WWF-UK: New wildlife law bares its teeth at last
Access key details
This site uses the UK government standard access keys, as shown below:
S - Skip navigation1 - Home page
2 - What's new
3 - Site map
4 - Search
5 - Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
9 - Feedback form
0 - Access key details
Section navigation
How you can help
New wildlife law bares its teeth at last
Wednesday 5 October 2005
New powers allowing police to arrest criminals selling parts from endangered species were used by the Metropolitan police for the first time yesterday, after WWF successfully campaigned for the new law.
Officers from the Metropolitan Police executed a search warrant on a Chinese medicine supplier in Central London. The warrant was issued under the new COTES (Control of Trade in Endangered Species) regulations, introduced earlier this year after intense pressure from WWF and TRAFFIC's Wildlife Trade Campaign.
The operation led to the seizure of several hundred medicinal products, consisting mainly of bottled pills, believed to contain endangered species derivatives. Some raw plant material was also recovered.
The endangered species derivatives found included Tiger, Bear, Rhinoceros, Musk Deer and a number of endangered plants. A woman was arrested at the premises, and is currently being interviewed at a central London police station.
Although most of the trade in traditional Chinese medicines is legal, some products continue to be made from endangered species and the trade in these is strictly controlled by CITES, the UN Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species, which has been signed by more than 160 countries including the UK. Tigers, Bears and rhinos are among the best known endangered species used in traditional Chinese medicines.
Andrew Lee, director of Campaigns for WWF-UK said: "At last the police are able to tackle wildlife crime which is pushing some of the world's most magnificent species towards extinction.
"After tireless work by WWF and TRAFFIC's Wildlife Trade Campaign to improve the law on wildlife trade we have finally shown that COTES has teeth. WWF congratulates the Metropolitan Police for treating this issue with the seriousness it deserves."
Nikki Kelly, a Wildlife Trade Campaigner for IFAW said: "This seizure is highly significant: it is an important victory for police in the fight against wildlife crime and turns the spotlight firmly back on London as a major centre for illegal trade in endangered animals.
"Tiger and rhino poaching may take place in countries far away but the killing is driven by the high prices consumers here are willing to pay. We must all take responsibility to reject this commercial trade in endangered species before they are gone forever."
The operation led to the seizure of several hundred medicinal products, consisting mainly of bottled pills, believed to contain endangered species derivatives. Some raw plant material was also recovered.
The endangered species derivatives found included Tiger, Bear, Rhinoceros, Musk Deer and a number of endangered plants. A woman was arrested at the premises, and is currently being interviewed at a central London police station.
Although most of the trade in traditional Chinese medicines is legal, some products continue to be made from endangered species and the trade in these is strictly controlled by CITES, the UN Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species, which has been signed by more than 160 countries including the UK. Tigers, Bears and rhinos are among the best known endangered species used in traditional Chinese medicines.
Andrew Lee, director of Campaigns for WWF-UK said: "At last the police are able to tackle wildlife crime which is pushing some of the world's most magnificent species towards extinction.
"After tireless work by WWF and TRAFFIC's Wildlife Trade Campaign to improve the law on wildlife trade we have finally shown that COTES has teeth. WWF congratulates the Metropolitan Police for treating this issue with the seriousness it deserves."
Nikki Kelly, a Wildlife Trade Campaigner for IFAW said: "This seizure is highly significant: it is an important victory for police in the fight against wildlife crime and turns the spotlight firmly back on London as a major centre for illegal trade in endangered animals.
"Tiger and rhino poaching may take place in countries far away but the killing is driven by the high prices consumers here are willing to pay. We must all take responsibility to reject this commercial trade in endangered species before they are gone forever."
