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May 17, 2013, marks the 8th annual national Endangered Species Day, with special events and other programs throughout the United States to recognize conservation efforts aimed at helping the country’s imperiled species. This year also commemorates the 40th Anniversary of the Endangered Species Act. Endangered Species Day is celebrated on the third Friday in May. It honors the importance of protecting America’s threatened, endangered and at-risk species; highlights success stories of species recovery; and demonstrates everyday actions people can take to protect our disappearing wildlife and last remaining open spaces. Endangered Species Day was started in 2006 by the United States Senate and is a celebration of our nation’s imperiled plants and wildlife and wild places, with an emphasis on success stories of species recovery. “Endangered Species Day offers us an opportunity to recognize the Act’s good works and the work of all those committed to it,” says U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Director Dan Ashe. For 40 years, the Endangered Species Act has helped our nation protect the wild things and wild places, ensuring that our children’s children and future generations can see species such as the bald eagle, the black-footed ferret and the American alligator. To commemorate Endangered Species Day, national wildlife refuges, parks, botanical gardens, schools, libraries, museums, community groups and conservation organizations are holding tours, exhibits, restoration projects, children’s programs, field trips and other activities today and throughout the month. In Washington, D.C., the Endangered Species Day open house takes place at the United States Botanic Garden. Learn more about Endangered Species Day and what you can do to help protect endangered species: Visit stopextinction.org 10 Easy Things You Can Do at Home to Protect Endangered Species ARKive is showcasing some of the less well known endangered species on Endangered Species Day Report Lists 100 of the World’s Most Endangered Species (posted in 2012) Source: USFWS

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The number of rhinos illegally killed in South Africa during the first 134 days of 2013 has reached a staggering 313 — just 20 less than 2010′s death toll of 333. So far this year, 98 suspects have been arrested in South Africa for rhino crimes. However, the majority of people who actually end up in jail for rhino crimes are low-level “poachers” and Vietnamese couriers, says Julian Rademeyer, author of Killing for Profit: Exposing the Illegal Rhino Horn Trade. Rademeyer spoke at length about the involvement of “game industry insiders” on our podcast, South Africa’s Rhino Horn Dealers. Research done by fact-checking website Africa Check further revealed that the prosecution rate for rhino crimes in South Africa is abysmally low. Between January 2010 and July 2012, for instance, 573 people were arrested for rhino related crimes. Yet, in 2012, only 28 accused were convicted in 20 cases. Although there is no doubt that the demand for rhino horn is mainly from Vietnam and China, the repeated involvement of South Africa’s game industry insiders continues to evade public scrutiny. (For an interesting and in-depth read on South Africa’s rhino situation, check out the blog post “Rhino poaching in South Africa — a recipe with homegrown ingredients” by Dr. Pieter Kat.) Source: environment.gov.za

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A South African veterinarian is under investigation for the “gruesome” dehorning of rhinos, while a rhino has died less than a year after being sold to a “hell hole” zoo in Bangladesh. Dr. Alex Lewis is reportedly accused of dehorning rhinos “in a cruel and inhumane manner” using a knife and a blowtorch. He apparently used a knife to cut off the rhino horn too close to the nerve endings. The animals bled heavily and blood vessels were cauterised with a gas flame.  Free State environmental affairs spokesperson Kgotso Tau was quoted by News24 as saying that “the animals appeared to be in pain and that too much blood may have flowed”. Lewis claims to have dehorned “hundreds” of rhinos using the knife-and-blowtorch method. Meanwhile, a male white rhino exported from South Africa to the notorious Dhaka Zoo in Bangladesh has died. The rhino was part of a wildlife purchase made in 2012, which reportedly included two white rhinos, two white lions, two striped hyenas, two spotted hyenas, three ostriches, three oryx, three zebras and three greater kudus. The Dhaka Tribune says that “the zoo authority had found some scars, probably from beating on the dead rhino’s body” and “a post-mortem report after its death confirmed that the rhino died of hemorrhage in its head”, possibly due to “fighting with the other rhino or by banging its head against [a] wall”. It is worth noting that South Africa wildlife brokers have a history of doing business with the beleaguered Bangladesh zoo: In 2008, 27 animals were sold by South African dealers to Dhaka — and twelve of them were dead in less than a year. See also: Rhinos and Lions Sold to ‘Hell Hole’ Zoo in Bangladesh

