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Contents Smart Green Infrastructure in Conservation Landscapes 3 Enhanced Community Support Reduces Rhino in 5 Need for Bear Conservation 9 UAE in Spotlight Over Animal Smuggling, says CITES 11 plans special force to protect 14 Wildlife News 16 Year 5 No. 34, June 2011 Year www.citesnepal.org Price: Rs 20/- Editorial

any new policies and plans are being formulated to conserve wild animals by national governments Mand multinational organizations. Recent workshop in Thimpu to discuss recommendations on smart green infrastructures on tiger conservation landscapes came up with recommendations for planning and implementing smart infrastructure for tiger range countries. Likewise, Bangladesh is setting up special force to save tigers and other endangered animals from illegal poaching and intrusion. The custom officials and the police of have become more vigilant and strict in terms of import/ export of wild animals from the country. Though many cases are still prevalent, the frequency of illegal trade has decreased to some extent.

While these countries are working on their strategies to save wildlife, many cases and instances of wild animals' illegal trades are still in news. United Arab Emirate (UAE) has become hotspot for illegal trade with more animals traded for use as pets. The sighting of at roads and buildings has made officials concerned about the illegal captivity of wild animals. Similar is the case for , which are highly traded. The pangolins are traded for their meat and scales. Last month saw huge rise in trade of pangolins. The trade is more seen in Indonesia and Vietnam. In international arena, the trading of turtles, antelopes, ivories and rhino has increased.

These contrasting global scenarios of wildlife status show that many countries are yet to move forward in regard to curbing illegal effectively. The people involved in illegal trades considers as the way for easy money rather than considering their ecological and aesthetical importance. The governments need to be more alert and aware to minimize illegal trade in global level.

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To control the illegal wildlife trade, one needs to control poaching at national park level. Though the government is doing its best and multinational organizations are giving its unprecedented support, if there is not adequate support of the communities residing in the peripheral of national park, the external effort to control poaching will not be successful. This notion has clearly been evident in the recent observation by Esmond and Chryssee Martin on the causes behind the reduction of rhino poaching in Nepal where the author due amply highlighted the enhanced community support in buffer zones of Chitwan and Bardia National Parks that resulted on the reduction of poaching.

2 Smart Green Infrastructure in Tiger Conservation Landscapes

n May 30 and 31, 2011, Oin Thimpu, , representatives from diverse ministries, national experts from other Tiger Range Countries (TRCs) and civil society & private sector in Bhutan met to discuss how to ensure tiger conservation amid accelerating development pressures in tiger conservation landscapes (TCLs). The outcome of ‘Smart Green Infrastructure in Tiger Conservation Landscapes: A Practitioner’s Workshop’, which was jointly organized by the Royal Government of Bhutan and the Global Tiger Initiative, is a set of recommendations for planning and implementing Smart Green Infrastructure (SGI) tools with application to land use planning, hydroelectric power, roads and ecotourism development that can potentially impact TCLs. These recommendations have wide applicability in TRCs.

These recommendations were crafted and adopted by a group of more than 80 representatives from diverse government ministries, civil society, and the private sector of Bhutan, national experts from , Indonesia, Malaysia, Nepal, and Thailand, together with international experts

3 from the World Bank, the instead of traditional economic Smithsonian Institution, and indicators, GNP or GDP. For the US National Park Service. the Bhutanese, biodiversity The forum considered how to and a healthy environment are privilege tiger conservation critical components of Gross amid accelerating development National Happiness. The pressures in tiger conservation Thimpu Recommendations landscapes in the Tiger Range build on Bhutan’s experience Bhutan has committed Countries (TRCs). with safeguarding its forest cover and implementing to maintaining 60 The meetings in Bhutan’s capital green land-use planning with covered the theme ‘Smart its system of protected areas percent of its land Green Infrastructure in Tiger connected by green corridors. area permanently Conservation Landscapes.’ The goal was to address the multi- The Thimpu Recommendations under forest as part sector implications for planning cover several infrastructure and implementation of smart sectors, including Land-use of its Constitution. green infrastructure (SGI) planning, Roads, Hydropower, This is unique among principles with application to and tourism on policy and roads, hydroelectric projects, landscape levels. countries of the ecotourism development, and world, and it has land-use planning that can The SGI workshop brought potentially affect the tiger together representatives of also pioneered the conservation landscapes. diverse sectors to the tiger Operating SGI by design across conservation table. GTI idea of measuring the four sectors in Bhutan Program Director Keshav Varma the nation’s progress is the ultimate goal of the remarked, “We will not succeed recommendations, and in fact in saving tigers if we talk only through ‘Gross National may be applicable to the other to the converted; a country’s TRCs. minister of environment or Happiness’ instead of minister of forestry alone traditional economic Bhutan has long given priority cannot do all that must be done to green growth to ensure that to protect biodiversity.” Other indicators, GNP or conservation is mainstreamed public sectors as well as the into development. It has private sector have an important GDP. committed to maintaining role to play in safeguarding 60 percent of its land area tigers and their habitats. Taking permanently under forest as on this responsibility will help part of its Constitution. This to ensure the future integrity of is unique among countries the ecosystem services—from of the world, and it has also carbon storage to watershed pioneered the idea of measuring protection and food security— the nation’s progress through that tigers and their rich habitats ‘Gross National Happiness’ provide.

