Posts by Laurel Neme
My NatGeo article on London Summit as turning point
I’m proud of my piece (below) on the London Summit as a possible turning point in the battle against wildlife crime. I’ve been getting great feedback on it, and already it has over 13,000 Facebook shares/likes. Best part is the results of the conference. The final Declaration is stunning in moving the fight against trafficking…
Read MoreNational Geographic: London Summit Intensifies Battle Against Wildlife Crime
World leaders pledge new commitment to fighting the illegal animal trade. Laurel Neme for National Geographic Published February 12, 2014 Bringing together heads of state and government ministers from 50 countries, Thursday’s high-level summit on illegal wildlife trade may represent a turning point in the fight against wildlife crime. The London summit—hosted by the…
Read MoreNational Geographic: New WildLeaks Website Invites Whistle-Blowers on Wildlife Crime
WildLeaks gives whistle-blowers a way to anonymously finger wildlife criminals. Laurel Neme for National Geographic Published February 10, 2014 Wildlife trafficking crimes often go undetected and unchallenged, even though they threaten many endangered species, including elephants, rhinos, and pangolins. Similarly, trade in illegally logged timber continues unabated, destroying forests and wildlife habitat.…
Read MoreThe WildLife: Kevin Bewick, Anti-Poaching Intelligence Group of Southern Africa (APIGSA)
Kevin Bewick, head of the Anti-Poaching Intelligence Group of Southern Africa (APIGSA), provides his perspective on the fight against wildlife crime. His group undertakes investigations and focuses on intelligence gathering and research into wildlife poaching and trafficking.
Read MoreNational Geographic: Elephant Foster Mom: A Conversation with Daphne Sheldrick
Posted by Laurel Neme in A Voice for Elephants on December 6, 2013 Orphaned elephants “can be fine one day and dead the next,” says Daphne Sheldrick, a Kenyan conservationist and expert in animal husbandry. She knows. To date, she has fostered over 250 calves, first in partnership with her husband, David Sheldrick, founding warden…
Read MoreNational Geographic: Ivory Mandala: A Fitting Memorial from the U.S. Ivory Crush
Posted by Laurel Neme in A Voice for Elephants on November 13, 2013 Tomorrow the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will use an industrial rock crusher to destroy its six-ton stockpile of confiscated elephant ivory. The event is both a demonstration of the U.S.’s commitment to stop ivory trafficking and its belief that the legal ivory…
Read MoreLos Angeles Times: Terrorism and the Ivory Trade (OpEd)
The Shabab, which took responsibility for the deadly Westgate Mall attack in Nairobi, uses proceeds from ivory to fund its terrorist operations. By Laurel Neme, Andrea Crosta and Nir Kalron October 14, 2013 If the world needs another reason to get serious about combating elephant poaching, here’s one: The attack by terrorists on Westgate Mall…
Read MoreNational Geographic: Al Shabaab and the Human Toll of the Illegal Ivory Trade
Posted by Laurel Neme in A Voice for Elephants on October 3, 2013 By Laurel Neme, Andrea Crosta, and Nir Kalron As the bloody stain from Al Shabaab’s attack in Nairobi spreads, we grieve not only for those who died or were injured, and their families and friends, but also for the many innocents…
Read MoreElephant musings and articles
Elephants are getting more and more attention. From Obama’s call for action to Hillary Clinton today announcing her focus on them. The more I learn about these fascinating creatures, the more I want to know. But I admit that the more I know, the more disheartened I am by the poaching crisis currently going on.…
Read MorePoaching incident and rapid response in Botswana
You know it’s bad when….I find it extremely hard to believe that poaching has extended to Botswana, where I spent almost a couple years doing my dissertation research. During the week of May 17th, 5 elephants were found killed with trunks and tusks cut off (likely with a power saw). They were ambushed on a…
Read MoreNational Geographic: A Powerful Weapon Against Ivory Smugglers: DNA Testing
Posted by Laurel Neme in A Voice for Elephants on May 23, 2013 Hong Kong Customs seized 113 ivory tusks in a cargo shipment at Hong Kong International Airport on April 30 this year. Officers detected the ivory when they X-rayed a consignment labeled “spare parts” being shipped from Burundi, Africa to Singapore via Hong Kong. DNA analysis…
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