Elephant Poaching on the Rise After the Overthrow of Central African Republic's Government

A forest elephant in Central African Republic's Dzangha-Sangha Special Reserve

The Central African Republic has been in the news in recent times due to increased hostilities between the government and rebels, which has resulted in the overthrow of the nation's president Francois Bozize and the federal government. But this significant event has also led to another catastrophe: surge in elephant poaching. Conservationists stated that the rebels, who were responsible for bringing down the government, are also believed to be involved in poaching. One of the primary hotspots of poaching activities is the Dzanga-Sangha Special Reserve, which has been home to more than 3,400 elephants. The overthrow of the government has allowed poachers to further carry out their slaughter. Bas Huijbregts, head of policy for WWF's campaign against poaching in Central Africa, stated that elephant meat is being sold in the town of Bayanga near the reserve and other surrounding villages. The local residents further added that at least forty elephants had been killed in Dzangha-Sangha since the rebels took control on March 24. However, the World Wildlife Fund stated that it was impossible to estimate the numbers of animals killed since no patrols had been going into the jungles to determine the exact figures.

Rebels in Central African Republic are believed to be involved in the poaching of elephants in the country.

This article is a clear representation about the side effects caused during the aftermath of the overthrow of a federal government. In the case of Central African Republic, one of those side effects has been an increase in poaching. Because there is no government to oversee the country, it is possible for criminals of all sorts, including poachers, to carry out their evil deeds. It has been said that ever since the rebels toppled Central African Republic's government, their leader, Michel Djotodia, has taken over to lead a transitional government. However, critics have stated that he has little control over his followers who have been blamed for continuous looting of hospitals and aid groups in the nation's capital of Bangui. In addition, the rebels have also been said to have looted the offices of WWF staff in the Dzanga-Sangha Reserve and even formed alliances with poachers from Sudan. This has truly, along with targeting innocent civilians, has made them a force to be reckoned with. I feel that Central African Republic is in a dire need of help regarding lives of its people and wildlife. The nation is now being overrun by not just any poachers, but also cruel and bloodthirsty cutthroats who have no regard for human or animal life. Immediate action must be taken to help bring down the rebels conducting their activities in and around Dzanga-Sangha Reserve, as well as in other parts of Central African Republic. In addition, a new government must also be established to replace the current existing one that has put millions of lives at stake.

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Oriya Poachers Turn to Wildlife Protection

An elephant in Simlipal National Park

It has been recently reported that a group of four elephant poachers in Orissa's Simlipal National Park have renounced their poaching ways, in an effort to help keep the wildlife safe. The four men, who were responsible in killing of at least eighteen to twenty elephants, surrendered before the forest officials and are set to be part of the national park's protection squad. According to Simlipal's field director Anup Nayak, the four men live in villages on the foothills of the national park. The eldest of the four was Dhanu Soren. A member of the Anantpur village, he had been a poacher for the past twenty years and gained notoriety for training and recruiting local youngsters in the illicit activity. The other three included Budhuray Hembram, Chotray Marandi, and Lakshman Marandi. The group's impudence became a serious matter when nearly 1,200-1,300 members of their gang held 59 forest personnel hostage in the Upper Barakamra range in Simlipal's core area in May last year.

Forest road through Simlipal National Park

The change of heart in these four men happened as a result from efforts put Honorary Wildlife Warden Bhanumitra Acharya. Warden Acharya was able to reform them with the help from local village youngsters who are members of the Simlipal Tiger Protection Force (STPF), which he established in 2001. The organization is now comprised of above 1,013 members, which include village youngsters from 1,200 surrounding villages. In addition, Warden Acharya also founded the Simlipal Special Force which is comprised of twenty youngsters and former army officials who work as an active action group during an emergency situation. According to Warden Acharya, the organization was able to convince the four ex-poachers to give up their illicit profession after a series of meetings. However, this was the first part of this extraordinary success story. The real test will be to exercise their talents, network, and modus operandi to capture other poachers. The four men have been utilized as protection assistants by the forest department's team of sentries.

