Elizabeth Unger was a 25-year-old biology graduate working as a PhD research assistant for big cat and climate projects in Latin America when she heard about the Bolivian authorities intercepting dozens of packages containing jaguar fangs sent by Chinese citizens to addresses in China. “I was really blown away as [the story] was completely under […]
Tag: trafficking
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 […]
Negligent Truck Driver Kills Elephant
According to Wildlife SOS, an elephant was killed on a road in India. 40-year-old Lakshmi was killed by a negligent truck driver in Rajasthan. Wildlife SOS heard about the accident and rushed to her aid. A veterinary team went to the elephant with medical equipment. The team concluded that her condition was critical due to […]
Six Lions Found Dead in Ugandan National Park
The BBC reported that six lions have been found dead and dismembered at a national park in Uganda. The lions were found in Queen Elizabeth National Park with heads and paws hacked off in what authorities believe is poisoning. Authorities and conservationists are working to investigate and the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) said it “cannot […]
In Indonesia, an illegal leopard trade thrives out of sight, new study shows
This is the story of how Indonesia is losing its spots. In a recent paper published in Nature Conservation, researchers found that the archipelagic nation has a significant illegal trade in two regional leopard species: the Javan leopard (Panthera pardus melas) and the Sunda clouded leopard (Neofelis diardi). This trafficking could pose a serious threat […]
Exotic Pets Ownership Up By 60 Percent in the UK
New information from Born Free, an animal charity, has found that exotic pets are on the rise in Britain. New survey data found that almost 4,000 wild animals are being kept as pets. This accounts for a 59% increase in exotic pet ownership since 2000, according to Born Free. These animals are kept under license but […]
Petition: Ban Photos that Glamorize Exotic Animal Ownership on Instagram
The popularity of social media has brought about the development of a new career: influencers. These individuals have tens of thousands, and sometimes millions, of followers who look to them for what to wear, do, read, watch, use, and, essentially, how to live their lives. Sadly, while some types of influence may have a profoundly […]