4 Enhanced Community Support Reduces Rhino Poaching in Nepal

hino poaching in Nepal Rdeclined in 2008 and 2009 in contrast to the previous seven years. Among the primary reasons for this decrease were the improved law and order throughout the country and better anti-poaching efforts. NGOs allocated more resources to local communities living around Bardia and Chitwan National Parks, and an increase in tourism meant that the Parks’ Buffer Zone Management Committees received more money and assistance from the Department of National Parks The greater one horned rhino carries a horn worth thousands of dollars on the black and market in East Asia (DNPWC). Lower caste people on economic activities within In the initial years after the who understand the needs of the such a zone rather than illegally implementation of the Buffer poorest were elected to senior exploiting the resources inside Zone concept, it was not positions on the Management the parks. The purpose was to effective in protecting the rhino Committees and User Groups make the communities more as the poorest people received in the Buffer Zones. In turn, aware of wildlife conservation too few benefits. From 2001 these developments encouraged since it is in their best economic to 2006, at least 120 rhinos the mostly poor people of the interests to reduce poaching of were poached in and around local communities to support rhinos and tigers, large animals Chitwan NP, and in Bardia NP’s more fully rhino protection. that make tourism profitable. Babai Valley the entire rhino Improved co-operation amongst The Buffer Zones were to be population was eliminated by the NGOs, DNPWC, the Army funded from 30–50% of the poachers with Bardia’s total and local communities helped revenue raised in the protected rhino number declining from reduce rhino poaching in 2008 areas, later confirmed at 50%. 67 to 30 during this time. and 2009. This new, exciting concept was There were other reasons for set up in Chitwan National the serious rhino poaching, The Buffer Zone concept was Park in 1996 but did not really including a breakdown in law promulgated in Nepal in 1993 get going until around 1999. and order throughout Nepal, for certain protected areas in For Bardia National Park the but the local communities order to encourage the local concept was also set up in were not particularly helpful in communities to be more reliant 1996. preventing poachers and traders

5 the four gang members. Similarly, a woman of Tibetan origin, resident in the town of Nepalgunj, purchased the horn for NRs. 900,000 (USD 12,329) on behalf of a trader who may have been an ethnic Lama.

Increased security in Nepal

The signing of the Peace Accord in 2006 ended a 10-year civil war. Subsequently, fighting in the countryside decreased and security greatly improved in Nepal. Consequently, the Nepalese Army resident in Rhinos in Nepal prefer the grassy swamp areas and are less frequently seen feeding Chitwan NP was able to re- in the forests occupy more former Army posts. In addition, in mid-2008 from moving in and out of the staff, the poachers did not have a company of troops was added Buffer Zone areas contiguous time to remove the horns from to the battalion in the Park, to the two Parks. the injured animals. which improved the frequency and effectiveness of anti- Fortunately, the Buffer Zone Poachers and middlemen who poaching activities. concept relevant to wildlife had been arrested in 2008 conservation was implemented an d2009 gave information In Bardia NP the Nepal Army more successfully in 2008 on prices. There was one occupied only seven posts in and 2009. This improved exceptionally high price, when 2004, but by December 2007 community concern for in 2009; a gang killed a rhino six more were re-established protecting rhinos has greatly with .303 rifle. The gang (Martin and Martin 2006, helped to reduce poaching. removed the 1 kg horn and sold Martin et al. 2009). By the end it to a trader in Kathmandu of 2009, Nepal Army personnel Rhino poaching in Nepal in supposedly for NRs. 1,400,000 occupied 19 posts. During the 2008 and 2009 (USD 19,178). insurgency, the Army could not Chitwan National Park move around the Babai Valley Bardia National Park as it was diverted to counter In 2008 there were about 400 insurgency operations. By rhinos in and around Chitwan There were only two rhinos 2008, Army personnel spent NP of which 7 rhinos were known to have been poached most of their time carrying out shot. All except one were killed in Bardia NP in 2008 and none anti-poaching activities once inside the Park. The authorities in 2009, mainly because some more. retrieved only one horn. In Army and ex-Army people who 2009 10 rhinos were poached, had been directly involved in The buff er zone seven inside the Park and 3 the poaching and selling of communities in the Buffer Zone; officials horn were arrested in 2008. retrieved three horns. Poachers Till 2005, the conservation wounded two rhinos in July/ A businessman from Kathmandu efforts carried out by August 2009, around the tourist paid NRs. 200,000 (USD 3091) communities living in the area of Sauraha, but due to the to the poachers for a rhino horn Buffer Zones of Chitwan quick response from the Park which was split evenly amongst and Bardia NPs were not