Sambar deer in Simlipal National Park

This article is an explicit demonstration of how wildlife protection should be conducted around the world. Battling wildlife crimes such as poaching, habitat destruction, and the illegal wildlife trade does not only mean apprehending the perpetrators and sentencing them to prison time. It is also about giving them a second chance in life. And what better way to do than giving these individuals an opportunity to work side by side with wildlife officials in an effort to protect the animals which they kill for profit? This action was seen in the case of these four poachers, who were infamous for not only slaughtering elephants but participating in holding forest personnel hostage. Now, these newly-reformed men have given up their lifestyle of poaching to become part of a protection squad comprised of members from their individual villages. I firmly believe that the efforts Warden Acharya took, in order to protect the wildlife of Simlipal National Park should be an inspiration to national parks and wildlife sanctuaries across India and in other parts of the world to protect their local wildlife. This remarkable success story has already inspired an organization called Sangram, which has launched a program titled "Pratyavartan" in order to encourage poachers and other such people who cause any harm to the environment to renounce their lifework and make their living by respectable means. A similar concept is seen when a gang member or any regular criminal either rejects or is convinced to give up the lifestyle he/she led in committing crimes, in order to educate other people not to follow the same path. If the protection of the world's wildlife is enhanced this way, in which poachers and other such criminals be given a second chance to redeem themselves, then the battle against the ongoing threats these people have been committing will likely to cease. However, it is also vitally important at the same time to be vigilant for any individuals who would turn out to be uncooperative for offers like what these four men were given.

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Conservationists Call for a Stop in the Illegal Trade of Cheetahs

A cheetah destined for the illegal pet trade confiscated in 2011

It has been reported that the Wildlife Conservation Society, the Endangered Wildlife Trust, and the Zoological Society of London have recently joined forces with representatives from the nations of Ethiopia, Kenya, and Uganda to call for a stop in the illegal trade of cheetahs as pets. The three African countries were prompted due to an increasing concern of diminishing populations of East African cheetahs, which are currently believed to be smuggled as pets. The Convention on the International Trade of Endangered Species (CITES) has recently accepted the proposal to authorize the first serious study of the trade in cheetahs that should form a groundwork in for future conservation action. Each year, many cheetahs are illegally taken from the wild as cubs since they are easy to tame. During the smuggling process, it is said that more than half of the cubs are thought to die in transportation and scientists fear that the trade could be impacting the cheetah population survival in the Horn of Africa. In 2011, the Coalition Against Wildlife Trafficking (CAWT) recorded 27 cases involving smuggling of seventy cheetahs within a one-year period, although conservationists believe the total number of figures is much greater.

Cheetah

This news article highlights the growing impact of the exotic pet trade affecting our world. In addition, it also highlights the reaction of countries where exotic animals come from. In this case, the victims are cheetahs and the countries from which the reactions towards the exotic pet trade are coming are Ethiopia, Kenya, and Uganda. All three of these countries are one of the few places in Africa that are known to contain some fairly good numbers of cheetahs, but have also served as hotspots for smuggling wildlife and other illegal activities. According to Dr. Nick Mitchell of the Wildlife Conservation Society and the Zoological Society of London, cheetahs in the wild occur at very low density numbers which means that eradication of individuals by any means can have a significant impact on the populations' survival. This is why it is extremely crucial that countries having wild animals for the exotic pet trade, and those that are prime hotspots of the business to band together in an effort to save cheetahs and other animals from this ongoing cycle of wildlife smuggling.

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Namdapha National Park Under Surveillance to Prevent any Illegal Activities

Members of Namdapha National Park's protection force.

It has been recently announced that the Namdapha National Park in India's northeast is now under constant surveillance of a protection force that is actively seeking to prevent any illegal activities from happening. According to Principal Chief Conservator of Forests N.N Zhasa, the force is comprised of a 35-member protection squad, thirteen former service members, and representatives of various local communities of Arunachal Pradesh. Zhasa, who visited the national park during a two-day period from February 27-28, stated that he was satisfied with the change in the national park's situation since it came into spotlight for an attack on former Chief Wildlife Warden J.L. Singh last year. The change was accredited to the park's field director S.J Jongsam, who along with his staff took the local Lisu people into confidence such that few have even become members of the protection force.

I'm extremely proud of the efforts the staff of Namdapha National Park have undertaken, in order to keep it safe from threats like poaching and other illegal activities. In my opinion, Namdapha should be considered as a role model and inspiration to other national parks and wildlife sanctuaries in India and around the world when it comes to protecting the wildlife. The efforts in protecting wildlife should not only include forest guards or wildlife officials, but also former members of the armed forces and local indigenous people living in surrounding areas of a national park or a protected area. The combination of ex-military officials' knowledge of combat and the indigenous people's knowledge of the land can prove to be worthy and effective in the ongoing battle against poaching and the illegal wildlife trade. Therefore, it is absolutely important and crucial that other national parks and wildlife sanctuaries in India and around the world should employ similar tactics in order to put a stop to the ongoing threats affecting the world's wildlife.

