Surging European Union Ivory Exports
Surging European Union Pre-CITES Convention* Ivory Exports to Hong Kong A Cause for Concern
South Africa, 27 September 2016 – As delegates from all around the world deliberate on the future of wildlife, including elephants, at the CITES CoP17 wildlife trade conference in Johannesburg, South Africa, recently obtained data from the Hong Kong government show significant imports of ivory from the European Union to Hong Kong SAR of the People’s Republic of China with a total tonnage of over 7 tonnes. Moreover, the number of worked ivory pieces entering Hong Kong shot up by a dramatic 685%. In 2014, the total number of worked ivory pieces entering Hong Kong from the European Union was 1,572 pieces, but this leapt dramatically to 10,761 worked ivory pieces in 2015.
“On the Trail“ – Special Edition. 17th meeting of the CITES
Special Edition – 17th meeting of the CITES
For 3 years, the NGO Robin des Bois (Robin Hood) has been publishing in French and in English the quarterly bulletin “On the Trail“ on the poaching and smuggling of animal species threatened with extinction. Information come from a thousand sources, institutions, local medias and NGOs on the spot throughout the world. Each event is analyzed, related with a maximum of practical details and further developments are traced through time.
“On the Trail” n°13 – 1st April – 30th June 2016
“On the Trail” n°13
Information and analysis bulletin on animal poaching and smuggling
n°13 / 1st April – 30th June 2016
116 pages (8.2 Mo)
Rhinoceroses, elephants and hippopotamuses, pages 67 to 97
– Corruption and violence go together. Both diseases are contagious. They are growing larger and larger and take root. Police, armies, rangers, airport officers are stricken. 19 known dead men among the poachers and the rangers and other law defenders during the last 3 months.
– Ensnaring and poisoning are on the increase.
– The smuggling tracks are shifting and sometimes surprising. Ex: Ivory from the United States of America to Kenya.
– Global turtles’ black market is on the rise. Until $ 10,000 US per unit.
– Hippopotamus ivory is settling down as a substitute to elephant ivory.
– Bad luck for them. It’s a newly rumored that the geckos can cure AIDS.
– One of long drug is coming back in the news: the venom of scorpion.
– Mistreated wildlife is on view on social network and the internet.
– The strengthening of sanctions after poaching and smuggling is notable.
“On the Trail” n°12
“On the Trail” n°12
Poaching and trafficking around the world
January, February, March 2016
114 pages (6.5 Mo)
Rhinoceroses and elephants, pages 66 to 96
Three heroes: the pilot of a helicopter shot down by poachers in Tanzania (p. 80), Chandni the female leopard in suburban Mumbai (p. 53), and No Border, an East African elephant (p. 77)
Donkeys are also targeted by Chinese expats (p. 97) …
And black baza is sold in baskets in hair salons in Malaysia (p. 32).
Ivory burn launches campaign for global ivory trade ban
Conservationists welcome move to tighten international legal protection for elephants
As Kenya prepares to burn 105 tonnes of stockpiled ivory on Saturday 30 April – the largest destruction of ivory in Africa’s history and seven times the size of any ivory stockpile destroyed so far – non-governmental organizations working to save elephants are praising African countries for their plans to secure a permanent ban on the global ivory trade and the destruction of ivory stockpiles worldwide.
“On the Trail” n°11
The staggering world of wildlife poaching and smuggling
Quarterly Information and Analysis Bulletin
n°11: 1st October – 31th December 2015
100 pages of cruelty, corruption, courage, amazement, and beauty (6.6 Mo)
Rhinoceroses, elephants and mammoths, pages 56 to 87
Discover caviar in a coffin, ivories in trailers and containers.
Explore the wigs and tailors networks.
Rescue vultures and worry about bears.
Elephants killed and smugglers released
Following an important smuggled ivory seizure in Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris in the luggage of two Vietnamese traffickers, the NGO Robin des Bois and Fondation Brigitte Bardot deplore that this significant action ended up in the almost immediate release of the suspects.
These two individuals were transiting from Angola via Addis-Ababa, Ethiopia and about to leave for Hanoi. They were released after 5 hours police custody.
According to the article L 415-6 of the Environment Code and 132-71 of the Penal Code, they are liable to 7 years imprisonment and 150,000 euros fine.
“On the Trail” n°10
“On the Trail” n°10 is now available.
Information and analysis bulletin on animal poaching and smuggling
The wildlife crime scene of July, August and September 2015
80 pages PDF, 5.7 MB
Rhinoceroses and elephants, pages 45 to 67