South Africa and Mozambique to Sign Memorandum of Understanding on Rhino Poaching

A pair of white rhinos

It has recently been reported that the South African Department of Environmental Affairs is to sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with its Mozambican equal next week, in order to stem the poaching of rhinos. Since the beginning of the year, roughly 277 rhinos have been killed in South Africa with most of the killings occurring in the famed Kruger National Park. According to South African National Parks (SANParks), the collaborative agreement will enable authorize South African rangers to go after the poachers even if they cross the border into Mozambique. At the same time, the Outraged South African Citizens Against Poaching (OSCAP) stated that it will act against any propositions to legalize the trade of rhino horns. At the end of a Rhino Trade Conference in Pretoria, OSCAP director Allison Thomson confirmed the organization's stand against rhino poaching. According to Thomson, OSCAP is working hard, both domestically and internationally, in order to stop any proposals to legalize the rhino horn trade. She further added that the conference ended on a positive note with participants agreeing to guarantee that all South African people were informed of the risks linked with the legalization of the rhino horn trade.

It is very beneficial to see what South Africa is doing, in order to prevent any further loss in its rhino population. Not only has it signed a mutual agreement with its neighbor Mozambique to combat poaching, but local groups like the OSCAP is working very hard on both domestic and international levels to halt any proposals of legalizing the trade of rhino horns. Rhinos in South Africa have been decimated drastically in recent years, due to the growing demand for their horns in Asia. These illicit activities are not just conducted by poachers, but also organized criminal syndicates. These organizations, which normally monopolize on criminal activities such as extortion, money laundering, prostitution, racketeering, and trafficking of arms, drugs, and people, have also resorted to poaching and smuggling of wildlife. This is why it is extremely crucial to combat such criminal networks by any means necessary, in order to help save lives of both people and animals.

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India May Soon Help Bring Back the Barbary Lion from Extinction

A Barbary lion in Algeria circa 1913.

It has recently been announced that an international team of scientists has confirmed through DNA tests that Asiatic lions are genetically related to the extinct Barbary lions. This indicates that "reseeding" India's lions may bring back the Barbary lions from extinction and reintroduce them into their former range in North Africa. This research was started by Dr. Ross Barnett of Copenhagen University during his days at Durham University in the United Kingdom. He sequenced the DNA from two Barbary lion skulls that were discovered in a moat of the Tower of London and dated to the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries, in order to expose and understand the origin of modern lions. Upon discovering the astonishingly close relationship between the Barbary lion and Asiatic lion, he stated that this could get conservationists to begin discussing about reviving the extinct subspecies and reintroducing lions into North Africa. The study has also revealed a similar example seen among tigers, in which mitochondrial DNA studies have implied that the Siberian tiger is closely related to the  now extinct Caspian tiger. This has allowed conservationists to discuss the shift of the Siberian tiger stock to inhabit the Caspian tiger's former range with backing from the Global Tiger Summit. Likewise, if no examples of purebred Barbary lions can be found within the captive population, there might be an opportunity for restoring North Africa's lion population by using the closely related Asiatic lion. Dr. Barnett further added that mitochondrial DNA has been sequenced from museum-preserved specimens, including the Barbary lion, Asiatic lion, and even lions from Central and West Africa. From the DNA analysis, the study has identified four new mitochondrial haplotypes: one from North Africa, one from a suspected Barbary lion in medieval London, one from Iran, and one from Senegal. Four of the six Barbary lions demonstrated sequence indistinguishable to that of the Asiatic lion. The close genetic relationships between the Barbary, Iranian, and Asiatic lion populations are extraordinary given their extensive geographical separation. The resurrection of the Barbary lion has drawn attention of conservationists from both inside and outside North Africa.

The Asiatic lion has been found to be closely related to the Barbary lion in terms of genetics.

