Pangolins, often described as walking artichokes or modern-day dinosaurs, are extraordinary creatures that have roamed the Earth for millions of years. Despite their unique evolutionary adaptations and gentle nature, these remarkable mammals now face an existential crisis. Each year, tens of thousands of pangolins are poached from the wild, pushing all eight species toward extinction. […]
Tag: wildlife trafficking
10,000 shark fins worth over $11M seized in major wildlife trafficking bust in Peru
U.S. authorities have assisted the Peruvian government in seizing an estimated 10,000 individual shark fins destined for China — one of the largest wildlife trafficking operations in Latin American history. The bust, on Nov. 10 at an industrial port outside of Lima, led to the arrest of three men tied to a transnational criminal network […]
Singapore intercepts record stash of SA rhino horns hidden in ‘furniture fittings’
The stash of illicit rhino horns, together with an assortment of other animal parts, was destined for the south-east Asian country of Laos. The National Parks Board of Singapore confirmed this week that 35.7kg of rhinoceros horns, valued at roughly S$1.13 million (just under R15 million), were discovered earlier this month during routine cargo checks. […]
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 […]
Sloth selfies are feeding a booming wildlife trafficking trade
It’s not easy to find a sloth in the middle of the forest. They spend most of their time in the tree canopy and are masters of camouflage, thanks to their slow movements and the algae attached to their fur, which makes them blend in with the color of the leaves. Once identified high up, […]
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 […]
Eastern WA man sentenced for illegally selling up to 42 elk carcasses
A Yakima County man has been sentenced to jail and must pay $7,000 in restitution for illegally selling what could be as many as 42 elk carcasses, according to the Washington state Department of Fish and Wildlife. Braden F. Tahkeal, 52, was sentenced in Kittitas County Superior Court to two weeks in jail on one […]
International tiger smuggler faces prison sentence after yearslong manhunt: ‘An important success in fighting wildlife crime’
After nearly a decade on the run, an international wildlife trafficker has been brought to justice, according to The Hawk. Tashi Sherpa, a key figure in an illegal smuggling ring that stretched across India, Nepal, Bhutan, and China, was sentenced to five years in prison in May. Interpol applauded India’s State Tiger Force for leading […]