POACHERS – who are they and what motivates them? TRAFFIC investigates the driving factors of poaching activities and suggests solutions
Category Archives: Poaching
Lion farming – Lord Ashcroft submission to South African High Level Panel
Lion farming presentation by Lord Ashcroft to the High-Level Panel looking at the management of lions and other species in South Africa
Human-lion conflict in a key lion population area
Human-lion conflict is a major issue for the conservation of wild lions – we look at the successful Kwando Carnivore Project in KAZA
Donkey smugglers profit off wildlife trafficking routes
Cross-border donkey smugglers in Zimbabwe and Botswana are operating pipelines used for ivory, pangolins and Covid-19 contraband
Will legal international rhino horn trade save wild rhino populations?
Will legal international rhino horn trade save the wild rhino population? Find out here in this thought-provoking opinion post
Rhino poaching stats 2020 – more shades of grey
Rhino poaching for 2020 is lower because of the COVID-19 lockdown – although SA Minister claims the victory for her team
8 Cheetah cubs rescued in Somaliland – destined for illegal pet trade
8 cheetah cubs rescued in Somaliland during three operations – they were destined for the illegal pet trade that continues despite Covid-19
Human impact results in leopard inbreeding – research
Human activity is affecting negatively on leopard populations – via changes in age, sex & social structure of leopard populations – research
Lion cubs to bones – we interview Lord Ashcroft about ‘UNFAIR GAME’
We spoke to Lord Ashcroft about his book UNFAIR GAME – a must-read exposé of South Africa’s morally bankrupt captive lion breeding industry
Botswana elephant graveyard: mystery death toll rises to 400
What we know about elephants dying under mysterious circumstances near the northern Botswana village of Seronga, north of the Okavango Delta
POACHED: Silverback mountain gorilla Rafiki killed – big blow for conservation tourism
Rafiki, one of Uganda’s most loved mountain gorilla silverbacks, has been killed by poachers in Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Wildlife trade between South Africa and China exposed – legal and illegal
The vast scale of legal and illegal trade in wildlife species between South Africa and China – many of them CITES 1 species – has been revealed by an extensive report.
NEWSDESK: Blanket wildlife trade bans + SA venison market & zoonotic disease + call to halt big cat bone trade
Newsdesk: Blanket wildlife trade bans + SA venison market & zoonotic disease + call to halt big cat bone trade
>2,000 vultures now feared poisoned in Guinea-Bissau – largest mass mortality ever
Over 2,000 critically endangered hooded vultures have died across Guinea-Bissau of poisoning due to belief-based use.
Coronavirus disrupts Botswana elephant hunts, threatens great apes & causes Malawi bushmeat ban
Coronavirus is impacting on elephant hunting in Botswana, the great apes and poaching of bushmeat in Malawi
American parrot breeder wants to import wild-caught African grey parrots for a captive breeding scheme for the pet trade
An American parrot breeder has applied to import wild-caught endangered African grey parrots into the United States of America
COVID-19: Will African governments now crackdown on illegal wildlife trade?
With COVID-19 killing people and wrecking economies, will African governments at last treat wildlife trade as a serious issue?
Poachers kill white giraffes in Kenya
The famous white giraffes of Kenya have been dealt a devastating blow, as 2 of the 3 are killed by poachers, leaving only a bull giraffe.
What exactly is CITES and how does it work?
CITES was established to regulate the international trade of animals & plants, to avoid the over-exploitation of endangered species
CITES processes are corrupt, says report
A report from TRAFFIC explains how corruption undermines the CITES-authorised trade in wildlife and offers suggestions as to how to mitigate its effects.
Latest rhino poaching stats: shades of grey
Rhino poaching stats released by South African government do not tell the true story of how dire the situation is, say STROOP team
Humans not always to blame for genetic diversity loss in wildlife
People are not always to blame for loss of genetic diversity in wildlife, says new study.
Communities delivering conservation impact & wildlife recoveries
Opinion: Communities are delivering significant conservation results equivalent to those of government parks and reserves.
Conservation needs diversified approaches – opinion
Scientists suggest alternative land-use models to trophy hunting – models that are more inclusive of local people.
Lion poaching: Escalating demand for claws and teeth
The escalating demand for lion teeth and claws in Asian markets is driving the increased poaching of wild lions, says report.
Another mass vulture poisoning raises alarm in South Africa
Yet another mass vulture poisoning raises alarm bells that deliberate poisoning of vultures for belief-based use is on the increase, say experts.
