Authorities in Vietnam have intercepted more than a ton of elephant ivory along with big-cat bones in a shipment from the Republic of Congo. Gia Lai provincial authorities announced that the haul of 1,193 kilograms (2,630 pounds) of ivory and 79.3 kg (175 lb) of bones was uncovered at Quy Nhon Port in early August. […]
Tag: traffickers
Two Cheetah Cubs Rescued from Illegal Wildlife Trade in Somaliland
When a tip came in that two cheetah cubs were about to be loaded onto a boat and smuggled into the exotic pet trade, responders had only hours to act. What followed was a remarkable effort that not only saved two young lives but also shone a spotlight on a crisis that continues to threaten […]
Woman wanted by Interpol over trafficking of tiger parts arrested in India
A woman accused of being one of the world’s most wanted traffickers of tiger body parts has been arrested in India, officials have said. Yangchen Lachungpa, who was detained earlier this week, is accused of playing a critical role in building trafficking corridors leading out of the country to smuggle tiger parts out of the […]
How Indonesian communities rescued the Bali starling from the brink of extinction
One of the world’s rarest birds has rebounded from near extinction after Indigenous communities on the Indonesian island of Bali committed to protect it under traditional laws, Mongabay contributor Heather Physioc reported. The Bali starling (Leucopsar rothschildi) is a songbird with striking white plumage and a cobalt-blue face. In 2001, just six birds were known […]
‘They’re a lot like us’: saving the tiny punk monkeys facing extinction
Luis Enrique Centena spent decades silencing the forest. Now, he listens. Making a whistle, the former logger points up to a flash of white and reddish fur in the canopy. Inquisitive eyes peer back – a cotton-top tamarin, one of the world’s rarest primates. “I used to cut trees and never took the titís into […]
Massive turtle bust in Mexico reveals ‘Wild West’ of wildlife trafficking
In undercover raids carried out in late September, Mexican authorities discovered 2,339 wild-caught turtles crammed into bins in five locations in Jalisco and Baja California states. Along with the live reptiles, they found a massive stash of other illegal wildlife products that are coveted as delicacies in East Asia: 1,569 kilograms (3,459 pounds) of sea […]
Wildlife traffickers moving ‘dirty money’ within web of organized crime, researcher finds
The illegal wildlife trade is deeply connected to other forms of organized crime, including arms dealing, drug trafficking and human smuggling, a new study has found. Michelle Anagnostou led the research as part of her PhD at the University of Waterloo (UW). She said she was struck to discover, while doing the research, the big […]
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 […]