In Lupane on Friday, ZIMPARKS rangers discovered a decaying elephant carcass suspected of having succumbed to cyanide poisoning. Poachers employing the highly lethal toxin may be on the street again, nearly a decade after Zimbabwe lost hundreds of jumbo and other species in a similar method. The tragedy was termed Zimbabwe’s worst ecological disaster in […]
Tag: ivory trade
Many hunters leave hippos’ corpses behind and return home with just 12 teeth as their “trophies.”
Hippos are one of the most recognizable creatures on the planet, with their barrel form, massive teeth, and jaws that can expand to nearly 180 degrees. Hippos are also a keystone species because their behavior, as “ecosystem engineers,” helps form and preserve landscapes and ecosystems while also promoting biodiversity. Their presence is vital to the […]
Indian Authorities Seize $1 Million Worth of Sperm Whale Poo Used in Perfumes
Authorities in Tamil Nadu, India seized 8 kilograms of sperm whale ambergris. Which is also called sperm whale poop or sperm whale vomit. Ambergris is the waxy substance created in the bile ducts of sperm whales. It has long been used to make perfumes and is served as a delicacy in some countries. The stuff […]
UK government seeks to extend protection of ivory-bearing animals
Hippos, walruses and killer whales could receive greater legal protection under government proposals to extend the ban on ivory poaching. The plans would see the Ivory Act broadened to cover more animals, with ministers saying elephants are not the only species at risk. The proposed protections opened for public consultation on Saturday, and the Department […]
Chinese special economic zones hotspots for wildlife trafficking, surveys say
SINGAPORE — Special economic zones set up to promote trade between China and its Southeast Asian neighbors are facilitating a black-market trade in wildlife products, according to watchdog group TRAFFIC. Tens of thousands of prohibited wildlife parts and products are being sold across open and unregulated markets in five Southeast Asian countries, with a significant […]
Unregulated by U.S. at home, Facebook boosts wildlife trafficking abroad
In a matter of seconds, anyone can find evidence of wildlife trafficking on Facebook, according to independent researchers and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) experts. Even using simple search terms returns thousands of posts that offer wildlife and body parts up for sale. Elephant ivory from Thailand, pangolin scales from Vietnam, and sun bears […]
Wildlife trafficking, like everything else, has gone online during COVID-19
MANILA — When COVID-19 emerged in early 2020 in Southeast Asia, its governments took rapid containment actions: lockdowns, travel restrictions and trade suspensions, alerting the public about the virus. The pandemic has also put illegal or unsustainable wildlife trade under the spotlight due to enhanced restrictions on movement and increasing awareness about the public health […]
South Africa Ends Captive Lion Breeding and Bone Trade
South Africa will end its lucrative captive lion industry and will consent to the international ban on rhinoceros horn and elephant ivory trade. The government released a report on policies, legislation, and practices on breeding, hunting, handling, and trade of elephants, rhinos, lions, and leopards. “The panel identified that the captive lion industry poses risks […]