2018 Review

Stephen Wiggins Article 4 Comments

Banner image courtesy of National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration At the close of 2018 after 30+ years of flouting international law, Japan has announced that it is set to leave the International Whaling Commission (IWC) and recommence commercial whaling in the summer 2019, within Japan’s ‘own waters:’ “Government spokesman Yoshihide Suga …

“Ivory Towers”

Stephen Wiggins Article, Studies Leave a Comment

“Ivory Towers – An Assessment of Japan’s Ivory Trade and Domestic Market,” TRAFFIC, December 2017 TRAFFIC reports that Japan’s on-going ivory trading is undermining China’s proposed ivory ban, fuelling demand and the poaching of elephants: “Japan remains one of the world’s largest domestic ivory markets, and is home to an active, …

The Good, the Bad and the Endangered: Wildlife Wins and Losses at CITES Standing Committee

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Banner image courtesy of the Environmental Investigation Agency The Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA) has reported from the 69th meeting of the CITES Standing Committee (SC69) in Geneva, Switzerland. What is striking is the level of prevarication evident within CITES – endless further reporting  needed when the negative facts are already documented and …

Pouring cold water on ‘sustainable use’

Stephen Wiggins Article, Speaking Out 16 Comments

Banner Image: African Elephant – Gary Stolz Opinion piece by Chris Mercer  – Campaign Against Canned Hunting This blog criticises a letter sent to the Chinese government by well-known hunting apologist Eugene Lapointe [CITES Secretary-General (1982 – 1990), now World Conservation Trust (IWMC) President]. After wrapping himself in a cloak …

Ivory Trading in Europe

Stephen Wiggins Article 3 Comments

The European Commission has an on-line survey on ivory trading within the European Union (EU) – the survey runs until 8 December 2017. To highlight the issues with ivory trading and ivory transiting through Europe, the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) issued a report “Ivory Seizures in Europe, 2006 …

UK Ivory Consultation

Stephen Wiggins Article 3 Comments

On 6 October 2017, the United Kingdom Government (Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA)) launched a consultation on ivory – “Ban UK Sales of Ivory” – with an Online Survey at the foot of the link page. The consultation period ends on 29 December 2017 – so add …

Ivory Markets in Central Africa

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  “Ivory Markets in Central Africa,” TRAFFIC, September 2017 The introduction this TRAFFIC report highlights some key elements in the historical persecution of elephants for their tusks (and a detailed study of Central African regions with market surveys of trade in ivory). Of particular note, is the negative aspect trade …