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wildlife trafficking

Royals Speak Out Against Wildlife Trafficking

Prince Charles and Prince William are calling upon world leaders to place the battle against wildlife trafficking at the top of the global agenda. At a May 21st, 2013, event in London hosted by HRH The Prince of Wales and the UK government, Prince Charles said: “As a father and a soon-to-be grandfather, I find it inconceivable that our children and grandchildren could live in a world bereft of these animals.
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#ESDay Endangered Species Day 2013

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
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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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‘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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Four Pangolin Smuggling Busts in Four Countries in 10 Days

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 pan
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Pangolin Trafficking: 2011 to April 2013 [Infographic]

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 general
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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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Philippines: Thousands of Frozen Pangolins Discovered on Chinese Ship

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 poachin
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