Congo
LUBUMBASHI, Democratic Republic of the Congo — On Dec. 2, Togolese authorities intercepted 38 monkeys at the airport. They were being sent from Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), to Thailand and included at least two species classified as vulnerable by the IUCN. Thirty of these animals had not been […]
Freedom for queen of the jungle after a life behind bars: Starved tiger reduced to skin and bone is among 53 giant cats set to ‘feel grass on their paws for the first time’ after rescue from Thai breeding farm
A starved tiger that was reduced to skin and bone is among 53 big cats set to ‘feel grass on their paws for the first time’ after they were rescued from a Thai breeding farm. The emaciated female tiger Salamas was found struggling to stand or walk after losing so much weight inside a cage […]
Two Software Engineers Are Revolutionizing India’s Fight Against Poaching and Wildlife Trafficking
Rather than taking their software and programming degrees into the tech sector, two young Kerala men are using them to bring India’s efforts to track, prevent, and punish wildlife crime into the 21st century with a suite of sophisticated apps and tools. They believe they are the first to bring this level of digitization into […]
Peruvian Authorities Intercept Approximately 160 Exotic Animals at Lima Airport
In a recent bust at Jorge Chavez International Airport in Lima, Peru, authorities seized approximately 160 exotic animals, including snakes, spiders, and turtles, from the luggage of a passenger traveling from Miami to an unspecified Asian country. The Peruvian National Forestry and Wildlife Service (SERFOR) reported that the animals were discovered in appalling conditions, crammed […]
$20,000 monkeys: inside the booming illicit trade for lab animals
In 2019, Jonah Sacha, a researcher at Oregon Health and Science University, received a delivery of 20 monkeys from Mauritius. As part of his research into stem-cell transplants as an HIV treatment, he performs tests on long-tailed macaques. The captive-bred monkeys were legally imported using an approved vendor, and looked healthy. However, when Sacha tested […]