POACHERS – who are they and what motivates them? TRAFFIC investigates the driving factors of poaching activities and suggests solutions
Tag Archives: poaching
Farming wild animals – is China the model for South Africa?
Farming wild animals is a big industry in South Africa but not near the Chinese scale. Should SA follow China’s lead, as it seems to be doing?
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.
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.
Video: Instagram influencers eat pangolin in Gabon – call it ‘armadillo’
Instagram influencers Jessica Nabongo and Sal Lavallo ate pangolin in Gabon hotel
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.
Hong Kong approves vote to ban ivory sales
Hong Kong has voted to ban domestic ivory sales in a landmark move on Wednesday to end the infamous trade in the city.
China’s ban on domestic ivory sales now in effect
China’s complete ban of the buying and selling of ivory products went into effect on Sunday.
Opinion: Hunting is sustainable (ab)use
None of the existing role players in conservation understand what is required to save Africa’s vanishing wilderness. The issue is just too broad and deep – and politically charged.
Hluhluwe iMfolozi Park: Protecting the “birthplace of rhino”
Over the past few months, Hluhluwe iMfolozi Park (HiP) in KwaZulu-Natal – managed by conservation agency Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife – has been hard hit by a significant escalation in rhino poaching. Ezemvelo has subsequently been hard at work developing more effective anti-poaching and resource management strategies. In support of this, Peace Parks Foundation has committed an additional R10,6 million towards the implementation of advanced technology solutions in this sacred rhino protection area.
Trophy hunting may cause extinction in a changing environment
Trophy hunting and other activities involving the targeting of high-quality male animals could lead to the extinction of certain species faced with changing environmental conditions, according to new research.
49 Vultures poisoned near Kruger National Park
The poisoned bodies of nearly 50 vultures have been found by rangers in Mozambique‚ just a short distance from the boundary of the flagship Kruger National Park.
Tsavo ‘Super Tusker’, Ndawe, dies after multiple spear wounds
Ndawe was the missing link, the proof that we were looking for. We were sure that elephants made the long journey between Tsavo and Amboseli, and he was the confirmation.
‘Shoot-to-kill’ policy for poachers, say Botswana academics
South Africa should implement a ‘shoot-to-kill’ policy for poachers, suggest Botswana academics Goemeone EJ Mogomotsi and Patricia Kelilwe Madigele in a report titled ‘Live by the gun, die by the gun’.
Let’s boycott African tourism. Not
Some keyboard warriors regularly call for the boycott of an entire country’s tourism industry in reaction to the death of animals that could conceivably have been prevented.
Love for elephants on the Elephant Ignite Expedition
The Elephant Ignite Expedition travelled to 10 different countries, to visit projects that work tirelessly to save elephants
Giant elephant Satao 2 poached in Tsavo, 6 super tuskers left
SATAO 2 is dead, and another of the last super tuskers left in Africa has been poached, leaving only 6 of these giants in the Tsavo Conservation Area in southern Kenya.
More dogs for Kruger’s canine unit
Kruger’s K9 Centre welcomes the addition of four new dogs at handover ceremony.
Poaching along the Okavango River
A look into the poaching of elephants, hippos and crocodiles along the Okavango River on the border of Angola and Namibia.
Meet 3 elephant angels
Three of the world’s leading African elephant conservationists offer hope and inspiration for saving elephants from extinction.
Vietnam’s booming ivory market
Vietnam’s growing illegal ivory trade threatens Africa’s elephants.
Famous big tusker Tim speared
Tim the well-known super tusker elephant from Kenya’s Amboseli has been speared in a human-wildlife conflict incident
Missing the Mark: African trophy hunting fails to show consistent conservation benefits
African trophy hunting fails to show consistent conservation benefits – according to the US House Committee on Natural Resources
Elephant poaching – intelligent law enforcement helps
Elephant poaching: Tanzania’s recent success in the ivory war is testament to the powers of a multi-agency anti-poaching strategy
Carnivores in decline due to land reform
Population numbers of carnivores in Zimbabwe have dropped significantly due to land reform that has seen large tracts of land change hands
Peter Beard and The End of the Game
A meeting with Peter Beard, author of the End of the Game – a provocative tale of the harsh reality of starvation, poaching and hunting in Kenya.
Famous Marsh lions poisoned in Maasai Mara
Lions from the Marsh Pride, made famous by the Big Cat Diary series, have been poisoned in the Maasai Mara with at least two lions dead as a result.
Rehabilitating and releasing baby rhinos
Baby rhinos need special care and Ntombi was no exception. This is her story – after 18 hack wounds from poachers who had killed her mother
A very special pangolin rescue
This is a story of two rescued pangolins, a story of compassion and transboundary teamwork to help two endangered mammals
Notorious Chinese ‘Queen of Ivory’ arrested
“The Queen of Ivory”, a Chinese national, has been arrested by a specialised task force in Tanzania. To date, she is the most important ivory trafficker ever arrested in the country.
The race to rescue a snared rhino calf
A young rhino called Bahati has been caught in a snare, which he has managed to snap but which has left him with deep wounds that needed to be treated as soon as possible. The Kenya Wildlife Service and rangers have been tracking him since Thursday morning but haven’t been able to find him yet. Keep your fingers crossed for this little rhino and prey he gets the treatment he needs soon!
EU bans import of hunting trophies from Tanzania and Mozambique
The European Union has banned the import of elephant hunting trophies from two African nations that have seen a significant decline in elephant numbers due to soaring levels of poaching.
iSimangaliso winning the war against poaching
With four recent successes, iSimangaliso Wetland Park sets a great example in combatting wildlife crime.
