The defaunation bulletin Quarterly information and analysis report on animal poaching and smuggling n°20. Events from the 1th January to the 31 of March 2018 Published on May 21, 2018 Original version in French 1 On the Trail #20. Robin des Bois/Robin Hood Carried out by Robin des Bois (Robin Hood) with the support of the Brigitte Bardot Foundation, the Franz Weber Foundation and of the Ministry of Ecological and Solidarity Transition, France reconnue d’utilité publique 28, rue Vineuse - 75116 Paris Tél : 01 45 05 14 60 “On the Trail“, the defaunationwww.fondationbrigittebardot.fr magazine, aims to get out of the drip of daily news to draw up every three months an organized and analyzed survey of poaching, smuggling and worldwide market of animal species protected by national laws and international conventions. “ On the Trail “ highlights the new weapons of plunderers, the new modus operandi of smugglers, rumours intended to attract humans consumers of animals and their by-products.“ On the Trail “ gathers and disseminates feedback from institutions, individuals and NGOs that fight against poaching and smuggling. End to end, the “ On the Trail “ are the biological, social, ethnological, police, customs, legal and financial chronicle of poaching and other conflicts between humanity and animality. Previous issues in English http://www.robindesbois.org/en/a-la-trace-bulletin-dinformation-et-danalyses-sur-le-braconnage-et-la-contrebande/ Previous issues in French http://www.robindesbois.org/a-la-trace-bulletin-dinformation-et-danalyses-sur-le-braconnage-et-la-contrebande/ Non Governmental Organization for the Protection of Man and the Environment Since 1985 14 rue de l’Atlas 75019 Paris, France tel : 33 (1) 48.04.09.36 - fax : 33 (1) 48.04.56.41 www.robindesbois.org [email protected] Publication Director : Jacky Bonnemains Editor-in-Chief: Charlotte Nithart Art Directors and coordination : Charlotte Nithart, Jacky Bonnemains and Elodie Crépeau Writing: Jacky Bonnemains and Jean-Pierre Edin Research and assistant editor: Elodie Crépeau, Irene Torres Márquez, Elisabeth Lavarde, Manon Lefebvre and Odile Malassis Cover photo: soft corals Dendronephthya © Bernard Dupont Translation English edition “On the Trail “: Emilie Courtin, Eirann Cohen, collectif Robin des Bois and CPW Paris. The English translation of this n°20 of “A la Trace“/ “On the Trail“ was realized with the support of of the Séché Environnement group. On the Trail #20. Robin des Bois/Robin Hood 2 Contents Judgment and sanction Condemnation, acquittal, fine... Seahorses 4 Corals 5 Abalones 6 Giant Clams and Conches 11 Human death Guard, ranger, policeman, Sea Cucumbers 11 poacher... by firearm or other Sea Urchins 13 means. Fishes 14 Marine Mammals 18 Poisoning Marine Turtles 20 By chemicals, pesticides and Various Marine Species 22 medicines: cyanide, Carbofuran, Tortoises and Freshwater Turtles 23 Diclofenac, M99 … Snakes 26 Sauria 28 Trapping Crocodilians 30 Poaching by jaw trap, snare ... Various Reptile Species 31 Amphibians 33 Arachnids 33 Birds 34 Full moon Pangolins 51 Moonlight poaching Pangolins and Elephants 55 Primates 56 Vicuñas and Guanacos 61 Felines 62 Felines and Elephants 73 CITES Appendices Wolves 74 Red Pandas 75 Convention on International Trade in Endange- Bears 76 red Species of Wild Fauna and Flora. 182 Member States Hippopotamuses 78 Hippopotamuses and Elephants 78 Appendix I : species threatened with extinction. Trade in specimens of these species is permitted Rhinoceroses 79 only in exceptional circumstances and under Rhinos and Elephants 85 import and export permits. Elephants 88 Appendix II : export permit required in order to Mammoths 110 avoid utilization incompatible with the species Other Mammals 111 survival. Import permit if required by national law. Multi-Species 114 Appendix III : species that are protected in at least Donkeys 130 one country, which has asked other CITES Parties for assistance in controlling the trade. In the case of trade from a State that included the species in Appendix III, an export permit of that State is required. 3 On the Trail #20. Robin des Bois/Robin Hood Seahorses THAILAND Seahorses (Hippocampus spp.) are listed under January 24, 2018 CITES Appendix II. Pattaya, Bang Lamung District, Province of Chonburi, Thailand Pictures posted on Internet by tourists attracted much more attention to Paisri Worawong’s stand on the floating market than she would have wanted. She was selling for 150 baht a piece ($4.5 US) grilled sea horses on skewers. She had bought them for 80 baht ($2,45 US) a piece in a pharmacy in Bangkok. Her little business was mainly aimed at Chinese vacationers, among which some still believe sea horses can cure impotence. The pictures caused angered comments and led to an inspection from the market director unhappy of the bad fame given to his business. Paisri Worawong was banned from the floating market. On a legal level the