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A federal judge has sentenced Vinh Chuong “Jimmy” Kha, and Felix Kha, to 42 and 46 months in prison for their involvement with a rhino horn trafficking ring operating in the United States. In addition to serving prison time, the Khas must pay a total of $20,000 in criminal fines and pay a $185,000 tax fraud penalty and assessment. Jimmy Kha’s Win Lee Corporation was ordered to pay a $100,000 fine. They must also pay restitution to the Multinational Species Conservation Fund. Jimmy and Felix Kha, along with Win Lee Corporation, were also ordered to pay a total of $800,000 in restitution to the Multinational Species Conservation Fund, a statutorily created fund that is managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) to support international efforts to protect and conserve rhinos and other critically endangered species around the world. However, the Los Angeles Times reports that Jimmy Kha’s attorney convinced Judge Christina Snyder to take a year off the Khas’ sentences by describing “how his client fled the communist rule in Vietnam then built a new life in the U.S. by waiting tables and working at swap meets while raising two sons as a single father”. In February 2013, Manhattan antiques dealer David Hausman was sentenced to six months in jail followed by one year of supervised release for his role in the trafficking of rhino horns in the United States. Hausman was ordered to pay a $10,000 fine to the Lacey Act Reward Fund and $18,000 to the Rhino Tiger Conservation Fund, along with a $200 special assessment fee. He pleaded guilty in July 2012 to the crimes of obstruction of justice and creating false records in violation of the Lacey Act. Shusen Wei, the founder of Dongying Yisheng Petroleum Product Sales Co. Ltd. and Vice Chairman of the local Dongying Chamber of Commerce, pleaded guilty in April 2013 to charges arising from his involvement with a rhino horn trafficking ring operating in the United States. Wei was arrested on February 2nd, 2013, at JFK airport — en route to China. “Operation Crash” is an ongoing nationwide effort led by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (FWS) and the Justice Department to crack down on rhino horn trafficking. The investigation resulted in the February 2012 arrests of David Hausman, Felix and Vin Chuong “Jimmy” Kha, Mai Nguyen, Jarrod Wade Steffen, Amir Even-Ezra, and Zhao Feng Jin, and the Februaru 2013 arrests of Zhifei Li, Shusen Wei, and Qing Wang. Maximum penalties are up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine for conspiracy; five years in prison and a $250,000 fine for Lacey Act violations; and up to one year in prison and a $100,000 fine for violations of the Endangered Species Act. See also: U.S. ‘Operation Crash’ Nets Three More Rhino Horn Traffickers Update on U.S. Rhino Horn Trafficking Case ‘Operation Crash’ Source: USDOJ

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In less than a month’s time, Nepalese authorities have rounded up 12 suspects in three separate incidents for smuggling rhino horns and pangolin scales. On April 27th, six rhino horn traders were arrested in Bardibas (Mahottari district). Bhishma Humagain, Inspector of Police at Bardibas Area Police Office told MyRepublica.com that Bindeshwor Saha, Ashok Lama, Dev Raj Waiba, Hemant Magar, Thagendra Moktan, and Vicky Oli were turned over to Chitwan National Park officials. Just ten days later, a total of five people were arrested when police intercepted a bus headed to Tatopani from Kathmandu. Border police seized nine kilograms of pangolin scales and a sizeable amount of foreign currency. Sange Tamang‚ Maya Sherpa‚ and Pemba Sherpa were each carrying three kilograms of pangolin scales attached “to their thighs and other parts of the body with duct tape”, according to The Himalayan Times. In addition, foreign currency in the amounts of 78‚000 US dollars and 136‚000 Chinese Yuan was seized from suspects identified as Doma Sherpa and Chitra Bahadur Shrestha, who had tied the money to their waists. Indra Bahadur Prasain of the Sindhulpalchok District Forest Office said in March 2013 that the Tatopani border point is part of a notorious smuggling route. Smugglers from both India and China have been using this route to smuggle endangered plants and animal parts. These parts are being smuggled to India and China through the Tatopani border using Nepali territory. Prasain added that smuggling at the Tatopani border point had been occurring since the 1960s, and “hinted at involvement of custom officials in the smuggling” of red sandalwood to China. He noted that the Rasuwa border point is another hub of concern. And earlier this week, police raided the Chandranigahapur-based Sudarshan Hotel and arrested Birendra Yadav with a rhino horn. Yadav claimed he was unaware that there was a rhino horn in the bag given to him by Manoj Dhital of Rangapur VDC. Police are currently searching for Dhital. In February 2013, one rhino was killed in Nepal’s Chitwan National Park.

