Plundering, Trade and Cruelty

Vivants ou morts, entiers ou en morceaux, les animaux sauvages sont une marchandise ordinaire à vendre au plus offrant jusqu’à l’extinction de l’espèce. Les réseaux criminels s’enracinent, s’enrichissent et se mondialisent. La faune est traquée pour décorer, habiller, faire bander, guérir, divertir et se nourrir. Un cauchemar. Depuis juillet 2013, Robin des Bois publie « A la Trace », trimestriel unique sur le braconnage et la contrebande de la faune sauvage, sur les risques sanitaire du commerce international et sa cruauté. La disparition progressive de la faune sauvage prive la Terre de ses plus belles couleurs.

Frogs : appeal from more than 550 scientists and veterinarians

6 Mar 2024

Frogs : appeal from more than 550 scientists and veterinarians

Trade in frogs’ legs must be curbed, President Macron!

Paris, Munich, March 6, 2024 – In a joint letter, 557 experts from research, nature conservation and veterinary medicine have called on French President Emmanuel Macron to end the overexploitation of frogs in Asia and Southeast Europe for the EU’s hunger for frogs’ legs. France, as the largest consumer, should initiate the international protection of the most traded frog species through the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). The letter is an initiative of Robin des Bois, the Veterinarians for Biodiversity (Vétérinaires pour la Biodiversité) and the German organization Pro Wildlife. A similar request was made by 46 NGOs on January 25 to Mr Béchu, the French Minister for Ecological Transition. So far, this letter has gone unanswered. “Are the French doomed to be froggies? It’s time to remember that frogs are also voluntary helpers for farmers.  When they disappear, pests proliferate and the use of pesticides increases” points out Charlotte Nithart, President of Robin des Bois.

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“On the Trail” n°39, the defaunation bulletin

28 Dec 2023

“On the Trail” n°39, the defaunation bulletin

“On the Trail” n°39
the defaunation bulletin
(pdf, 192 pages – 6.7 Mo)

968 events with references, checked, analysed, commented and strengthened between January 1 and February 28, 2023. 331 iconographic documents, 6 maps and historical archives.
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For a Chrismas eve without extinction: “The frog on your Christmas plate…”

4 Dec 2023

For  a Chrismas eve without extinction: “The frog on your Christmas plate…”

Social media campaign warns of serious environmental problems caused by France’s Christmas consumption peak

Paris / Munich / December 4, 2023 – In the run-up to Christmas, the French based organisation Robin des Bois and the German based organisation Pro Wildlife have launched a joint information campaign on social media to highlight the origin of the millions and millions of frogs’ legs being annually consumed. “French consumers believe the frogs on their plate come from nearby ponds and swamps. Instead, the vast majority is caught in the wild in far distant countries” underlines Charlotte Nithart, president of Robin des Bois. Biologist Sandra Altherr from Pro Wildlife adds: “Our campaign illustrates the many problems associated with a dish that is consumed carelessly but causes an ecological disaster and millions of animal suffering. Where frogs are missing as a natural insect control, the use of pesticides increases.”

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(Français) Coup dur pour les fêtes de fin d’année

9 Nov 2023

(Français) Coup dur pour les fêtes de fin d’année

Only in French.

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“On the Trail” n°38, the defaunation bulletin

9 Oct 2023

“On the Trail” n°38, the defaunation bulletin

“On the Trail” n°38,
the defaunation bulletin
1584 events with references, checked, analysed, commented and strengthened between October 1 and
December 31, 2022
397 iconographic documents 12 maps and historical archives
(pdf, 256 pages – 8.9 Mo)

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“On the Trail” n°37, the defaunation bulletin

4 Jul 2023

“On the Trail” n°37, the defaunation bulletin

“On the Trail” n°37, the defaunation bulletin
1439 events with references, checked, analysed, commented and strengthened between
July 1 and 
September 30, 2022
359 iconographic documents 13 maps and historical archives
(pdf, 236 pages – 8.3 Mo)

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“Frog Fair” in Vittel: Fast Food, Fast Extinction

17 Apr 2023

Biodiversity damage and animal suffering on the menu of the largest frogs’ legs meal in the world

Paris / Munich / April 17, 2023 – During the “Frog Fair” in Vittel in the Vosges region of France, which will take place this year on 22 and 23 April, about seven tonnes of frog legs are consumed in just two days by some 20,000 visitors. “For this event alone, up to 350,000 frogs are caught, especially in Indonesia and Turkey, where frog populations are already in alarming decline,” reports Charlotte Nithart of the French organisation Robin des Bois. And Dr Sandra Altherr from the German organisation Pro Wildlife adds: “Do the visitors know that for their snacks, frogs are amputated alive on the other side of the world?”

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“On the Trail” n°36, the defaunation bulletin

20 Mar 2023

“On the Trail” n°36, the defaunation bulletin
“On the Trail” n°36, the defaunation bulletin
1,342 events with references, checked, analysed, commented and strengthened
between
April 1 and June 30, 2022 407 iconographic documents. 8 maps and historical archives
(pdf, 238 pages – 7.5 Mo)


Robin des Bois’ incredible miscellany on poaching and smuggling is going on. “On the Trail” highlights black market trends, new weapons, modus operandi of raiders and smugglers, and rumours meant to attract consumers of wild animals and their by-products. “On the Trail” also pays tribute to the individuals, NGOs and institutions that are fighting wildlife crime. From beginning to end, the 36 issues of “On the Trail” are the biological, social, police, customs, legal and financial chronicle of the poaching pandemic and the anarchic and hypocritical exploitation of biodiversity.

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“On the Trail” n°35, the defaunation bulletin

23 Dec 2022

“On the Trail” n°35, the defaunation bulletin

“On the Trail” n°35, the defaunation bulletin
1,420 events with references, checked, analysed, commented and strenghtened between January 1 and March 31, 2022
368 iconographic documents.
10 maps and historical archives
(pdf, 218 pages – 7.4 Mo)

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An arrk and 9 tuned notes

25 Nov 2022

An arrk and 9 tuned notes

Press release CITES CoP19 n°6 – Continuation and End
Panama

Arrk !

The whole world agrees to oppose deforestation in the Amazon. However, for the Brazilwood (Paubrasilia echinata), CITES is sensitive to the music of chainsaws and is not concerned about the disappearance of Brazil’s last Atlantic forests. Among the trees that have fallen victim is the Brazilwood, whose wood is used for bows and bow blanks for violins and other string instruments (see the paragraph on Brazilwood in the press release “Panama, the great sellout of wild animals and plants”, Nov 14, 2022).

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