Archive for the ‘CITES News’ Category
The Born Free Foundation was shocked to hear recent reports of elephant poaching in Cameroon’s Bouba Ndjida National Park. At least 100 bodies have reportedly been found, with more than 200 elephants suspected to have been killed since the middle of January.
The impact of such incidents extends beyond the lives of the poached elephants – without the expert guidance and nurturing of their lost relatives, young calves orphaned by this butchery are unlikely to survive.
Some reports point the finger at Sudanese insurgents crossing through Chad into northern Cameroon, a frequent raiding rout. Reports have indicated that funds raised by the sale of poached ivory in the Far East may be supporting ongoing local conflicts in Sudan and the Central African Republic.
The number of Cameroon’s elephants was last officially estimated in 2007, with ‘Definite’ and ‘Probable’ figures amounting to less than 1000 elephants altogether. Given that the most recent surveys from which these figures were derived took place 8 years ago (and the least recent 20 years ago), how many elephants remain today is anyone’s guess, but the question has to be asked: how many more such onslaughts can the fragile elephant populations of Western and Central Africa withstand?
To read more and find out what you can do to help, visit www.bloodyivory.org
Born Free is extremely sad to announce the death of Mr Kalie Ibrahim Bangura from Sierra Leone.
Mr Bangura served as Senior Game Superintendent in Sierra Leone’s Conservation and Wildlife Management Unit for several years. His work was as an inspiration to many. With extremely limited resources and in highly challenging circumstances, he achieved many wonderful things for wildlife conservation in Sierra Leone and beyond. His most recent project (which he had almost completed) involved the establishment of a new National Park in Loma Mountains. He was also a steadfast member of the African Elephant Coalition and was instrumental in developing the African Elephant Action Plan.
Mr Bangura’s unwavering dedication to wildlife conservation, and his keen determination to help wild animals in need, will surely guide us all for many years to come. His legacy, and his huge enduring smile, will never be forgotten.
If anyone would like to send a message for us to share with his wife and four children, please email Shelley Waterland: shelley@bornfree.org.uk
A monthly update on press coverage of the international illegal ivory trade.
This month’s seizure figures represent at least 77 dead elephants, bringing the total since this time last year to at least 4,001…*
Early January – South Africa
Police arrest two Chinese nationals in possession of "several tusks and ivory goods". Full report
6th January – West Port, Port Klang, Malaysia
Customs officials seize 494kg of ivory from a shipping container arriving from Cape Town, South Africa. The consignment is in raw tusks, bubble wrapped and packed into boxes, hidden among used tyres and flooring material and declared as matting. Full report
14 January – Cardiff Airport, Wales
The UK Border Agency search the luggage of a Cardiff woman on a passenger flight from Zambia to find 10 carved ivory ornaments and a hippo foot. The passenger is questioned and released. Full report
26 January – Polokwane, South Africa
Police arrest a South African with 4 tusks, 3 rhino horns and illegal firearms. Full report
Elephant poaching news this month includes a report of widespread wildlife poaching in many areas of Zimbabwe, with a large number of animals including 30 elephants found dead in Mana Pools National Park. Another report confirms the poaching of at least 2 elephants in a National Park in western Thailand, with tusks and other parts removed, the latter reportedly to supply the restaurant industry in tourist hot spots.
*Customs authorities and police agencies can only do so much – seized tusks, carvings, chopsticks and jewellery represent a small percentage of all the illegal ivory estimated to be in trade at any point in time. It has been estimated that in order to supply this amount of ivory, 38,000 elephants—8 percent of the entire African elephant population—are being killed annually.
News items referred to here are from external sources and Born Free cannot be held responsible for their authenticity or for the ongoing functionality of the links provided.