Illegal trade map for World Rhino Day reveals new trends in trafficking

Today is World Rhino Day and, to mark the occasion, EIA has published an updated interactive map of the global illegal trade in rhino horn.

Depicting seizures and thefts of rhino horn as well as convictions relating to rhino horn trade worldwide from 2006 to September 2017, the map offers insights into a devastating criminal trade that continues to fuel the large-scale slaughter of rhinos in Africa and Asia.

... EIA’s updated map [explore it at ht.ly/Xq9w30flF2z] indicates that rampant illegal trade continues, while highlighting the emergence of new trading routes and crime hotspots ...

These insights into the illegal rhino horn trade present a picture of large-scale illegal activity, undertaken by organised criminal networks which are able to adapt to a changing enforcement landscape to exploit weaknesses and so continue to supply burgeoning consumer demand.

Read today's EIA News Update in full at eia-international.org/updated-seizures-map-for-world-rhino-day-reveals-new-trends-in-trafficking

#WorldRhinoDay #rhinos #China #Vietnam #Africa CARTO CITES ... See MoreSee Less

7 hours ago  ·  

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Plastic waste is killing seabirds, mammals and countless fish every year - let’s stop this madness!

EIA, as part of the Rethink Plastic Alliance, is calling on the European Commission to produce an ambitious Plastic Strategy that would significantly reduce the plastic pollution entering European Seas.

They could set goals to reduce the production of plastics or they'll listen to the plastic industry lobbyists ...

You can ask them to do the right thing and save our oceans from plastic.

Please sign and share today at act.wemove.eu/campaigns/dam-the-plastic-flood-clone

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1 day ago  ·  

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Africa: The shifting dynamics of rhino horn trafficking

Recent raids in South Africa have uncovered disturbing evidence of the changing dynamics of rhino horn trafficking from Africa to Asia.

On 12 June 2017, police raided a house in the Johannesburg suburb of Cyrildene and discovered a home workshop where rhino horn was being processed into beads, bracelets, bangles and other commodities. A quantity of drugs, ammunition and bones – believe to be lion bones – were also found. Two Chinese citizens and a Thai woman were arrested at the scene.

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* Explore EIA's interactive map of illegal trade seizures of rhino horn at eia-international.org/illegal-trade-seizures-rhino-horn
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“Pendants, Powder and Pathways*—A rapid assessment of smuggling routes and techniques used in the illicit trade in African rhino horn”, a new report by TRAFFIC, released September 18, documents a number of recent cases in which police have discovered rhino horn processed into jewellery. Bags of rhino horn powder have also been found.

The cases are particularly worrying: they signify an apparent shift in the modus operandi of the organized criminals trafficking horn. Prior to these cases, seizures have typically comprised whole horns, or ones simply cut into two or more pieces. Cutting tusks into smaller items may make sense if you are attempting to try and conceal them in order to smuggle them to the other side of the planet, but the implications are potentially far more serious.

In China, TRAFFIC’s routine monitoring of e-commerce sites has found a number of instances of rhino horns beads, bangles and other items for sale, and while the rhino horn powder—the by-product of rhino horn processing—may well be sold for medicinal usage, it appears rhino horn trafficking is morphing into a luxury product trade.

Full story at www.ipsnews.net/2017/09/shifting-dynamics-rhino-horn-trafficking/

#Africa #SouthAfrica #Asia #China #Vietnam #rhinos #rhinohorn #illegalwildlifetrade TRAFFIC - the wildlife trade monitoring network

Image: Left, rhino (c) EIAimage; centre, rRhino horn products as advertised on WeChat, via Wildlife Justice Commission; right, poached rhino in South Africa (c) EIAimage ... See MoreSee Less

1 day ago  ·  

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