A lot is going on in the Endangered Species Act and in Trophy Hunting in the United States. First Trump wants to roll back the Endangered Species Act and then Zinke, (Department of the Interior and in charge of Fish and Wildlife) a trophy hunter is using taxpayer dollars ($250, 000) to fund a ‘committee’ the International Wildlife Conservation Council to allow trophy hunting (which most are endangered species) This ‘committee’ has 16 members which 15 of them are big game hunters. (Chicago Tribune). How Fair or impartial is that? That on top of allowing Elephant and Tiger Trophies to be imported into the USA. 
What Trump wants to do; Would weaken protections for endangered species, while making it easier for companies to build roads, pipelines, or mines in crucial habitats. Under current regulations, government agencies are supposed to make decisions about what species need safeguarding “without reference to possible economic or other impacts.” The Administration wants to scratch that phrase. It also wants to scale back protections for threatened species—these are one notch down on the endangerment scale—and to make it easier to delist species that have been classified as endangered. (New Yorker)
When receiving the following press release on a smuggled tiger, I got to wondering about Wildlife Smuggling, endangered species, Trump and Zinke.
According to the US Fish and Game Department: llegal wildlife trade is estimated to be a multibillion-dollar business involving the unlawful harvest of and trade in live animals and plants or parts and products derived from them. Wildlife is traded as skins, leather goods or souvenirs; as food or traditional medicine; as pets, and in many other forms. Illegal wildlife trade runs the gamut from illegal logging of protected forests to supply the demand for exotic woods, to the illegal fishing of endangered marine life for food, and the poaching of elephants to supply the demand for ivory.
Illegal wildlife trade is also often unsustainable, harming wild populations of animals and plants and pushing endangered species toward extinction. Endangered animals and plants are often the target of wildlife crime because of their rarity and increased economic value. Furthermore, illegal trade negatively impacts a country’s natural resources and local communities that might otherwise benefit from tourism or legal, sustainable trade.
I Just Have to Eco You (Source)
- Illegal Wildlife Trade Value:$19 Billion
- African Elephants Poached per Day: Nearly 100 per day
- Number of Rhinos Killed in 2017 : 1,028. Most Rhinos are endangered.
- A kilogram of rhino horn is sold for up to $65,000.
- Price of Elephant Ivory: $850 per kilo in Asia
- $1 Billion worth of illegally grown python skins are being imported into Europe each year. The black market trade in python skins helping to meet the demand for python skin handbags sold by Gucci and other luxury brands.
- The pangolin is the world’s most trafficked wild mammal.
- 2.59 tons of Pangolin scales were seized in China between 2010 and 2013. This is about 4,870 pangolins that were killed. In addition to the scales, 259 intact pangolin were seized during the time period. A full pangolin for sale is available on the black market for $1,000.
- Thailand 2013: 10,700 live animals, 1,348 carcasses of dead animals, and 3,293 kilograms of various animals parts were seized from wildlife traffickers
- Mexico, between 2000 and 2014, an estimated 65,000 turtles have been illegally caught and fished in the waters surrounding the country.
- Mexico: Illegal Wildlife Trade Booming: National Geographic 2017
- Of the nearly 50,000 illegal shipments of wildlife and wildlife products seized at ports of entry from 2005 through 2014, more than a quarter originated in Latin America, according to a 2016 fact sheet from Defenders of Wildlife, aWashington, D.C.-based conservation organization. This included nearly 55,000 live animals and three million pounds of wildlife products. (National Geographic)
- Approximately 28,300 freshwater turtles are traded each day.
19-23 Billion US Dollars… wow. .this was the press release:
Tiger Rescued From Smugglers Finds Permanent Sanctuary in San Diego, CA
A hybrid Bengal tiger cub rescued by officers with the Department of Homeland Security’s Customs and Border Protection (CBP) at the Otay Mesa Port of Entry, San Diego County, California, on August 23, 2017, now has a permanent home at Lions, Tigers, & Bears Sanctuary in Alpine, California.
Only six weeks old when seized from a smuggler, the tiger, now named Moka, was immediately handed over to law enforcement special agents with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, which placed him into the care of the San Diego Zoo Safari Park.
“We are committed to protecting imperiled species both at home and abroad,” said Edward Grace, Acting Assistant Director of the Office of Law Enforcement for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. “The successful confiscation and subsequent care of this animal is thanks to a variety of partners who dedicate their lives to wildlife conservation. Together, we will continue to combat the illegal wildlife trade and will bring those who choose to break the law to justice.”
“Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) special agents, in partnership with other federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies continue to work tirelessly to investigate and ultimately dismantle transnational criminal organizations (TCOs) that attempt to smuggle endangered species, and other types of contraband,” said David Shaw, Special Agent in Charge of HSI in San Diego. “While these TCOs are only concerned about their lavish lifestyles, they do not have any concern about the safety of these animals and maintaining them in their natural habitat. We are glad that Moka has been afforded an opportunity to grow and flourish in a safe environment. HSI is committed to holding individuals involved in these types of crimes accountable for their actions.”