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It seems that no pangolin population is safe from the deadly illegal trade: During the final ten days of April 2013, pangolins and scales were seized in the Philippines, India, Cameroon, and France. On April 20th — just days after the shocking discovery of 2,000 frozen pangolins on a Chinese fishing vessel which ran aground in Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park — the Philippine Coast Guard seized another 23 pangolins from a cargo ship at the port of Coron. A tip-off prompted the PCG to search the M/V Maria Lydia, a Philippine vessel owned and operated by JCAP Shipping Lines and with a business address in Coron, Palawan. 22 of the pangolins were still alive at the time. According to GMA News, the Maria Lydia’s skipper, Menandro Fabul, claims that he did not know who “left the anteaters” on the ship. However, Coast Guard Palawan head Commodore Enrico Evangelista is “not satisfied with the claim” and the PCG plans to press charges against Fabul. Also on April 20th, a suspect identified as “Shakeel” was arrested and 11 kg of pangolin scales were seized in Uttar Pradesh, India. The suspect is “alleged to be a member of an international gang” involved in the trafficking of endangered species. Using an average weight for Asian pangolins of seven kilograms and scales comprising 20 percent of a pangolin’s weight, this seizure represents approximately eight pangolins. Then on April 29th, the Cameroon-based wildlife law enforcement NGO LAGA reported that seven sacks (weight not known at time of writing) of pangolin scales had been seized in Limbe. A Cameroonian and a Chinese national were arrested. Founder of LAGA and author of The Last Great Ape, Ofir Drori, says that “the trade in pangolin scales is booming” in the region. He informed Annamiticus that the Chinese national had attempted to “conceal the sacks into three carry-on suitcases”. The next day, 50 kg (110 lbs) of pangolin scales (also from Cameroon and apparently headed to Vietnam) were intercepted by customs authorities at the Charles de Gaulle airport in Paris. Using an average weight for African pangolins of 11 kg and scales comprising 20 percent of a pangolin’s weight, the haul represents approximately 23 pangolins. This was reportedly the third seizure of scales at CDG in April 2013, and the sixth since 2009. Meanwhile, the thousands of pangolin carcasses found aboard the Chinese ship in April 2013 will be destroyed. Alex Marcaida, the information officer at the Palawan Council for Sustainable Development, told The Wall Street Journal that a court order was necessary for the disposal because the ship is considered evidence against the 12 Chinese suspects. The thousands of frozen anteaters on the Chinese vessel have been thawing, creating a stench and potential health hazard. They will be buried in the outskirts Palawan’s main city of Puerto Princesa. Five of the 400 boxes containing dead pangolins were sent for sampling. Initial tests show that at least two pangolin species were killed — the Philippine pangolin (Manis culionensis) and the Sunda pangolin (Manis javanica), found throughout Southeast Asia. [The Philippine pangolin] is protected under a ban on the collection of any form of wildlife in the Province of Palawan, the entire province having been declared a game refuge and bird sanctuary in 1969. All eight pangolin species are listed in CITES Appendix II, 4 with zero export quotas for wild collected specimens. Between 2011 and 2013 (A/O April 20), we estimate that between 89,020 and 178,040 pangolins were destined for the black market. Pangolins — even whole fetuses — are eaten as a delicacy in China and Vietnam. Their scales are also a prized ingredient in traditional Chinese medicine, although the scales are comprised simply of keratin, like human nails and hair. And finally, one fortunate pangolin in Sri Lanka will live to see another day. The pangolin was rescued by wildlife officials after being contacted by a local villager who said his dogs had found the animal near his home. Wildlife authorities released the pangolin in Hiyare Forest Reserve.

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A conservative estimate of pangolin trafficking from 2011 through April 20th, 2013, suggests that more than 100,000 of these small mammals could have been killed in less than three years. Since most illegal wildlife trade is undetected, we based our estimate on seizures reported by the media for the 28-month period — a total of 17,812 pangolins, accounting for scales and parts. Considering that seizures generally represent only 10 to 20 percent of the actual illegal trade volume, we estimate that between 89,020 and 178,040 pangolins were destined for the black market. So far this year, we found a total of 2,562 pangolins accounted for in media reports, including the seizure of 11 kg of scales in India and the 2,000 pangolins discovered in the cargo hold of a Chinese fishing vessel which ran aground in the Philippines. In March 2013,

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The illegal rhino horn trade has claimed the lives of at least 232 rhinos in South Africa during the first 107 days of 2013, according to the Department of Environmental Affairs. While recent arrests and jail sentences have been praised by the Department, research done by fact-checking website Africa Check revealed that the prosecution rate for rhino crimes in South Africa is abysmally low. Between January 2010 and July 2012, for instance, 573 people were arrested for rhino related crimes. Yet, in 2012, only 28 accused were convicted in 20 cases. In fact, the majority of people who are in jail for rhino crimes in South Africa are low-level “poachers” and Vietnamese couriers, says Julian Rademeyer, author of Killing for Profit: Exposing the Illegal Rhino Horn Trade. Rademeyer spoke at length about the involvement of “game industry insiders” on our podcast, South Africa’s Rhino Horn Dealers. Although there is no doubt that the demand for rhino horn is mainly from Vietnam and China, the repeated involvement of South Africa’s game industry insiders continues to evade public scrutiny. Meanwhile, Hanoi-based Education for Nature-Vietnam has launched an innovative campaign to make it socially unacceptable to use rhino horn in Vietnam. Source: sanews.gov.za