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World Wildlife Fund Turns to UAVs to Tackle Poaching

WWF officials with UAVs in Nepal

The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) has recently turned to using unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in an effort to combat the illegal poaching of elephants, rhinos, and tigers conducted by increasingly complicated and fully equipped cartels. The organization provided two hand-launchable UAVs to the Nepali government in 2012. In December of that year, Google awarded WWF $5 million to create more extreme UAV systems in hopes that they will minimize poaching of endangered species and help save lives of rangers and other wildlife officials appointed to protect them. One particular UAV system that is currently in development is dubbed SMART. This system, which is comprised of UAVs, sensors, and software, will enable authorities to fight poaching more strategically. In order to do this, the system will concurrently track the locations of animals, poachers, and rangers. Of these, tracking rangers and other law enforcement units will be easy since they will be given GPS units. Animals, on the other hand, will be little more challenging since they require electronic tagging. Tracking poachers will require a UAV video surveillance flowed to operators on the ground. This will be boosted by the adding of night-vision cameras and thermal imaging (if possible). The data will be assembled and analyzed by a data management system at the ground control center. This will allow rangers to be utilized in locations, where they will intercept or surround the poachers before they can reach their intended targets.

Crawford Allen of the WWF suggested that countries who are partners with the organization may provide their own UAVs. In addition to Nepal, Namibia is another one of the four countries, two in Africa and two Asia, where SMART could be deployed. Allan also stated that Namibia already has its domestic low-cost UAV possibly acceptable for the job. In addition, the WWF is still in talks with UAV manufacturers to create a working system. The organization's purpose is to provide software and training, and if necessary, hardware, to countries plagued with the ongoing threat of poaching. Allen further explained that individual governments of these countries will operate their own initiatives. He is also keen to urge that in addition to UAVs, other advanced technological options can be implemented for conservation surveillance. These methods include closed-circuit television cameras on poles, which have been placed at the boundaries of Corbett National Park in India and fastened surveillance balloons outfitted with 360-degree day and night-vision cameras.

I'm extremely impressed and proud that the World Wildlife Fund has turned to a series of technological methods to tackle poaching. One of these is through the use of UAVs, especially in areas that have suffered tremendously from the threat of poaching. This tactic was first implemented in Nepal, and is now in the process of being carried out in other countries. Some countries like Namibia and South Africa have already deployed their own individual UAV systems to combat poachers. The rise of rhino poaching in South Africa had grown from 448 animals killed in 2011 to 633 last year. Recently, in 2013, the death toll increased to 102. What is even more scary is that majority of the rangers and other law enforcement units are at risk of being ambushed and outgunned, due to hi-tech sophisticated equipment such as night vision goggles carried by poachers. For this reason, South Africa resorted to developing its UAV system to prevent any further casualties of rangers against their adversaries.

In addition, the poaching of elephants has also followed a similar upward curve in recent years. In countries like the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Cameroon, and others, the elephants are in the midst of a brutal and bloodthirsty slaughter from not just poachers but militant groups like the Janjaweed, Lord's Resistance Army (LRA), and the Shabab. These sadistic factions see the ivory as key to fund their civil wars, which involve brutally massacring innocent civilians. Furthermore, rangers and other authorities are at a far greater risk of being killed or even having their loved ones end up in the murderous hands of these cutthroats. This is why I believe it is absolutely crucial to provide these countries with UAVs to prevent any further casualties of wildlife officials. The vehicles would not only help the authorities in protecting elephants and other wildlife, but also people at risk of being ruthlessly slaughtered by these groups. The threat of poaching has kept up with the latest technology in recent years, and now it is time to become even with this ongoing terror threatening to wipe out both animal and human off the face of the earth.

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Strict Measurements Refrain Illegal Ivory Trade in China

Seized elephant tusks in Hong Kong

Experts have recently stated that China's tough management and registration system can strongly prevent ivory from entering the domestic market. Jin Yu, a researcher from the Northeast Forestry University, stated that the nation has initiated an information control system tougher than the ideals of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES). Jin described it as an identification system, where there is an identification card on every product that contains information regarding the product's appearance, size, and digital code. This card can be used to acquire further information about that product, including its original material, through an online database. She further added that the registration system keeps track of ivory until it is made into a product, and reviews each period of development for weight gain. This identification system was first introduced in 2003, and has tremendously helped the customs, police, and other law enforcement officials constrain the illegal ivory trade. However, Jin also warned that lack of experience and knowledge may cause incorrect reports and surveys that may result in accusations that the market has ivory products coming from illegal sources.