It is absolutely extraordinary to learn how an extinct subspecies of a particular animal can be genetically related to a surviving subspecies, and that this relationship could be used as a key to restore the extinct subspecies. This has been seen here in the case of the Barbary lion and the Asiatic lion. Although both of these subspecies lived separately in two different continents, genetic evidence indicated that they are closely related to each other. In addition, the DNA analysis also revealed that Asiatic lions are also genetically related to Central and West African lions. Interestingly, lions in Central and West Africa are physically similar to Asiatic lions in a sense that they have smaller manes and differently shaped skulls compared to lions in eastern and southern Africa. Furthermore, they also live in smaller prides like their Asiatic counterparts. The Barbary lion, on the other hand, was described as having a spectacularly extensive mane compared to other lion subspecies. In addition, it was also a lot larger than other lions with differently-colored eyes. However, lions in eastern and southern Africa also exhibit a large mane like their extinct North African relative. Could it be possible that there might be some similarity between the Barbary lion and lions in eastern and southern Africa? I think this is a question that must be studied, in order to determine the relationship between the Barbary lion and lions in eastern and southern Africa. This would further help in understanding the origins of modern lions, as well as help in resurrecting the Barbary lion from extinction.

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Increase in Number of Online Petitioners Against the Building of Postal Road and Railway in Chitwan National Park

Sunset at Chitwan National Park

It has been recently reported that an online petition against a planned postal road and railway through Nepal's Chitwan National Park is increasing with thousands of people from around the world showing their disapproval of the two construction projects announced by the government early this year. The petition titled "Save Tigers and Rhinos in Chitwan National Park", which was created by an NGO called Animal Nepal, had compiled over 60,000 signatures on thepetitionsite.com. The petition addressed to the Prime Minister and Ministers of Finance, Roads, and Forests intends to stop the government from building the proposed postal highway and East-West electric railway line cutting through the park, and respect the privacy of the wildlife and conserve their habitat. The two projects under the government's national development order have attracted widespread criticisms from different groups, including animal welfare activists, conservationists, and politicians. Many people in the field of wildlife conservation asserted their concerns about the threats the projects will have on the animals' safety and their habitats in the national park. According to Margaret Ayton, a petitioner from the United Kingdom, the government's decision denies the very concept of wildlife conservation and that constructing the road and rail line through Chitwan National Park would change the way how the world sees Nepal. The petitioners have pressed the government and the authorities to preserve protected lands and wildlife habitats from unsustainable development plans that are threatening the tourism sector for which Nepal's protected areas are famous in the international field. Chitwan National Park chief warden Kamal Jung Kunwar stated that Minister of Forests and Soil Conservation Mahesh Acharya called attention to the seriousness to protect the fragile environment from developmental proposed in this part, and look out for options that are sustainable to the current environment. Minister Acharya's announcement came when the Ministry of Physical Planning and Works made a decision to begin the construction without even carrying out an environmental impact assessment.

Indian rhinoceros in Chitwan National Park

This news highlights the action taken by the global community in an effort to help save the world's environment and its inhabitants. Chitwan National Park, which is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site, functions as an important habitat for charismatic species like the Bengal tiger, Indian one-horned rhinoceros, elephant, and other wildlife. The implementation of such construction projects that cut through the national park would pose a major threat to its inhabitants. Chitwan National Park has known to be one of the few wild places in the world where anti-poaching operations have shown to be effective in protecting the wildlife. But with proposed development projects like these would not only impact the environment, but affect the park's reputation as a safe haven for wildlife. This extraordinary effort carried out by 60,000 people from around the world, in order to prevent such an environmental catastrophe should be taken as an inspiration to other members of the global community to act upon similar environmental situations that are threatening to impact the world's natural habitats. Chitwan National Park may be a UNESCO World Heritage Site, but there are also countless other wild places around the world that are under severe threat from issues ranging from poaching and illegal wildlife trade to habitat destruction and development projects. Many of these places are not even world heritage sites, and may not be home to charismatic species of animals like elephants, tigers, rhinos, etc. that require a great deal of attention. Regardless of what status a wild place has or the species of animals it houses, it is still part of the biosphere and must be thoroughly studied before converting it into a national park or a construction site. As part of the effort to protect the global environment, it is extremely crucial to conduct an environmental impact assessment before deciding to carry out a construction project.

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Kenya to Use Drones Against Elephant and Rhino Poachers

Elephants taking a mud bath in Kenya's Tsavo East National Park.

