Posts by Laurel Neme
National Geographic: Even This Incredibly Elusive Bird Isn’t Safe from Traffickers (2)
Even This Incredibly Elusive Bird Isn’t Safe from Traffickers Pittas are almost impossible to spot in the wild. Though legally protected, they’re a common sight in Indonesia’s notorious bird markets. By Laurel Neme PUBLISHED Thu Feb 25 11:33:13 EST 2016 Pittas are a birdwatcher’s prize. Called “jewels of the forest” for their glorious plumage, these shy,…
Read MoreNational Geographic: Petition Seeks Ban on Trade in Fake Rhino Horn
Exclusive: NGOs express concerns that cultured rhino horn undercuts existing law and imperils wild rhinos. By Laurel Neme PUBLISHED Wed Feb 10, 2016 Trade in bioengineered rhino horn shouldn’t be allowed. That’s the contention behind a petition filed today with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service by the Center for Biological Diversity, a U.S.-based group that uses science and…
Read MoreNational Geographic: One Country Will Destroy Its Ivory—and Pray for Elephants
Sri Lanka also becomes the world’s first country to apologize that elephants are being killed for their ivory. By Laurel Neme PUBLISHED Mon Jan 25 12:04:00 EST 2016 During the past several years, I’ve watched country after country destroy their stockpiles of confiscated elephant ivory, preventing that ivory from somehow slipping back into the black market and…
Read MoreNational Geographic: One Country Will Destroy Its Ivory—and Pray for Elephants (2)
One Country Will Destroy Its Ivory—and Pray for Elephants Sri Lanka also becomes the world’s first country to apologize that elephants are being killed for their ivory. By Laurel Neme PUBLISHED Mon Jan 25 12:04:00 EST 2016 During the past several years, I’ve watched country after country destroy their stockpiles of confiscated elephant ivory, preventing that ivory from…
Read MoreNational Geographic: Myanmar Feeds China’s Pangolin Appetite
New study shows open availability of world’s most trafficked mammal in town bordering China. By Laurel Neme PUBLISHED January 19, 2016 Myanmar and pangolins. Not words I normally think of together. That’s why the recent report by TRAFFIC, a wildlife trade monitoring NGO, on pangolin trafficking in Myanmar took me by surprise. While I’ve followed…
Read MoreNational Geographic: Myanmar Feeds China’s Pangolin Appetite (2)
Myanmar Feeds China’s Pangolin Appetite New study shows open availability of world’s most trafficked mammal in town bordering China. By Laurel Neme PUBLISHED January 19, 2016 Myanmar and pangolins. Not words I normally think of together. That’s why the recent report by TRAFFIC, a wildlife trade monitoring NGO, on pangolin trafficking in Myanmar took me…
Read MoreNational Geographic: Elephants Win as Hong Kong’s Leader Says It Will Ban Ivory Trade
Shutting down the world’s largest legal ivory market would be a conservation milestone. By Laurel Neme PUBLISHED January 14, 2016 Hong Kong’s Chief Executive, Leung Chun-ying, announced plans to ban the domestic ivory trade during his 2016 Policy Address. The annual speech lays out the year’s policy agenda. In the middle of the two-hour monologue, between statements on…
Read MoreNational Geographic: Elephants Win as Hong Kong’s Leader Says It Will Ban Ivory Trade (2)
Elephants Win as Hong Kong’s Leader Says It Will Ban Ivory Trade Shutting down the world’s largest legal ivory market would be a conservation milestone. By Laurel Neme PUBLISHED January 14, 2016 A pedestrian walks past an ivory shop in Hong Kong. This shop’s owner says all his ivory products are from extinct…
Read MoreNational Geographic: Petition Seeks Ban on Trade in Fake Rhino Horn (2)
Petition Seeks Ban on Trade in Fake Rhino Horn Exclusive: NGOs express concerns that cultured rhino horn undercuts existing law and imperils wild rhinos. By Laurel Neme PUBLISHED Wed Feb 10 09:00:12 EST 2016 Trade in bioengineered rhino horn shouldn’t be allowed. That’s the contention behind a petition filed today with the U.S. Fish…
Read MoreNational Geographic: How the International Trade in Geckos Is a Scam (2)
How the International Trade in Geckos Is a Scam The coauthor of a new report says low-profile species are often hit hardest by illegal and unsustainable trade. By Laurel Neme PUBLISHED Wed Jan 06 07:00:00 EST 2016 Tokay geckos are the world’s second largest species of gecko, with males reaching lengths of up to…
Read MoreNational Geographic: Why Shutting Down China’s Ivory Trade Won’t Be Easy (2)
Why Shutting Down China’s Ivory Trade Won’t Be Easy An undercover investigation shows how Chinese businesses launder illegal ivory into the legal market and also trade in illegal rhino horn. By Laurel Neme PUBLISHED Fri Jan 08 07:00:00 EST 2016 A boy examines an ivory carving at a store in Beijing. The Chinese government has announced…
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