The seizure of dozens of live Western blue-tongued lizards, bearded dragons and spiny-tailed skinks covertly packed into popcorn bags, biscuit tins and women’s handbags have led to the longest prison sentence ever doled out to a wildlife smuggler in Australia. On February 13, a New South Wales District Court sentenced 61-year-old Neil Simpson to eight years […]
Tag: exotic pets
Global tiger trafficking crisis worsens with nine big cats seized monthly
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysa (AP) — Authorities have seized an average of nine tigers each month over the past five years, highlighting a worsening trafficking crisis. A report by TRAFFIC warns that criminal networks are evolving faster than conservation efforts can respond. The global wild tiger population has plummeted to an estimated 3,700-5,500. Despite international protection, […]
Hundreds of wild animals rescued from a ‘fur and urine farm’ in Ohio
Earlier this year, the Ashtabula County Commissioner’s Office called in the Humane Society of the United States (now Humane World for Animals) to rescue hundreds of wild animals living in horrific conditions on a “fur and urine farm” near Cleveland, Ohio. The owner of Grand River Fur Exchange died in December 2024, making the conditions […]
Cheetah cubs rescued from illegal trade in “one of the largest confiscations” of the endangered species, conservationist says
Eleven cheetah cubs were rescued from illegal trade in Somaliland in what a conservationist described on Thursday as “one of the largest confiscations of the species.” The cubs were packed in bags that resembled sacks of potatoes and were being transported in a small dhow off the Somaliland coast at Berbera when the local coast […]
Petition: Stop the Cruel Turtle Smuggling Trade Threatening U.S. Species
Hundreds of turtles across the U.S. are being ripped from the wild and stuffed into socks, diapers, or boxes labeled “toys” – all to fuel a cruel international trade. Recently, a smuggler in Brooklyn pleaded guilty after attempting to ship 850 turtles worth $1.4 million to Hong Kong. Many of these animals were Eastern box […]
Cheetah cubs destined for the illegal trade in exotic wildlife rescued in Somaliland
One eight-month-old cub was unable to walk after being tied up for six months, while a five-month-old was “very malnourished”. Ten cheetah cubs held in captivity since birth and destined for international wildlife trade markets have been rescued in Somaliland, a breakaway region of Somalia Laurie Marker, the founder of the Cheetah Conservation Fund (CCF), […]
DNA probe links Japan’s otter-themed cafes to poaching hotspots in Thailand
A glut of social media videos featuring captive Asian small-clawed otters in the mid-2000s led to what wildlife trade experts term “the pet otter boom.” Demand for the species exploded, placing pressure on wild populations already contending with widespread loss of their wetland habitats. Amid an emerging trend for otter-themed exotic animal cafes in some […]
Illegal Wildlife Trade Sparks Massive Global Rescue of Endangered Animals
The illegal wildlife trade is once again in the spotlight after a major international crackdown that saved thousands of at-risk creatures from traffickers. Teams of police, customs agents, and border officials united to track down suspects, shutting down hidden networks that profit from endangered species and put critical ecosystems at risk. According to an article […]