Elephant poaching decimates key Gabon reserve
Elephant population in Gabon’s Minkébé National Park have been decimated, with 25,000 being poached in 10 years (80% reduction), says research results.
Rhino poaching continues to escalate in Botswana
Rhino poaching in Botswana has escalated alarmingly, with 13 rhinos being killed for their horns in the last two months, and a total of 31 since October 2018.
Rhino poaching in Namibia down
Rhino poaching in Namibia dropped to 41 individuals killed in all of 2019 so far, compared with nearly 72 during the same period last year, according to the Namibian Ministry of Environment and Tourism.
Strange (non)case of pangolin killings in Mozambique
Investigation: Pangolin poaching and torture case hits a brick wall at court in Mozambique.
Using ‘chilli balls’ to reduce human-elephant conflict in Zambia
Crop-raiding elephants in Zambia are being deterred humanely through the use of ‘chilli balls’ which are fired at their rumps.
African grey parrots: How social media is facilitating both illegal trade and the fight against it
A recent study examines how social media marketplaces facilitate trafficking of endangered African grey parrots.
Botswana on alert after surge in rhino poaching
Unprecedented surge in rhino poaching raises alarm in Botswana.
Malawi: On the frontline in the fight against illegal wildlife trade
Malawi may be one of the continent’s most peaceful nations, but it is currently locked in a fierce battle to protect some of the world’s most threatened species of wildlife.
Son of Mozambican war veteran arrested in possession of rhino horns
Lucílio Matsinhe, son of a popular Mozambican war veteran, has been arrested for possession of rhino horns.
Minister: How many wild rhinos do we have left?
How many rhinos do we have left in our National Parks? An open letter to South African Minister of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries, Barbara Creecy.
OPINION: Rhino horn trade – designing a sales mechanism should international trade become legal
Rhino horn trade: If the international sale of rhino horn was legalised could it be more successful than the previous legal sales of elephant tusks?
Ivory from nearly 300 elephants and scales from an estimated 2,000 pangolins seized in Singapore
A record haul as ivory from nearly 300 African elephants and scales from an estimated 2,000 giant pangolins have been seized by Singapore authorities.
Elephant ivory trafficking possibly controlled by only 3 major cartels, says research
Major implications for ivory trafficking as research reveals that only three cartels control most illegal trade, according to research.
Breaking: STROOP scoops more awards, stands alongside Steven Spielberg, Natalie Portman and Ellen DeGeneres
Acclaimed South African documentary film, ‘STROOP – Journey into the Rhino Horn War’, has continued to attract the attention of international and local judges and audiences alike, winning two more prestigious awards.
Life with elephants
Botswana elephant debate: We speak to the MOST important people in this equation – those living with elephants. Beyond the politics and ideologies, what do rural Batswana feel about elephants? Read more.
Catastrophic breaking news: 537 vultures found poisoned in dark day for Botswana conservation
Botswana’s Department of Wildlife and National Parks (DWNP) has announced that they have recently identified a poisoning site with 537 dead vultures (comprising five species) and two tawny eagles.
Video: Instagram influencers eat pangolin in Gabon – call it ‘armadillo’
Instagram influencers Jessica Nabongo and Sal Lavallo ate pangolin in Gabon hotel
Study: Elephant poaching rates in decline, but iconic species remains under threat
Latest study reveals elephant poaching rates in Africa have started to decline, but levels of poverty, corruption and ivory demand still threaten the iconic species.
Large-tusked elephants are in decline, need to be protected from trophy hunting and poaching, says researcher
The need to protect large-tusked and potentially large-tusked elephants from poaching and excessive selective hunting pressure is more apparent than ever as the progressive decrease in average tusk size over the past three decades is potentially leading to over exploitation of older bulls.
NEWS WRAP: 3-month-old baby elephant rescued + pangolins returned to the wild
In the latest news wrap a three-month-old baby elephant has been rescued after being found wandering on its own in the Maputo Special Reserve in Mozambique; three pangolins have been released back into the wild in Malawi after being confiscated; an almost blind collared elephant bull was successfully treated for serious injuries after a suspected tusking by another bull; and South African National Parks (SANParks) has begun dehorning selected rhino cows in the southern reaches of Kruger National Park to reduce the impact of poaching losses on its population.
Breaking: STROOP beats media giants to take top film prize
The groundbreaking South African film, STROOP – Journey into the Rhino Horn War, has taken one of the world’s top wildlife prizes, ‘Best of Festival’, at the International Wildlife Film Festival in the United States.
