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rhino horn

South Africa: 313 Rhinos Killed in 134 Days

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,
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More Woes for South Africa’s Rhino ‘Industry’

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 en
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‘Operation Crash’ Update: US Sentences Rhino Horn Traffickers to Prison

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
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Nepal: Rhino Horn and Pangolin Smugglers Arrested

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
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South Africa: 232 Rhinos Killed in 107 Days

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 J
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Vietnam: Making it Socially Unacceptable to Use Rhino Horn

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 th
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‘Operation Crash’: Chinese Business Exec Pleads Guilty to Rhino Horn Trafficking

Shusen Wei, the founder of Dongying Yisheng Petroleum Product Sales Co. Ltd. and Vice Chairman of the local Dongying Chamber of Commerce, has pleaded guilty 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 — shortly after he was questioned by USFWS agents at the Original Mia
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South Africa: 188 Rhinos Killed in 85 Days

At least 188 rhinos were killed in South Africa during the first quarter of 2013, according to the country’s Department of Environmental Affairs. Of the 188 rhinos, 135 were killed in Kruger National Park, 17 in North West, 16 in KwaZulu-Natal, ten in Limpopo, and ten in Mpumalanga provinces. 63 suspects have been arrested in South Africa since the beginning of 2013 for rhino crimes, although none are at the &#
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Both Good and Bad News for India’s Rhinos

India is home to more than 70 percent of the world’s greater one-horned rhinoceros population, and the latest census has revealed that the numbers of this Asian species are continuing to rise. But rhino killings are on the rise, too. First, the good news: There is quite a bit to celebrate when it comes to the greater one-horned rhinos of India. The Times of India reports that a census completed this week showed
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CITES CoP16 Round Up and Commentary

The 16th Conference of the Parties (CoP16) to CITES concluded in Bangkok, Thailand, on March 14th, 2013, with mixed results for the world’s most threatened species. After experiencing the spectacle of a CoP firsthand, I can say with certainty that overcoming the wildlife trade cartels who have exploited the Convention to line their pockets will take some strategic maneuvering! We were proud to add our voice to
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