It has recently been reported that the government of Kenya is going to use drones in its battle against elephant and rhino poachers. This plan also comes along the side of tougher penalties, which include longer jail terms and stiffer fines, imposed on perpetrators in an attempt to repress the growing number of well-armed poaching gangs who target the elephants for their tusks and rhinos for their horns. According to Patrick Omondi, wildlife conservation deputy director for the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS), the drones will be used in Tsavo National Park which is one of the largest national park in the country. He further added the drones would be imported, but did not give any details of how many would be brought to Kenya or at what cost. Conservationists hope that this new law will avert criminal organizations since Kenya has become a major transport route for ivory bound for Asian markets from central and eastern Africa. KWS acting director general William Kiprono indicated that 51 elephants and 18 rhinos had been killed in Kenya so far this year, compared to 302 elephants and 59 rhinos killed in 2013. That same year, Kenyan officers confiscated 13.5 tonnes of ivory at the port city of Mombasa originating from other countries in the region. At least 249 suspects have been arrested so far and prosecuted for various wildlife crimes. Among them included a Chinese man who was convicted for smuggling ivory and ordered to pay a fine of twenty million shillings or face a seven-year prison sentence.

I very much admire the steps Kenya is taking to help prevent any further losses of its wildlife to poaching and the illegal wildlife trade. The government indicated that these threats not only affect the wildlife, but also the tourism industry which is a major foreign exchange earner in the country. However, there are also other countries in Africa whose wildlife is a major tourist attraction. These include countries in central Africa are also known to house a rich diversity of wildlife that tourists would love to see. Unfortunately, the wildlife in Africa's central region has been hit very hard in recent times due to poaching and the wildlife trade. In some parts, militant groups have resorted to brutally massacring the elephants to finance their bloody civil wars against innocent civilians. This indicates that the national parks in that region are nowhere as safe as the ones in eastern or southern Africa. Furthermore, because wildlife tourism is a major factor to Africa's economy, the ongoing threat of poaching in Africa's central region has dramatically impacted the economy resulting in widespread unemployment and placing more people into poverty. This is why it is extremely crucial to provide substantial help to the countries in central Africa to combat poaching and the militant groups operating in the region, in order to not only save its wildlife but recover its economy as well.

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French Poachers Arrested for Hacking off and Selling Frog Legs on the Black Market

One of many frogs threatened by the growing demand of frogs' legs in France.

When most people think of frogs as delicacy, one place that usually comes to mind is France. Frogs' legs, known locally as cuisses de grenouille, are a popular food in France and conservative estimates indicate that up to 100 million pairs of frogs' legs are consumed every year. However, frogs in France have been a protected species for more than twenty years after the government ordered a ban on hunting of these amphibians in the wild. Therefore, majority of frogs consumed annually are imported into the country. Unfortunately, the growing demand for the delicacy has resulted in several illegal poaching operations in France. One example was recently reported, in which three French men aged between 45 and 50 were arrested with nearly 1,100 illegally captured and mangled frogs. The three men, who are from the commune of Landeyrat in the Cantal department, had been armed with professional traps and cages containing the frogs they had been catching in wetland areas. They had planned to provide the legs to chefs in the Auvergne region. It is said that chefs pay roughly seven pounds for a dozen pairs of native frog legs, which are served with garlic and parsley. According to the police, the frogs confiscated from the poachers would have been worth roughly 400 pounds on the black market. The three men were arrested through a long operation which consisted of using surveillance, and are facing a one-year prison term and a fine of 12,500 pounds.

Frog legs: cooked (top) and raw (bottom)

It is incredible to know that while frogs' legs are considered a delicacy in France, the method of obtaining them through hunting in local areas of the country is considered to be illegal. However, because of the growing demand of such a delicacy, people are resorting to dishonest means of obtaining frogs' legs by violating the law. This recent incident saw a rise in the number of native frogs in France being ruthlessly slaughtered to not only satisfy the public, but also dramatically impact the local ecosystems of the country's wetlands. The frogs are a keystone species in a wetland ecosystem by maintaining its balance through insect consumption. If they disappear, then the insect population in France would increase to immense levels and cause major problems for the local people. In addition, populations of other animals that feed on frogs would also diminish. This is why it is extremely crucial to educate the public about the ecological importance of frogs, and encourage them to help save the frogs by reporting any suspicious activities occurring in their natural habitats. If the frogs disappear from France's wetlands, then the ecosystems of these wetlands would be turned upside-down.

