Thai airport authorities seize hundreds of animals in two separate seizures

Bangkok, Thailand, 4th December 2012—Authorities in Thailand have rescued 343 tortoises and freshwater turtles believed to be destined for markets in Hong Kong and arrested two men who were delivering the consignment for shipping. In a separate incident, snakes, scorpions and even centipedes were found in the luggage of a passenger due to fly to Doha.

Click to read more ...

Bear necessities: International conference highlights need to eradicate illegal trade in wild bears

New Delhi, India, 30th November 2012—The real life counterpart of Rudyard Kipling’s Baloo faces severe pressure from illegal trade and strong enforcement efforts are needed to protect wild bears in Asia, delegates to an international conference on bear conservation were told.

More than 300 experts from 37 countries gathered in India at the 21st Conference of the International Bear Association held from 26-30th November 2012, to discuss a wide range of bear conservation, research and management issues. 

Click to read more ...

Chinese enforcement officers learn to combat illegal marine turtle trade

in Chinese

Beihai City, Guangxi Province, China—TRAFFIC, in collaboration with the provincial CITES Management Authority, supported the training of enforcement officers from the Fishery Department, Industry and Commerce Department, and Customs of Guangxi Province on illegal trade in marine turtles.

Click to read more ...

Study raises concern over international trade in python skins

Geneva, Switzerland, 27th November 2012—A new study finds that close to half a million python skins are reported as exported annually from South-East Asia. The main importer is the European fashion and leather industry. The study raises concerns over the illegality in parts of the trade, animal welfare issues and the trade’s impact on the conservation of python populations.

Click to read more ...

EU closes shark finning loophole

Brussels, Belgium, 23rd November 2012—Members of the European Parliament this week voted overwhelmingly in favour of making it a requirement for EU fishing vessels only to land sharks with their fins still attached.

Click to read more ...

Boost for sustainable use of plants in Central America and Caribbean

in Japanese

Mexico City, Mexico, 19th November 2012—Representatives from seven Spanish speaking countries in Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean met last week to discuss implementation of the Global Strategy for Plant Conservation (GSPC) in the region.

Click to read more ...

‘Living fossils’ used as trade case studies

Ha Noi, Viet Nam, 1st and 2nd November 2012—Cycads—ancient plant species sometimes referred to as ‘living fossils’ because they have remained unchanged for millions of years—were chosen to examine the implementation of new guidelines developed by TRAFFIC to determine whether or not trade in perennial plants is sustainable.

Click to read more ...

Medicine practitioners urged to help reduce bear bile demand

Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia 16th November 2012—“Traditional medicine practitioners have a crucial role to play in reducing the demand for bear bile and gallbladder that drives the illegal trade in South-East Asia’s bears,” TRAFFIC told delegates to the 9th World Congress of Chinese Medicine held in Kuching, Sarawak in Malaysia last week.

Click to read more ...

Fuller Symposium focuses on wildlife crime

Washington DC, USA, 14th November 2012—Representatives across a diverse array of organizations will today share their insights into the growing crisis of wildlife crime during the 2012 Fuller Symposium.

Click to read more ...