Increased poaching causes surge in African vulture deaths
Facing multiple threats including poisoning by poachers, African vultures are declining at a critical rate and researchers suggest that they are heading towards extinction.
Chinese delegate at Elephant Summit asks about buying elephant penis
A summary of the recent African Elephant Summit where a Chinese delegate asked about buying elephant parts including the trunk and penis.
Chinese criminal syndicates and corruption behind Tanzania’s elephant meltdown
A new report reveals that Chinese-led criminal gangs are conspiring with corrupt Tanzanian officials to traffic huge amounts of ivory, a trade which has caused half of Tanzania’s elephants to be poached in the past five years.
Rebranding environmental crime as a crime against humanity
Environmental crime is hindering Africa from seeing economic growth, destroying the future of the people.
When the buying stops, the killing can too
A look into the illegal wildlife trade and how to reduce the demand that is fuelling the illegal poachers who take the lives of thousands of rhinos and elephants every year.
African inspired art making a difference
Jacha Potgieter tells us how his African animal inspired artwork is raising awareness for conservation issues around the world.
Leakey’s last stand: The final battle of Africa’s elephant king
The man who saved the African elephant in the 1980s is returning to the fray. This time nothing will stop Richard Leakey except the grim reaper.
Interview with Kruger’s anti-poaching chief
An interview with Major-General Johan Jooste, the man in charge of anti-poaching at South African National Parks.
South Africa to evacuate up to 500 rhino from Kruger
South African authorities have announced a plan to evacuate up to 500 rhino from Kruger National Park to safer areas where they are less likely to fall prey to poachers hunting them for their horns.
New film STROOP to tell the real rhino story
STROOP is the first full length Afrikaans nature film about the rhino poaching crisis in South Africa.
Death of the kings – Tembe’s elephants in danger
In Africa today there are probably no more than 40 giant tusker elephants, in South Africa, the last of these giants live in Tembe Elephant Park in north-eastern KwaZulu-Natal
WildLeaks attracts major wildlife crime leads in first 3 months
WikiLeaks-style website, WildLeaks, yields 24 tip-offs including elephant poaching, tiger killing, illegal fishery and forest destruction.
Kenya’s biggest elephant killed by poachers
Satao, the world’s biggest elephant, is dead. Satao, who was killed by poachers at Tsavo East National Park, in southeast Kenya and was celebrated as one of the last surviving great tuskers.
Poaching onslaught in Garamba National Park
African Parks has ramped up their anti-poaching efforts in DRC’s Garamba National Park after 68 elephants were poached using chainsaws and hand grenades.
The story of a young Chinese conservationist
The story of a Chinese conservationist who is working to determine China’s role in the elephant poaching problem and coming up with solutions that can be implemented across China and Africa.
Zimbabwe’s Presidential Elephants in peril
Sharon Pincott, who worked for 13 years under the banner of The Presidential Elephant Conservation Project protecting the Presidential Elephants of Zimbabwe has announced that she has closed down her project.
Kafue: paradise waiting to be reborn
Kafue National Park, spoken of as the lungs of Africa, is doing great things for conservation with their Elephant Orphanage Project.
Tembe, land of giants
Tembe Elephant Park in north-eastern KwaZulu-Natal is one of Scott Ramsay’s favourite protected areas. In 300 square kilometres of sandforest, woodland and swamps, you’ll find some of the biggest tuskers in Africa.
Born Free USA exposes the bloody ivory trade
Born Free USA has released a report that provides an accurate and complete picture of the depths of the infamous ivory trade, and its findings are truly alarming.
Lack of resources and skills hamper wildlife law enforcement
Is our government really doing all they can to combat rhino poaching? In a report investigating the challenges facing the enforcement of South Africa’s environmental laws, shortages in resources, skills and multiple, changing legislations have been identified as the most serious shortcomings.
Criticisms of the Environmental Minister’s views on ivory trade
Criticisms have emerged following Edna Molewa’s, Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs, remarks on the ivory trade and how it relates to a possible trade in rhino horn.
Swaziland: showing Africa how to save rhinos
If you’re concerned about the calamitous state of rhinos – and wildlife – in Africa, then consider what Ted Reilly has to say. Now 75 years old, Ted has worked his whole adult life for the protection of the Kingdom of Swaziland’s wildlife and its natural habitat.
Feral dogs at iMfolozi
We look into a situation where five feral dogs where seen chasing a wildebeest at iMfolozi Game Reserve.
Rhino horn trade conference “tells it like it is”
The controversial OSCAP conference, entitled ‘Risk Assessment of Rhino Horn Trade’ ended yesterday on a positive note. The participants agreed to work together to ensure that all South Africans were made aware of the risks associated with legalising rhino horn trade.
Rhino horn – To trade or not to trade: Does it really matter?
The rhino horn trade is being punted as an option with ‘if it pays it stays’ philosophy. The counter argument being that we don’t understand the market, making it difficult to play with. Each a compelling argument in its own right, however are we are dividing our forces, our efforts and the rhino population while we debate the issue?
Rhinos: It’s time for Plan B
We do not get a second chance if we get the economics of rhino trading wrong; all the rhino in the wild will be gone. It is time for a Plan B.
South Africa’s trophy hunt industry linked to rhino horn trafficking … AGAIN
The trophy hunting industry has been caught using loopholes to traffic rhino horns into the illegal rhino horn market
Young mountain gorillas destroy poachers’ snares
Today in Rwanda, field staff of the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund observed several young gorillas from Kuryama’s group destroying snares set by poachers! “We knew that gorillas do this but all of the reported cases in the past were carried out by adult gorillas, mostly silverbacks,” said Veronica Vecellio, gorilla program coordinator at the Karisoke Research Center. “Today, two …
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