“CBP officers are often faced with unusual situations,” said Pete Flores, director of field operations for CBP in San Diego. “The CBP officers at the Otay Mesa port of entry met the challenge head on and assisted in preserving the life of this endangered species.”
“These weren’t naïve teenagers who wanted a pet tiger,” said U.S. Attorney Adam Braverman. “These defendants were part of an established cross-border wildlife smuggling business. We have laws in place to protect endangered species. Smuggling a tiger in the front seat of a car puts both the tiger and the public in jeopardy. I’m glad these defendants have been held accountable, and Moka has a happy ending in a safe environment.”
Working together, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Homeland Security Investigations, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and the U.S. Department of Justice successfully prosecuted the smugglers, Luis Eudoro Valencia, who was sentenced on February 20, 2018, and Eriberto Paniagua who was sentenced on March 12, 2018. Valencia was sentenced to six months in prison, three years of supervised release, and fined $1,000. Paniagua was sentenced to six months in prison and three years of supervised release.
Following emergency surgery to repair intestinal adhesions, Moka recovered well and flourished under the care of San Diego Zoo Safari Park veterinarians and animal husbandry specialists.
Finding a permanent facility capable of properly housing Moka and addressing his health and well-being was challenging. Fortunately, Lions, Tigers, & Bears Sanctuary is an excellent facility, and has room to accept Moka as a new resident.
Bobbi Brink, Founder and Director of Lions Tigers & Bears states “Sanctuaries like ours are the last best hope for the thousands of captive-bred tigers like Moka … They can’t be released into the wild, and zoos won’t take them because they have no “conservation value.” “That’s why they come here, and that’s why our primary mission is to provide these victims of an illicit and inhumane industry a second chance and a forever home.”
Moka was transferred from the Safari Park to the sanctuary in Alpine on June 3, 2018. Moka is just one example of the impacts of illegal wildlife trafficking on animals, which pushes many rare and endangered species closer to extinction.
Global Tiger Day is celebrated annually on July 29th. Initiated in 2010 at the Saint Petersburg Tiger Summit, the goal of “Tiger Day” is to raise public awareness and support for tiger conservation.
In 2011, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service partnered with the U.S. Postal Service to introduce the Save Vanishing Species Stamp. Proceeds from the sale of this first class stamp benefit tigers, elephants, rhinos and other imperiled species and is a way for all of us to help conserve wildlife. By buying this stamp, Americans have helped raise more than $4.7 million for international wildlife conservation that have supported 99 projects in 35 countries. For more information and to purchase stamps, please visit tigerstamp.com.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service works with others to conserve, protect, and enhance fish, wildlife, plants, and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. For more information, visit www.fws.gov, or connect with us through any of these social media channels:
Other Stories In 2018
- Wildlife Trafficking Kingpin Arrested in Thailand – The New York Times h.
- Jan 20, 2018 – An alleged kingpin of wildlife trafficking, suspected of fueling much of Asia’s illegal animal trade for over a decade, has been arrested in …
- May 2018- Hong Kong increased the maximum penalty for smuggling and trading endangered species yesterday from two years’ imprisonment to 10 years, as it continues its fight against elephant poaching and illegal ivory trafficking. Trade in endangered species is rampant in Hong Kong,” said Cheryl Lo, Senior Wildlife Crime Officer for WWF-Hong Kong. “The increased penalty, coupled with strengthened enforcement, will help deter future wildlife crime offenders from using the city as a hub for smuggling and selling..(GB Times)
- Paris — A monthlong global operation against illegal trade in wildlife and timber has resulted in the seizure of thousands of live animals and tons of meat and ivory, international police agency Interpol announced on Wednesday. Among those arrested were flight attendants carrying turtles in their baggage and a hunter who posted his illegal trophies on social media. Some 1,400 suspects have been identified worldwide, Interpol said. (CBS News) June 20, 2018
What will happen? The rarer the species, the more it is worth.. Could be the start of a massive extinction over the next several years, again.. Profits over People. I could cry.
Resources
- New York Times: Wildlife Smuggling
- Huffington Post: When it comes to Killing Endangered Species we are all part of the problem ” While a majority of illegal wildlife trade is happening on a commercial scale, sometimes tourists participate in the trade by unknowingly buying or traveling with illegal items, often bought back as souvenirs or gifts purchased abroad. To ensure that you are following the law when importing or exporting wildlife and wildlife products, visit our Travel and Trade section and our Branch of Permits page.
- Amazon and Ebay Involved in Illegal Wildlife Trading
- Stop Wildlife Trafficking
- Save the Rhino
- Save The Elephants