6 particularly effective. This was due to a decline in the money paid into the Buffer Zones as a result in the drop in tourist numbers, and the fact that the Buffer Zone Management Committees received this money automatically whether they adequately protected rhinos or not. In addition, the communities within the Buffer Zones had not been well informed on how to deal with conservation issues nor motivated to implement Esmond Martin meets some members of the Mrigakunja user committee at their a successful anti-poaching offi ce near Chitwan National Park strategy. These problems continued in 2006 and 2007. compared to educational ones, NTNC, along with assistance although the latter are probably from the Darwin Initiative, Chitwan National Park equally important for rhino ZSL and the Parks’ staff have conservation. erected fences to deter wild There is 1 Buffer Zone animals from going into Management Committee, 21 In 2008 and 2009, the major farmers’ fields. NTNC has User Committees and 1,700 conservation projects included also been encouraging local User Groups that are involved erecting fences to protect communities not to over- in deciding how the money crops from wild animals that exploit the natural resources earned by the Park will be stray out of Chitwan NP and of the forest by encouraging allocated and spent by the improving the management of other forms of economic local communities in the Buffer grasslands for rhinos. Other activity and paying the start-up Zone. projects support the youths costs. These include supporting who voluntarily patrol in the alternative energy sources such The Buffer Zone Management Buffer Zone to arrest poachers as biogas plants and supplying Committee for Chitwan and to report illegal weapons. tree seedlings and setting up allocates 30% for conservation monitoring system for rhinos. projects to protect wildlife, 30% National Trust for Nature for building schools and roads, Conservation (NTNC) increased WWF Nepal works with the 20% for income-generating its support in the Buffer Zone communities in the Buffer projects such as poultry and by improving the people’s Zone to reduce human-wildlife pig farming, handicrafts, and livelihoods, safeguarding people conflict and aids income- tailoring enterprises, 10% for and crops from wild animals, generating projects such as administration and 10% for and by helping to protect goat keeping, pig farming and education. The conservation rhinos that wander into the biogas plants, support eco and education expenditures are Buffer Zone. NTNC set up a clubs at schools and carryout particularly relevant to rhinos. fund in 2005 and 2006 of NPR awareness programmes on the 5,000,000 (then worth USD importance of conservation to The Buff er Zone User 69,444), the interest on which is protect the rhino. WWF Nepal Committees used to pay informers, to patrol spent NRs. 800,000 (USD outside the Park boundary and 12,365) in 2009 for informers Groups spend more money to help maintain anti-poaching and for intelligence gathering on conservation projects vehicles. on potential poachers and

7 wildlife traders. The laymen in the Buffer Zone. Support is more democratic and the coached by Ram Prit Yadav, given to 104 youth volunteers relationships between the Parks’ who patrol on daily basis the who have been assembled by the senior staff and the Buffer Zone community forests and collect User Group Committees since Management Committees have information on poachers, are 2008 to gather in formation become stronger. Furthermore, paid NRs. 700-2000 (USD 10- and patrol the outskirts of the improved law and order in 27 a month). Park, especially in the Karnali the Terai region has allowed River area. In response, it has the Buffer Zone volunteer The Park staff members also contributed to the construction anti-poaching units to become have improved relations with of 34 km of electric fencing on more effective. It has also the communities in the Buffer the western bank of the Karnali encouraged the NGOs to put Zone. An assistant warden based River to prevent large mammals more resources into the Buffer at Chitwan NP headquarters from leaving the Park. The Fund Zones as there are now greater at Kasara oversees the also helps to motivate the local chances of success. Most notable management and co-ordination community by implementing has been the contribution of of the Buffer Zone activities rhino conservation education NGOs for scientific patrol- for DNPWC. The Park helps projects and by supporting based monitoring, transparent support the management of new forms of income, such monthly reporting and annual the Buffer Zone User Groups as furniture making and the status reporting of rhinos; by employing staff, including extraction of oils from plants community education; problem a sub-engineer to estimate the to sell commercially. animal work including fencing; cost of development works. strategically planting non- Conclusion palatable crops and starting Bardia National Park mentha processing; and The official decrease in the initiating new APU systems There is one Buffer Zone number of rhinos poached involving over 100 community- Management Committee, but in Nepal in 2008 and 2009 based anti-poaching 15 User Committees and at compared to the number killed volunteers. least 226 User Groups that are between 2000 and 2007 can be involved in deciding how the attributed to five main factors: Effective cooperation and money is allocated. improved security in the transparency amongst the NTNC has recently given country, a system set up by the DNPWC, NGOs, Army and greater assistance to Buffer Darwin Initiative to monitor the Buffer Zone Management Zone communities in order rhinos, more efficient use of Committees are essential. It is to ensure that the rhinos informers, increased support imperative that the communities remain safe and thus continue for projects in Chitwan and living around Chitwan and to attract tourists to the Park. Bardia NPs’ Buffer Zones by Bardia NPs continue to receive A rhino identification system the NGOs and DNPWC, and significant benefits, for which was started in June 2008, with greater commitment by local they are accountable from the financial support from the communities to protecting DNPWC and NGOs to sustain Darwin Initiative and technical rhinos. their motivation and efforts assistance from ZSL. The towards protecting rhinos. Darwin Initiative has helped This in turn has encouraged fund NTNC to put a lot of effort local people to put a (Based on the Esmond and into community education and higher priority on wildlife Chryssee Martin's published the mentha processing plants. conservation. The Buffer research article in Pachyderm Zone User Groups’ decision- no 48, July-December 2010) WWF Nepal is increasing its making process about how to help to the User Committees use their revenue has become