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Education for Nature-Vietnam — a Vietnamese NGO — is leading the charge to stop the consumption of rhino horn with a campaign to increase negative social attitudes towards rhino horn users. ENV has released a powerful and innovative public service announcement which calls rhino horn users “ignorant, foolish, backward, cruel, and evil”. The video was launched during CITES CoP16 and ENV hopes the PSA “will help send a strong message to rhino horn consumers that this behavior is socially unacceptable, and the effects of this kind of consumption are being felt across the world”. “Tiêu thụ sừng tê giác là hành động đáng lên án!” is the first in a new series of PSAs targeting rhino horn consumers to be released this year, and is part of ENV’s rapidly expanding rhino awareness campaign. Tiêu thụ sừng tê giác là hành động đáng lên án! In addition to the public service announcements, ENV has teamed up with Endangered Wildlife Trust in South Africa to produce bilingual posters. The posters will be distributed via websites, social media channels, forums and blogs, and displayed during ENV awareness activities, such as public exhibitions and university programs. ENV explains on their website that “putting a stop to the killing of rhinos for their horns requires a two-pronged approach.” Aggressive and appropriately harsh measures need to be aimed at the criminal networks that smuggle rhino horns in from Africa and supply consumer demand in Vietnam, in conjunction with sustained campaigns targeting Vietnamese consumers to dispel both myth and rumors about the magical properties of rhino horn. Until 2010, the only surviving wild rhinos in Indochina were found in Cat Tien National Park (southern Vietnam). Tragically, the world’s last Vietnamese Javan rhino (Rhinoceros sondaicus annamiticus) rhino was found shot, with her horn removed, rendering the subspecies extinct. Learn more about the work of Education for Nature-Vietnam. Education for Nature-Vietnam is the country’s first environmental NGO and was founded in 2000 by Quyen Vu. She explained in an interview with me that “a Vietnamese solution was needed for a Vietnamese problem”. Vietnam’s rapid economic growth during the last 15 years has created a higher standard of living in the country. This has led to an increased demand for products made from wildlife. Tiger bone, bear bile, pangolin scales, and rhino horns are now within reach of consumers who previously would have been unable to afford such expensive items. The rhino horn trade is unique in that the killing is occurring many thousands of kilometers away in South Africa, where Vietnamese nationals have been connected to both illegal hunting and smuggling of rhino horns destined for markets back in Vietnam. Listen to the entire interview with Quyen Vu, founder of Education for Nature-Vietnam. Download our newsletter — The Annamiticus Quarterly — to learn about our field visit to Hanoi and our work with ENV.

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A Chinese fishing vessel which ran aground in Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site in the Philippines, was carrying 400 boxes of frozen pangolins in its cargo hold. Each box reportedly contained 25 to 30 kilograms of pangolins.* The 12 Chinese fishermen aboard the ship were taken into custody on April 8th and are currently being held at the Palawan provincial jail. They were charged with poaching, attempted bribery of marine park rangers, and several violations of the Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park Act. On April 11th, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hong Lei said via Xinhua “China urges the Philippines to guarantee the safety and legitimate rights of the Chinese fishermen it has taken into custody”. Ironically, the same press release stated that “the Chinese government always attaches great importance to the security of its fishermen abroad, while educating and supervising them on their fishing activities“. (So, how did 400 boxes of frozen pangolins evade China’s “supervised fishing activities”?) Lieutenant Commander Armand Badillo, spokesman of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), told Gulf News that the PCG would “find out if the frozen scaly anteaters or pangolins, also known as balintong, were taken from Tubbataha Reef or from a nearby area in the Philippine territory.” Each of the boxes had 25 to 30 [kilograms of] frozen anteaters, said Badillo. Under Philippine laws, the Chinese nationals would face additional charges for trafficking in endangered pangolins. Pangolins are unfortunately considered a “delicacy” in China, while their scales are used in traditional Chinese medicine. There is no proven medicinal benefit to consuming pangolin scales, which are comprised of keratin — just like our fingernails and toenails. In 2012, an estimated 60,000 pangolins were killed in the illegal trade. *Updated 04/16/2013: 400 boxes with a total weight of 10,000kg each contained 25 to 30 kilograms of pangolins, which amounts to a shocking 2,000 pangolins. We note that varying quantities in this incident were initially reported: 25 to 30 pangolins per box, 10,000 kg of pangolins, 2,000 pangolin “pieces” and 400 pangolins.

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