Furthermore, all factories manufacturing ivory products and stores selling them are registered. According to Yan Xun, an official with the State Forestry Administration, it is only with the government's online approval can such factories and stores be in business. Those that are without the approval can be punished. He further added that the administration has discovered that Chinese tourists traveling to Africa often purchase ivory ornaments and simply carry them back to their home country, not knowing that they are breaking the law. In response, Chinese embassies in African countries are becoming involved by warning tourists not to bring ivory products back. In addition, local wildlife management authorities have also taken the initiative to combat wildlife crime with the rise of e-commerce. Yan also stated that China's restrictive penalties for the illegal ivory trade have averted perpetrators with life imprisonment being the highest sentence.

I'm very impressed and proud to see what China is doing in its efforts to combat the illegal ivory trade. This article contains information indicating a stark contrast of China being the driving force of the trade. For example, a survey in 2011 by the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) found that collaborative efforts by the government and heavy progress have been made to employ the registration system on ivory products and raise public awareness over the past five years. In addition, the report also stated that China attained progress in controlling wildlife crimes online by educating the online industry and urging it to include wildlife into the online trade policies. In 2005, China's largest online marketplace Taobao banned listings of ivory and employed the ban by education and disclosure of code words to remove ivory listings. Another website that traded in ivory, sc001.com.cn, has also eliminated the section of ivory trading and implemented notices of the wildlife trade ban throughout the site. In addition to banning the illegal wildlife trade online, China has also taken a firm stand against wildlife crimes in recent years. A recent example was seen from January 6 to February 5, 2013 in which China led an operation codenamed "Cobra" which included 22 African and Asian countries. The operation exposed more than 200 cases involving trafficked wildlife parts, and resulted in arrests of more than hundred suspects. It also confiscated 6.5 metric tons of ivory, 1.6 tons of shahtoosh, 22 rhino horns, ten tiger skins, and other protected plant and animal species and products derived from them. This goes to show that global partnership, especially amongst countries hit hard by poaching and the illegal wildlife trade, always helps in an effort to combat and curb such crimes against wildlife. I also hope that this joint effort will continue to help in the future for the benefit of the world's wildlife.

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Malaysian Man Receives Reduced Sentence for Possession of Wildlife Products

Tiger skins possessed by Mohd Nor Shahrizam Nasir

It has been recently reported that a Malaysian court has delivered a reduced sentence to a 29-year-old man named Mohd Nor Shahrizam Nasir. Nasir, who has been found guilty on two counts of illegal possession of wildlife products, has been sentenced sixty months. However, because the punishment is viewed as circumstantial, his adequate jail term is only two years. The wildlife trade monitoring network, TRAFFIC, has expressed its concern towards the mild sentencing and is especially worried that the period of sentence challenges existent laws. According to Dr. William Schaedla, regional director of TRAFFIC's Southeast Asia operations, the sentence is "shocking and disappointing." According to the existent wildlife laws, any individual found guilty of  possessing wildlife parts faces a commanding fine of not less than RM100,000 and not more than RM500,000. In addition, the individual faces a jail term not surpassing five years. There has been no fine imposed on Nasir. As of now, his sentence has been awaiting an appeal and he can leave on bail for RM80,000.

I'm extremely disappointed and appalled by the way the Malaysian judicial system exercises its laws against wildlife smugglers and other criminals notorious for pillaging and plundering the world's endangered wildlife. In spite of the efforts conducted by TRAFFIC to bring these remorseless and sadistic individuals to justice, the judicial system has always been very lenient towards their sentencing. For example, in September 2011, a convicted wildlife smuggler named Anson Wong was found guilty of smuggling 95 boa constrictors, one mata mata turtle, and two rhinoceros vipers from Penang to Jakarta. In response, the Sepang Magistrate's Court sentenced the wildlife smuggler to six months in jail and fined him RM190,000. The fine was then put aside on appeal to the High Court, but his sentence rose to five years. Unfortunately, a Court of Appeal cut that sentence to seventeen-and-a-half months last year. This meant that Wong had already served his sentence from September 7, 2010. The Malaysian judicial system needs to wake up and realize just how ominous the threat of poaching and wildlife trade much like trafficking of drugs, humans, and weapons. The syndicates that operate the trade have even gained notoriety for funding rebel groups and militias in Africa in carrying out their bloodthirsty civil wars against innocent civilians. Members who are part of this illicit global trade system should be given stiff prison sentences varying from five years to life in prison.

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