8 Need for Bear Conservation

By Sanjiban Maharjan

hen looking for the first he has not been able to work by attacked him on his head and Wtime, Chitra Bahadur himself. scratched his eye. Nepali looks like a character for a horror movie. On Remembering the incident, There are other people in October 1994, he lost his eye Chitra Bahadur said he was Madi region of Chitwan who when a bear attacked him while watering the crops when the have been victims of bear working in his field. Since then, bear came in front him and attacks. There are more than

9 fifty people who have been According to experts, the were found in Makalu Barun attacked by bear in Kalyanpur sloth bear weighs around 125 regions with no new traps alone said 68 years old Baijnath kilograms. The mating season which proves that poaching has Dhungana. is during summer and the cubs decreased in this region. are born in the winter. The The number of bears has bears have 2-3 cubs at one time. Mahendra Shrestha adds that increased rapidly in the last 6-7 The female bear looks for a safe the black bear saves the energy years in Chitwan. According to place during pregnancy. The it needs in its body as fat during former secretary of Kalyanpur- young cubs hung themselves to hibernation. After hibernation, 6 Ram Mohan Adhikari, the their mothers at all time. it becomes thin and looks for relationship between the more foods. park and local people became The sloth bear is an expert problematic due to the bear tree climber. It normally feeds The experts do not have attacks. on ants along with honey and enough information on brown fruits. It travels most of the time. bears. Shrestha says that brown In 1994, the locals killed a During flooding and heavy rain, bear which has been in CITES bear when the bear killed a it migrates to Chure hill with its category as endangered species seven-year-old child. After the cubs for protection. has not been much studied. incident, the park authorities The availability of brown bear held the locals at gunpoint for The other species of bear found in Nepal is suspicious. Many two days. in Nepal is Himalayan black claimed to see brown bear in bear. The Himalayan black bear Annapurna region but it has The bears in Chitwan are sloth is found in the higher mountain not been proven. bear. Of the three species of region. It has smaller mouth bears found in Nepal, sloth than Sloth bear. The main food Well-known hunter Tej Jung bear is the species found in for black bear is grained crops Thapa claimed to see brown Terai. The other two species and fruits. Mahendra Shrestha, bear in Langtang in 1941. He are himalayan black bear and black bear specialist says "There said that he has not seen brown brown bear. is no inference on number of bear since then and thinks it has black bear but is estimated to been extinct. Dr. Anup Joshi, who studied be about 100-150 in Makalu about sloth bear from University Barun region. No count has Bear is an important but of Minnesota in USA says, "The been done on Himalayan black neglected animal in the field of sloth bear is found from Koshi bear in the mountain regions." conservation. Dr. Anup Joshi Tappu in the East to Bardia says, "The conservation of bear National Park in the West." Himalayan black bear feeds on has not been started in Nepal. He also adds that there is no both plants and animals and is This animal has not been given confirm statistic on number of omnivorous. The bear feeds on significant importance as rhinos bears in Terai, but there may be carcass of animals, especially and tigers. The establishment 250 to 300 bears in Chitwan small domestic animals. The of national parks for rhinos and area. Sherpas and Rai-Limbu have tigers has benefited the bears as been poaching black bear for well" The bear has been considered as its bile. According to Mahendra a gentle animal but sometimes Shrestha, the people set traps This article was published in it attacks as self defense to catch black bear. After April 1999 in Nepali. We have mechanism while hunting for establishment of Makalu Barun published this article keeping food. Dr. Joshi says that bear National Park, he claims there in fact that if a journalist today attacks on face with its paws has been decrease in poaching would try to write article on the and so people get scars for life. of black bears. The older traps bear in Nepal the situation is same as it was in late 1990s.

