Why the wildlife trade convention failed to prevent Covid-19

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Banner image: To protect the world from zoonotic diseases, CITES needs to be amended, refocused or superseded by other international protocols, says its former head, John Scanlon. (Photo: Still from Eye of the Pangolin) By Don Pinnock, Daily Maverick, 27 May 2020 It’s time to rethink the role of CITES, says its …

Breaking Point: Uncovering South Africa’s Shameful Live Wildlife Trade with China

Stephen Wiggins Article, Studies 5 Comments

Image Credit: Karl Ammann on location in China. Karl Ammann is a conservationist and wildlife photographer “Breaking Point: Uncovering South Africa’s Shameful Live Wildlife Trade with China,” EMS Foundation and Ban Animal Trading report, 17 May 2020 “South Africa has become the largest exporter of live wild animals to Asia, …

Zoonotic Diseases of Mass Destruction (Part II) – Who is regulating who?

Stephen Wiggins Article 1 Comment

Banner image courtesy of Animals Asia In the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the legal trade and illegal wildlife trafficking trade has come under increasing scrutiny (for good reason). A 2019 study concluded that one in every five species is affected by trade of some sort, but that the wildlife trade will expand …

Zoonotic Diseases of Mass Destruction

Stephen Wiggins Article 4 Comments

Banner image courtesy of artist Olaf Hajek and The New York Times Sunday Review The ‘true’ cost of wildlife abuse – Coronavirus and the viruses to follow…. “If we fail to understand and take care of the natural world, it can cause a breakdown of these systems and come back …

Stop The Slaughter – Close Down Domestic Rhino Horn Markets

Stephen Wiggins Article, Studies 2 Comments

Excellent evidence (science) gathered by the Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA): “Stop The Slaughter – Close Down Domestic Rhino Horn Markets,” EIA, August 2019 This EIA report’s recommendations include urging: “Parties [to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Fauna and Flora (CITES)] to close all existing domestic markets …

Rhino Horn Trade – Public Consultation

Stephen Wiggins Article 1 Comment

Banner image – © JohanSwanepoel, licensed from Adobe i-stock  Barbara Dallas Creecy, Minister of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries has invited members of the public to submit to the Scientific Authority (South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI)), within 30 days from the date of the publication of the notice in the …

CITES CoP18 – Updates

Stephen Wiggins Article, Event 2 Comments

Banner image courtesy of CITES/Wikimedia Commons Above image courtesy of the NSPCA As the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Flora and Fauna (CITES), eighteenth Conference of the Parties (CoP 18) continues in Geneva (17 – 18 August 2019), there have been some significant results (with more still due in …

“Their Future Is Dark.” The Rhino Horn Trade in 2019

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Banner image courtesy of Harman Singh Heer Open letter from the Wildlife Animal Protection Forum South Africa to the Republic of South Africa, The Department of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries.   15thAugust 2019 Attention: The Minister of the Environment, Forestry and Fisheries “Their Future is Dark” THE RHINO HORN TRADE 2019 …

Where wild things are under threat, wildlife trade needs to be dealt with

Stephen Wiggins Article 1 Comment

Banner image: “Tigers rub against a cage fence at a captive breeding centre for large predators at an undisclosed location in the Free State, South Africa, in this undated picture released in November 2005 by the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW). (Photo: EPA)“ By Lynn Johnson, Daily Maverick, 20 …

Proposed return to ivory and rhino horn trading

Stephen Wiggins Article 2 Comments

Banner image courtesy of Environmental Investigation Agency Petition: “Don’t let CITES delist Elephants and Rhinos as endangered animals!,” Care2Petitions GMFER Petition: “NAMIBIA AND SWAZILAND PROPOSALS TO CITES: TRADE IN RHINO HORN AND TROPHY HUNTING OF RHINO,” Change.Org The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Flora and Fauna (CITES), will …