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Maldives Increase Security to Halt Trade in Dangerous Animals

A ball python

The Maldives Customs Service has recently affirmed that they are strengthening security measures to stop the increase in dangerous animals being illegally imported into the country. According to Ahmed Niyaz, Senior Superintendent of Customs, the customs service is heightening its security procedures in an effort to prevent the illegal trade of such animals by carrying out cargo checks and report any findings. He further added that the customs service is working together with the police to conduct more comprehensive security checks, and stated that many snakes had been found during raids carried out by the police. The move was made following the discovery of a 4-foot long snake found on the streets of Male on Tuesday. Earlier this month, police discovered a ball python following a drugs raid in Himmafushi. In another raid, they also confiscated kingsnake and a Mexican redknee tarantula in a house in Male. A local media named Sun Online reported that customs believed that eggs of such animals were being brought into Maldives through seaports, where security is less and not regulated. Even though the country's ports security laws dictate that bringing in "dangerous animals" without appropriate permits is illegal, majority of the animals brought in are "not illegal, but require a permit." If a dangerous animal is confiscated, it is handed over to the police who would conduct a background check on the animal. If the animal is protected under the Convention on the International Trade of Endangered Species (CITES), the police would notify the Ministry of Environment who would check with international bodies. In majority of such cases, the dangerous animals would then be sent to other countries since Male lacks the expertise and has insufficient space to rehabilitate these animals. Superintendent Niyaz affirmed that a recently confiscated slow loris received a great deal of interest from international partners. The animal was discovered by the police in a drugs raid in Male on January 21. The raid resulted in the arrest of eight Maldivians with illegal drugs and more than MVR 140,000 and $11,000 in cash from the residence.

A slow loris

It is very good to see what Maldives is doing in an effort to combat the problem of the exotic pet trade, especially when it involves animals labeled as "dangerous." One of its local laws makes it clear that importing such animals without a relevant license is considered illegal, yet so many have and continue to be illegally brought into the country. This is why the customs service has decided to take a stand against this ongoing crime through a joint partnership with the police. Furthermore, the police maintains relevant contact with the Ministry of Environment so that any animal which could be an endangered species could have a second chance in life. This example should be viewed as an inspiration to other different countries where the exotic pet trade and other wildlife crimes are prevalent, so that their local governments can also take a tough stand against these crimes for the better protection and well-being of their people as well as the animals.

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Rhino Poaching in Zimbabwe Decreases in 2013

World Wildlife Fund workers dehorn a rhino in Zimbabwe's Chipinge National Park to make it less susceptible to poaching.

It has recently been reported that Zimbabwe has witnessed a drop in rhino poaching last year with only 750 animals remaining. According to the director of the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Authority, twenty rhinos were illegally killed in 2013 indicating a decrease of 66 percent compared with the previous year. However, despite this significant drop, the country's rhino population still remains in a critical condition following a surge of poaching in the late 1980s which claimed close to 2,000 rhinos. As of today, only 750 rhinos remain in Zimbabwe which include 450 black rhinos and 300 white rhinos. Edson Chidziya, the authority's director-general, told legislators that most of the rhino deaths were blamed on poaching carried out by the local people. He further added that while the poachers shoot the animals on sight, some have also resorted to poisoning them. On the other hand, the major drop in the poaching of rhinos has largely been attributed to stiff measurements implemented by Zimbabwe's authorities and conservation experts which include prison terms for convicted poachers. In addition, they have also taken to dehorning the rhinos, satellite-tracking, and relocating the animals from high-threat areas to more safe sanctuaries.

A Zimbabwe National Parks and Wildlife Authority worker walks into a room stocked with confiscated elephant tusks and rhino horns in Harare.

While this seems like good news, it also indicates that the rhino population in Zimbabwe is still much lower following a wave of bloodshed carried out by poachers in the late 1980s and that crucial measurements are in much need to ensure the survival of these animals and other species in the country. Last year, a wildlife conservation group reported that more than 300 elephants and other animals perished as a result of cyanide poisoning in Zimbabwe's Hwange National Park. This news indicates that even though a country recently experiences a drop in poaching or other wildlife crimes, it does not mean that such threats are no longer existing. Poachers and other perpetrators will always look for ways to stay one step ahead from the authorities to conduct their dastardly deeds. This is why it is extremely crucial to involve local communities to collaborate with the law enforcement and other authorities, in order to put a stop to poaching. The poaching of rhinos in Zimbabwe, according to this article, has been blamed primarily on the local people. In order to further combat the crime, it is important to educate the local people about the dangers of poaching and encourage them to join forces with authorities and conservation groups in order to make a difference in their home country. This includes tipping the authorities about any suspicious activities such as cyanide poisoning, which has been found to be the most deadliest method of poaching in Zimbabwe.

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