10 UAE in Spotlight Over Animal Smuggling, says CITES

June 2011. CITES has “When problems arose ten penalties to deter would-be 1 asked the UAE to explain years ago, the government took smugglers. an alarming surge in incidents serious action to correct them,” involving exotic animals. Barzdo said. “Illegal trade of endangered wildlife is a serious threat Events including the discovery The UAE, a global trade hub, is a and major contributor to the of a nine-month old cheetah known hotspot for contraband extinction of animals and roaming the streets of Abu due to a high demand for plants in the wild,” said Lisa Dhabi, and sightings of a tiger exotic pets, which are seen Perry, programme director for leaning from the window of a as symbols of power. Also The Emirates Wildlife Society, blacked-out vehicle in Dubai making the UAE an attractive which works closely with the have raised fears the Gulf state market are good flight and World Wide Fund for Nature. is seeing a surge in trafficking. shipping connections, which allow poachers to re-export Similarly a cheetah found “The CITES secretariat has the trafficked animals to other on an Abu Dhabi street contacted the management GCC countries such as Saudi proves that the menace of authority of the UAE and asked Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait and wildlife smuggling is like drug for its comments regarding Qatar. trafficking — however hard a number of news items that the governments try to stop it, suggest there is an illegal trade A 36-year-old Emirati man the smugglers find a new way. in live animals,” spokesperson was arrested in May at Jonathan Barzdo said in a Thailand airport for trying The owner of the cheetah statement. to smuggle baby leopards, violated at least three federal panthers, monkeys and a bear laws — the law prohibiting It is not the first time the in his luggage to Dubai. Noor import of dangerous animals, UAE has fallen foul of CITES Mahmood was charged with the law related to CITES for regulations. The Gulf country smuggling endangered species illegally importing or trading was suspended in 2001 over and released on a $6,600 bail, endangered animals and a law its part in illegal trading, but but managed to flee Bangkok on animal welfare for ill-treating reinstated the following year. on a May 23 flight to the UAE, the animal said Abdul Rab Al immigration police said. Hameri, scientific authority of Possible penalties include CITES in Abu Dhabi. the UAE’s suspension Animal rights activists have from the Convention or a condemned the practice of However, he clarified that his recommendation to member keeping exotic animals as pets as office is working on scientific nations to ban related trade a serious threat to endangered research and related aspects with the Gulf state. species and called for tougher of CITES so he was not aware

11 12 of the investigations into the cheetah violated the ministerial violations and the move to trace decision number 384 of 2008 the owner of the cheetah. on the executive bylaw of the federal law number 16 of 2007 Exotic animals concerning animal welfare.

Al Hameri said there is a huge Since the law prohibits ill- demand for exotic animals and treating animals, the owner plants, so the illegal wildlife of the injured cheetah shall be trade remains the third largest punished with a fine of up to illegal trade worldwide, after Dh 20,000. weapons and drugs. The official said the offenders Another ministerial decree are referred to the court by the prohibits import of CITES management authority. into the country. Permits issued If anyone imports animals included in these two decrees The CITES scientific illegally into the country, it authority office in Abu becomes a violation of law Dhabi issues about 1,000 to related to CITES, the official 1,200 certificates a year for said. importing exotic animals and plants into the UAE, said Abdul As Gulf News reported the Rab Al Hameri, manager of 2002 Federal Law number 11 the CITES office. on Regulating and Controlling International Trade in The certificates are issued Endangered Species of Wild mostly for importing falcons, Fauna and Flora, (including parrots, some sort of corals etc, big cats) prohibits the sale he said. "But that is not enough. or display of the creatures in Even if they have permission public, without the necessary from the foreign country but the legal paperwork. UAE law prohibits the import, we don't issue the permit," he Ministerial decision commented. "For example, import of poisonous snakes Offenders could face fines of and dangerous animals are between Dh 5,000 and Dh prohibited under the UAE law. 50,000 and a jail term ranging "And primates can be imported between three and six months. only for scientific research," the official explained. Apart from the above mentioned two laws, the owner of the

13 Bangladesh plans special force to protect tigers

14 undarbans is home to about Minister of Environment and S400 tigers. Bangladesh is Forest Hasan Mahmud said setting up a special force to save that the setting up of the new the critically endangered Royal wildlife force was long overdue. Bengal Tiger and other animals. "The forest department staffs in Bangladesh need more training, The 300-member force will be because now the poachers are deployed mostly around the very sophisticated," he said. Sundarbans mangrove forests, one of the last refuges of the "Their sophistication has been tigers. increased but the sophistication of the forest department has The decision came months after not been increased over the last they seized three tiger skins couple of years. So, we have and a large quantity of bones, to train them and we have to the biggest haul of illegal tiger equip them." parts in decades. Most of the money to set up the The Sundarbans forests stretch new Wildlife Crime Control between Bangladesh and India. unit will come from the World Around 400 tigers still live in Bank loan of $36m. (See page the area. 16-17 for detail)