seller cannot be prosecuted. Seahorses are not yet protected in Thailand.2 EUROPE ITALY March 17-18, 2018 Florence, Tuscany Region, Italy A greasy spoon in all of its splendor: set up in the street, the “ cook “ handled food directly on the sidewalk and stored expired meat (including goose heads and necks) as well as a full box of seahorses. The municipal police intervened at night, seizing all of the equipment. The health administration © seahorses of the world was also involved. The Chinese operator had a license for itinerant activities. He was fined 169 € ASIA ($210 US) for illegal occupation of public space and another 5,000 € ($6,200 US) for violating trade rules. CHINA Legal proceedings were brought against him for detention of the seahorses.3 March 2018 Mohan Port, Mengla County, Yunnan Province, China. Border with Laos. The truck had already entered China, coming from Laos. At the freight terminal, the customs officers decided to check it out. In the cab, the Chinese driver was hiding a cardboard box full of dried seahorses. There were 2395 of them, weighing 3.9 kg.1 On the Trail #20. Robin des Bois/Robin Hood 4 Corals ASIA CHINA AFRICA January 25, 2018 ALGERIA Shenyang, Liaoning Province, China The package came from Japan and contained 1.34 Beginning of February 2018 kg of coral jewelry: bracelets, earrings, necklaces...3 Off El Kala, El Taref Province, Algeria. Border with Tunisia. Beginning of March 2018 Seizure of 2 t of red coral (Corallium rubrum), Shanghai, China four small boats, diving equipment, three cars, Customs officers seized a package coming from several heavy forbidden fishing gears knowned Greece and containing 20 red coral branches. In as “ingegno” that scrape up corals and destroy China, four species of coral are listed in the CITES habitats. 22 arrests. The trafficking is tenacious. Appendix III (Corallium elatius, Corallium japonicum, The pilfered branches are exfiltrated through the Corallium konjoi and Corallium secundum). In the Algerian-Tunisian border and then sent on to Italy, Mediterranean basin, catching and marketing coral a platform from which they are scattered toward are subject to restrictions. 4 other European countries, and toward the Middle East and Asia (see “On the Trail n°15 p.6).1 Beginning of March 2018 Kunming, Yunnan Province, China Seizure on a Vietnamese individual of ten bracelets made of red coral, 90 g per bracelet.5 SINGAPORE March 7, 2018 Singapore Sentenced to two months in prison for having tried to import 80 branches of coral (Scleractinia order, Appendix II and Alcyonacea) from the Philippines, labelled as “decorative plastic items for aquariums.” Most were chalice corals, i.e. with compartments enabling the © Christophe Quintin © Christophe polyps to retract.6 Mid March 2018 EUROPE Annaba, Annaba Province, Algeria The informant was right. The Brigade de recherche ITALY et d’intervention (BRI) went close to the mouth of the Wadi Seybouse and, near the Sidi Salem March 22, 2018 cemetery, found three young people, one of Genoa Port, Liguria Region, Italy whom was a minor possessing 4.15 kg of red coral Historic bust. Eight tons of seven different species. (Corallium rubrum). They also found a motor boat, Never before has such a large quantity of coral scuba tanks, nets ... The material was handed over been seized in the country. The customs officers to the coastguard while the poachers were indicted at la Guardia di Finanza discovered the cargo on by the El Hadjar court and placed in detention, with board a merchant ship arriving from Singapore. the exception of the minor. But a new source of The anthozoans originated from the Solomon revenue has emerged for the mobs: according to Islands. The recipient, according to the press, is “a the newspaper “L’expression” the ability of red coral company specializing in the processing and trade to withstand high heat make them useful in Israel of shells and fossils for well-known collectors in the for the manufacture of rivets for the aeronautical western Liguria region.” The company’s owner is industry.2 summoned.7 March 22, 2018 Bari Karol Wojtyła Airport, Apulia Region, Italy The man arrived from the Seychelles. Taking an interest in his baggage, the customs officers and agents of the airport discovered eight corals (family Acroporidae, Appendix II) weighing a total of 300 g, without a CITES document. The traveler left the airport without the anthozoans but with the added weight of a 5,000 € ($6,200 US) fine.8 5 On the Trail #20. Robin des Bois/Robin Hood Abalones AFRICA Haliotiss spp. SOUTH AFRICA GANG January 7, 2018 Big Bay, Cape Town, Western Cape Province, South Africa One car. Three arrests: 18, 31 and 33 years old. $19,000 US worth of abalones. The other passengers got away.1 © Arne Purves January 8, 2018 Goodwood, Cap, Province of Western Cape, South Africa The vehicle aroused suspicion. Police were warned, and a flying squad managed to stop it.