Massive rhino dehorning operation in Balule, Greater Kruger
The entire rhino population of Balule (Greater Kruger) has been dehorned, in a massive operation.
Video: The unintended victims of a hidden killer
The piece of looped wire doesn’t look like much. But place this wire in the hands of wildlife poachers, and it becomes one of Africa’s most deadly weapons.
Opinion: Europe first plundered elephants for ivory – should Western countries preach to China?
The Elephant Protection Initiative takes a long view and considers the changing role of China in the illegal ivory trade.
Watch the wildlife documentary: When an Elephant Smiles
Watch the wildlife documentary, ‘When an Elephant Smiles’, that takes a look at saving orphaned baby elephants in Zimbabwe amid massive scale ivory poaching in Africa.
NEWS WRAP: Singapore seizes record haul of pangolin scales + death row “nuisance” elephant Riff Raff gets a reprieve
In the latest news wrap Singapore has seized 12.9 tonnes of pangolin scales found in a shipping container destined for Vietnam, the biggest seizure of its kind globally in five years; death row “nuisance” elephant Riff Raff gets a reprieve as judge intervenes to prevent shooting; three rhino poachers from the notorious Ndlovu gang were sentenced to an effective 25 years behind bars; and two field rangers were attacked and injured by an elephant in the Kruger National Park while conducting a routine patrol.
NEWS WRAP: World’s largest ivory seizure + captive lion breeding here to stay, says DEA
In this week’s news wrap Vietnamese customs have seized over nine tonnes of ivory in a container shipment from the Republic of Congo, thought to be the largest ivory seizure ever made; the Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA) has proposed that the captive lion breeding industry should continue; three KwaZulu-Natal rhino poachers have finally been convicted after a 10-year trial; celebrities have called on European Union to protect giraffes from wildlife trade; and Japan is to make carbon dating of ivory mandatory for trade, tightening controls on oft-criticised market.
Botswana 2018 aerial survey – of elephants, baobabs and cattle
Botswana elephant survey now made public. You’ve seen all the political posturing from all sides, now read the actual report and make up your own mind.
NEWS WRAP: ‘Ivory Queen’ sentenced to 15 years + rangers get closer to capturing escaped lion
In this week’s news wrap a prominent Chinese businesswoman dubbed the “Ivory Queen” was sentenced to 15 years in prison by a Tanzanian court for smuggling the tusks of more than 350 elephants; rangers have edged closer to catching a lion that has escaped Karoo National Park; four alleged rhino poachers, including a SANParks employee, were arrested in Kruger National Park; and China’s efforts to ban ivory trade have received worldwide acclaim as the effects of its strict measures are starting to be felt.
Updated rhino poaching stats – what is not being disclosed – comment from award-winning filmmakers
Award-winning filmmakers Susan Scott and Bonné de Bod comment on the latest rhino poaching statistics released by the Department of Environmental Affairs.
Detecting wildlife cybercrime
Being able to identify transactions involving restricted species, and conversations happening about them, will assist law enforcement in the fight against wildlife trafficking.
NEWS WRAP: Record seizure of pangolin scales + cameras find lone female elephant roaming Knysna forest
In this week’s news wrap Hong Kong customs have seized a record haul of pangolin scales bound for Vietnam; camera-trap technology has captured what is suspected to be the last elephant in Knysna forest; the South Africa parliament has attacked the Kruger agreement with neighbouring private reserves; Uganda seized ivory and pangolin scales worth an estimated $8 million; 20 endangered vultures die of poisoning near the Maasai Mara; thousands of baby flamingos have been rescued in South Africa as drought has put their breeding ground in peril; and a new widow spider species has been discovered – the first in 29 years.
Pangolin rescued from poachers in Limpopo
Earlier this February, Welgevonden Game Reserve’s anti-poaching unit received word of a pangolin sale which they intercepted, arresting five suspects and detaining two.
NEWS WRAP: Six animals electrocuted in Kruger + wildlife trafficking kingpin’s case dismissed
In this week’s news wrap a freak accident in the Kruger National Park has resulted in six animals, including a white rhino and two lions, being electrocuted; a suspected wildlife trafficking kingpin accused of smuggling $1 million worth of rhino horns to Thailand has had the case against him dismissed; two people were arrested at O.R Tambo International Airport after police found R2 million worth of rhino horn hidden in their luggage; and Vietnam customs forces have discovered nearly 1.4 tonnes of pangolin scales and 20 elephant tusks hidden inside a container shipped from Nigeria.