Until now, poaching has not The new force will also tackle been considered as the chief a growing trade in the illegal threat to the tiger population trafficking of wild animals. in Bangladesh. However, the arrest of a poacher with tiger Recently, officials seized a skins and bones earlier this year number of protected wild raised fears that an organized animals from people who were poaching group was operating keeping them illegally. in the mangrove forests. Earlier this month, customs Officials admitted they did not officers at Bangkok airport have enough labor, resources in Thailand found hundreds and training to counter the of freshwater turtles and poachers, whom they said was crocodiles packed in suitcases using increasingly sophisticated on a flight from Bangladesh. techniques to trap the tigers.

15 Indonesia Seizes Haul of in northern Sumatra island strikes the lungs and intestines, Pangolin Meat Bound for had also foiled an attempt to and needs to be treated with Vietnam illegally smuggle about 1,700 antibiotics. Kazakh authorities pangolins to Vietnam, where collected samples to help them May 26, Jakarta. Tonnes of eating the creature is believed determine what had caused the dead pangolins, an endangered to improve health. latest outbreak. scaly animal, were seized by Indonesian customs, foiling an Hundreds of rare antelopes WB Finalizes $36m Loan effort by smugglers to ship the die in Kazakhstan for Wildlife Conservation meat to Vietnam, officials said. May 30, Almaty. More than 2 June 2011. The government Indonesia's customs office 440 endangered Saiga antelopes of Bangladesh signed a US$ found 309 crates each were found dead in western 36 million credit agreement containing between six to 10 Kazakhstan last week, suspected with the World Bank (WB) for adult and baby pangolins, victims of the same epidemic the "Strengthening Regional weighing a total of 7.5 tonnes, that killed 12,000 animals last Cooperation for Wildlife at the country's biggest port in year, officials said. Protection in Asia" project. Jakarta, said a customs official. It also found 65 kilograms of The horned animals, Economic Relations Division pangolin scales. distinguished for the flexible (ERD) Secretary M. Musharraf snout-like noses, originally Hossain Bhuiyan and WB "The most outrageous thing inhabited a vast territory Country Director for Bangladesh here is they even exterminate stretching from Mongolia to Ellen Goldstein signed the the young pangolins, the ones Europe. However, the World agreement at the ERD at Sher- that when curled up are about Wildlife Fund now lists them as e-Bangla Nagar in the city. 20 centimeters long," Rahmat a critically endangered species, Subagio, said the head of the with an estimated population Prime Minister's Adviser for port's customs and excise of 50,000. The 441 animals Economic Affairs Dr. Mashiur office. found dead last week included Rahman, Secretary of Ministry 364 does and 77 fawns. of Environment and Forest The exporting company had Mesbah- Ul-Alam and Chief covered up the illegal shipment "The fallen animals exhibited Conservator of Forests Ishtiaq with frozen smelly fish, but poisoning symptoms," the Uddin Ahmad attended the customs received a tip-off Interfax news agency quoted an programme. and X-rayed the container to emergencies ministry official as discover pangolin shapes. saying. The animals appear to "This project will be the entry have died from an infectious point to regional cooperation Local media reported earlier disease called pasteurellosis. for wildlife protection and this month that a customs office The often-deadly infection conservation," Rahman said.

