Illegal Wildlife trade - news
Recent news from WWF about wildlife trade
Rhino crisis - how you can help
We know you'll feel as angry as we do about the latest shocking figures on rhino poaching - 448 rhinos killed in South Africa alone in 2011, including 19 critically endangered black rhinos. The worst figures on record, and fuelled by rising demand in Asia, particularly Vietnam, where rhino horn is sold as a spurious cancer medicine and even a lifestyle post-party drug for the rich. Rhinos could be wiped out for a hangover cure! Please help us tackle this outrage...
Solving the rhino crisis
The growing demand for rhino horn in Asia - driven by mistaken belief in its medicinal properties - has led to record levels of illegal poaching and rhino deaths. The latest appalling statistic shows more rhinos have been killed in South Africa in the past 10 months than in all of 2010. And now the IUCN has confirmed what we've suspected for some years - that the black rhino is officially extinct in West Africa. It all strengthens our resolve to save the rhino - not just through our effective on-the-ground conservation and relocation projects (see amazing 'flying rhino' video footage below), but by increasing pressure on global governments and law-enforcers to clamp down hard on illegal wildlife trade.
Javan rhino: now extinct in Vietnam
Sadly, it’s official. WWF and the International Rhino Foundation (IRF) have confirmed that the Javan rhinoceros (Rhinoceros sondaicus annamiticus) is extinct in Vietnam – and has been for well over a year.
Forest ranger killed by gorilla poachers
A forest ranger has been killed and another seriously injured following a violent clash with gorilla poachers in Cameroon. We utterly condemn the attack, and want to see more protection for our courageous colleagues working on the frontline of conservation - and much stronger deterrents and severe sentences for those involved in this kind of horrific crime.
CITES wildlife trade meeting round-up
Despite some setbacks, progress was made at the latest CITES meeting (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) last week in Geneva.
CITES talks: poaching, ivory and rhino horn
This is a big week for wildlife protection. The CITES meeting taking place in Geneva - with 19 governments discussing the threats from the global trade in endangered species - comes at a time when poaching of rhinos and elephants has reached crisis point. But recent hefty jail terms for rhino horn smugglers in South Africa show how big steps in wildlife crime are being taken.
Poachers kill more than one rhino a day in South Africa
Nearly 200 rhinos have been killed in South Africa during the first half of the year, according to statistics from the national parks department. Last year, a record 333 rhinos were killed in the country. If poaching is left unchecked, this year's figure could exceed that number.
Live bear and leopard cubs found in hand luggage
Passport, tickets, leopard cubs? That’s exactly what a United Arab Emirates man was found carrying when police arrested him at Suvarnabhumi airport in Bangkok last week. In fact, amazingly, seven infant animals were found alive and packed in the 36-year-old suspect’s hand luggage - four leopard cubs, a bear cub, a baby gibbon and a marmoset.
Good news for Wildlife Crime Unit
Richard Benyon, Secretary of State for DEFRA, has announced that funding for the National Wildlife Crime Unit (NWCU) remains secure.
Shocking haul of ape parts is blow to illegal traders
Five men have been arrested in Gabon, west central Africa, after raids uncovered alarming numbers of illegal wildlife items, including parts of chimpanzees and an endangered gorilla.
Rhino poaching rise shows why our work is so vital
As we mark WWF’s 50th anniversary – and celebrate how we’ve successfully helped bring rhino populations back from the brink – here’s a shocking but timely reminder that our work is far from done...
Shopping for tigers… the shocking truth facing the Tiger Forum
Thriving black markets along the borders between Myanmar (Burma), Thailand and China are boosting the illegal trade in tigers and other endangered species. That’s the stark observation (with equally stark video footage) from a new report from WWF and TRAFFIC, released today in the run-up to the International Tiger Conservation Forum in Russia.
Why the tiger summit is crucial
More than 1,000 tigers have been poached in the past decade. This new evidence has shown how vital it is for world leaders to commit to save the tiger at this month’s summit, the International Tiger Forum.
UK government bans rhino horn exports
You don’t get many rhinos in the UK – so why is it so important to ban rhino horn exports? Let us explain…
Crackdown on south Asian wildlife crime
WWF is supporting a new network set up by seven south Asian countries to combat poaching and trafficking of rare wildlife in the region.
Outcry over death of rare Javan rhino
A Javan rhino – one of the rarest large mammals on Earth – has been found dead in Vietnam’s Lam Dong Province. It had been shot and its horn removed. We hope this shocking loss will act as a spur to increase global efforts to wipe out poaching and illegal wildlife trade.
Far-reaching consequences of CITES decisions
More than 100 national governments were represented at the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) meeting in Qatar in March. The decisions made by member countries can have far-reaching consequences for many at-risk creatures – and although there were some high-profile disappointments in Qatar, there were several positive results to bring away.
Nature at Risk supplement
In The Times newspaper today there’s a supplement called Nature at Risk , which has been produced by Raconteur in collaboration with us. It’s packed with features on the many threats facing species and habitats around the world – and the work we’re doing to tackle these problems.
Bluefin trade ban rejected – but we’re not giving up
The long-awaited proposal to ban international trade in Atlantic bluefin tuna has been shockingly rejected at the world’s biggest wildlife trade convention. We were particularly disappointed that there wasn’t even much debate on the issue before a vote was hastily pushed through.
CITES can help save tuna and tigers
The largest ever wildlife trade convention (known as CITES Cop15) runs from 13-25 March. It's a unique chance for world governments to protect species in our oceans, as well as halting a worldwide poaching crisis.
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