16 Ellen Goldstein said adopting Malaysian driver identified two former Ezemvelo KZN and implementing a regional as Kholid bin Ab Raoff was Wildlife field rangers who were approach would be the apprehended at a customs caught trying to sell a rhino most appropriate solution checkpoint in Sadao district horn. to ensure the effectiveness bordering Malaysia after of interventions addressing Thai customs officials found Sibusiso Ncube, 30, and illegal wildlife trade, habitat Malayan Box Turtles contained Siyabonga Ndlela, 33, were management and conservation in 595 plastic bags and Burmese fined R 15000 each in the of species. Giant Tortoises in seven bags. Mtubatuba Magistrate’s Court Altogether, there were 7,190 last week, after pleading guilty The regional project will turtles and tortoises weighing to trying to sell the horn from address cross-border illegal about 6,160 kilogram and a dead black rhino they found wildlife trade through regional worth more than Baht 15 while patrolling the Imfolozi cooperation and capacity millions. Game Reserve. building, and support the country's initiative for habitat After the arrest, he reportedly In contrast, two Mozambican protection and management for told customs officials that nationals, Frans Makamu wildlife in general and tigers in he was only hired to drive and Solomon Makhabo, were particular. to the Thai border without both jailed for 16 years in the knowledge of what was inside Nelspruit Magistrate’s Court Studies indicate that 4- 5 percent the container. for illegal rhino hunting in the of faunal species and about 10 Kruger National Park. percent of floral diversity have Customs officials believed that already become extinct over the rescued turtles and tortoises Speaking at the annual KZN the last century. were destined to , game auction, Ezemvelo KZN where they are considered a Wildlife chief executive Bandile The project will assist the prized delicacy and believed Mkhize said he was pleased governments of participating eating them boosts health and to announce that Ncube and countries to build and enhance prolongs life. Ndlela had both been fined shared capacity to collaborate R15 000 (or two years’ jail) in improving the effectiveness Customs officials also seized after pleading guilty to trying of wildlife and habitat 451 tortoises, soft-shelled to sell the horn to a friend in conservation, while promoting turtles and gharials smuggled Ulundi, Senzo Sikhakane. ecotourism. The credit from into Thailand at Suvarnabhumi the International Development international airport by Sikhakane received a fine of R5 Association (IDA), the WB's a suspected international 000 (or 12 months’ jail). concessional lending arm, has smuggling syndicate dealing 40-year maturity, including a in endangered animals. All Mexican billionaire 10-year grace period; it carries a the confiscated animals were arrested for illegal arms service charge of 0.75 percent. hidden in baggage from the cache Bangladesh capital of Dhaka to Customs offi cials seize Bangkok. June 6, 2011. The ex-mayor over 7,000 tortoises at of Tijuana, one of Mexico's Thai-Malaysian border Fine a slap on wrist, say richest men, has been arrested offi cials in a military raid that uncovered June 4, Songkhal- Thai customs an arsenal of 88 guns and officials arrested a Malaysian June 6 2011. The Game Rangers more than 9,000 rounds of man and rescued over 7,000 Association of Africa has voiced ammunition at his home. tortoises from a container dismay over the “slap on the truck, expected to be smuggled wrist” sentences imposed on Jorge Hank Rhon, 55, a for exotic diners in China.

17 flamboyant casino mogul of nearly 50% of the ivory cheetahs in the country were known for collecting exotic seized worldwide. Poaching in well looked after. He quoted animals, was held after soldiers Tanzania is common but in the the case of the young animal descended on his sprawling end will cost in terms of wildlife recently found wandering the compound in the city before and revenue thereof. streets of Karama in the capital, dawn. with a heavy chain around its Recently, an investigation by neck and a broken foreleg. He was held on suspicion of a panel of international and illegal weapons possession local experts implicated senior The idea for a cheetah club after 40 rifles, 48 handguns, government officials in the was raised by conservationist 9,298 bullets, 70 ammunition illegal ivory trade and the rise in Dr. Mordecai Ogada, of Kenya, clips and a gas grenade were elephant poaching in Tanzania. who is calling for a campaign discovered. in the UAE to raise awareness According to a report, seizures of the damage caused to wild Tijuana lies close to the U.S. involving Tanzania between populations by the illegal trade border, across from San 1989 and 2010 represent in cubs. Diego, and is on a major drug one third of all ivory seized smuggling route. globally, and Tanzania ranks The club would raise funds for first among African countries or sponsor conservation and Hank Rhon was mayor of the in terms of the total volume of research, and organize trips to city, which has a population ivory reported by large-scale see wild cheetahs in Africa. of 1.3 million, from 2004 to seizures. 2007. Dr. Ogada, the East African Cheetah owners club coordinator of cheetah The controversial self- would increase smuggling, conservation programme, said proclaimed billionaire often expert says most captive cheetahs in the wears a red crocodile skin UAE were loved and cared vest and ostrich skin boots, 8 June, Dubai. A wildlife for at great expense. and has 19 children. He owns expert has criticized plans the Tijuana football team, a to set up a club for cheetah But Dr. Khan, from Dubai, racetrack and a giant casino in owners, warning it could lead said, "The statement is totally the middle of the city. to an increase in the number of wrong when you see the poor cubs smuggled into the cheetah found roaming in Abu His vast compound includes a country. Dhabi with a huge chain locked private zoo that is home to rare around its neck and a portion tigers, bears and elephants. It Dr. Reza Khan, a member of dangling from it." He said some once had 20,000 animals, five the World Commission on cheetahs in the UAE were kept times as many as the famous San Protected Areas, said, "We in good conditions with huge Diego Zoo over the border. cannot have a club for cheetah areas of land in which to roam, owners because it is not a pet but added, "No wild cats should Hank Rhon even brought the animal." be kept as a pet or in private killer whale that starred in the collections, where most lead an Free Willy films to a marine "It will encourage more imprisoned life as they are kept park in Mexico. smuggling. It is bound to open in below-standard cages." a mad race to become the proud East Africa: Tanzanian owner of as many cheetahs as The cheetah is listed by the Govt, Fight Ivory Trade! possible by club members." Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species, 6 June 2011. Tanzania has Dr. Khan also questioned a as being threatened with been implicated as the source suggestion that most captive extinction, and trade in the

18 Six in court over theft

11th June 2011. Six people, including a businessman of Pakistani origin, have been brought before the Kilimanjaro Resident Magistrate's Court in connection with the theft and illegal export of protected wildlife.

Arusha-based trader Kamrani Ahmed and five others, including four officials working at the Kilimanjaro Cheetah found in the streets of UAE International Airport (KIA), have been indicted on charges animals is illegal except in in February 2006. of economic sabotage for their exceptional circumstances. role in procuring and smuggling Four poachers killed the rhino 136 animals of 14 different Dr Laurie Marker, the founder around 9 pm near the eastern species outside Tanzania. and director of The Cheetah boundary of the reserve. A forest Conservation Fund in Namibia, official said though guards were Other defendants are local said: "I applaud Dr Ogada's present at the eastern boundary businesswoman Hawa plan to stem the illegal trade of camp close to the spot, they Mang’unyuka, zoo sanitary wild cheetah cubs from Africa could not do much because the inspector Martin Kimati, to the Middle East. Dr Ogada poachers fired continuously. Kenya national and KIA flight plans to educate private cheetah According to his version, by the operator Jane Mbogo, KIA’s owners about the threat to wild time the guards started chasing chief security officer Veronica cheetahs posed by the illegal the poachers, the rhino had Beno and Locken Kimaro, a pet trade." been killed and its horn sawn security officer for Kilimanjaro off. The entire operation was Development Company Limited Rhino kill after lull over in 15 minutes. (KADCO), which oversees the airport. 12 June, Guwahati. An Assam A.303 rifle was used to kill the reserve that staved off poachers rhino that took six bullets. The loot included four giraffes, for five years lost one of its 68 Thomson's gazelles, 20 rhinos as forest guards at a S.K. Seal Sharma, the Grant's gazelles, two impalas, 3 nearby camp tried to duck divisional forest officer of the elands, 10 dik-diks, two lappet- firing from an armed gang of Guwahati wildlife division, faced vultures, seven kori illegal hunters. said the sanctuary guards had bustard, four ground hornbill information that some outsiders and two serval cats, according The Pobitora wildlife sanctuary were spotted in the area in the to state attorney Mlay. in central Assam is known for last four months. its rhino density — 84 by the The other four defendants 2009 animal census — when He added, “The incident could are charged with aiding and in larger reserves such as not have happened without abetting wildlife poaching in Kaziranga and Manas poaching local support. Investigations violation of the Economic are rampant. The last rhino are on and we will catch the Sabotage Act. The prosecution death in Pobitora was reported culprits.” claims that in the time

19 before and or after November 26, 2010, the in the last 12 years in India mainly due to accused helped the first defendant smuggle live poaching, reflecting the threats posed to the wildlife outside the country knowing full well national animal, according to Press Trust of that their actions were against the law. India's report.

The Economic Sabotage and Crime Prevention According to Ministry of Environment and Act stipulates that those accused of sabotaging Forests, 447 wild cats were found dead between the economy can only be tried before the High 1999 and March 2011, of which 197 were Court, according to state prosecutor Bajana. poached.

35 Pangolins Worth RM 50,000 Seized Besides, 250 wild cats died of natural causes including old age, in fighting, starvation, road 12 June, George Town. The Penang Department and rail accidents, electrocution and weakness. of Wildlife and National Parks has seized 35 pangolins worth RM50,000 in a raid at Mak The Ministry also noted that poaching was the Mandin in Butterworth. major cause behind disappearance of tigers from its reserves. A 40-year-old man was arrested when he was moving the pangolins from one car to another "The cases of local extinction of tigers were car. reported in Sariska, Rajasthan (2005) and Panna, Madhya Pradesh (2008). As reported, poaching State Wildlife enforcement chief Khairul Nizam of tigers was the major cause of their extinction," Yahaya said today that the man was believed to National Tiger Conservation Authority under be trying to smuggle the pangolins to neighboring the MoEF said. countries by road. Some 72 tigers were poached in 2001 and 2002 "Wildlife smuggling is becoming more common followed by 48 in 1999 and in 2010, it said. Two due to the high black market demand. This is tigers were found killed between January and our second seizure this year," Khairul Nizam March 17 this year. told reporters. Whereas 20 wild cats were killed in 2003, 17 in About 450 Tigers Died In Past 12 Years 2009, 10 in 2007, nine each were killed in 2000 and 2008, and 5 fell prey to hunters in 2006, it 16 June, New Delhi. Nearly 450 tigers have said. died in and around a number of natural habitats

APPEAL

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