The Wildlife Blog
The Forgotten Bear
From JeffCorwinConnects.com: By Laurel NemeMay 25, 2011 Malayan sun bears, also known as honey bears (or Helarctos malayanus), are the least known of the world’s eight bear species. Few people know they even exist, especially compared with other types of bears, like polar bears and grizzlies. Perhaps part of that is because sun bears are so challenging to…
Read MoreArrest of “Kingpin” Tiger Trafficker Highlights Thailand’s Resolve
Thailand is a hub for some of the world’s largest wildlife trafficking operations. That’s why news of a series of recent busts — from elephant ivory to live tigers and bears — is especially welcome. These wildlife law enforcement operations signal that Thailand is becoming an increasingly hostile place to do this black market business.…
Read MoreBehind the Scenes at INTERPOL
Inside INTERPOL, a special programme broadcast by CNN International, goes behind the scenes at INTERPOL. This international police agency facilitates international police cooperation and is rapidly at the forefront of many wildlife trafficking cases and cross-border operations. This 30-minute special, hosted by CNN anchor Richard Quest, features interviews with INTERPOL Secretary General Ronald K. Noble…
Read MoreThe WildLife: Florida State Game Warden, Bob Lee
Veteran Florida state game warden, Bob Lee, shares his experiences over 30 years of protecting Florida’s natural animal resources. He tells “The WildLife” host Laurel Neme how his patrol of Florida’s inshore and offshore wilderness areas led to many high-speed boat chases and hair-raising adventures. He also relates how, after retirement, he befriended one of the state’s…
Read MoreABC News Taps Laurel Neme for Background on Live Animal Trafficking Story
Producers for ABC News with Diane Sawyer interviewed me on Friday (May 13, 2011) for a piece they were doing that night on live animal trafficking. They reported a recent bust at Thailand’s Bangkok airport of a man from UAE who smuggled a “virtual zoo” of live animals. Discovered in this first-class passenger’s suitcase were two leopard cubs,…
Read MoreCoral Reef Opera
From JeffCorwinConnect Citizen Blog: If you ever wanted ideas for a new soap opera, coral reefs would be the place to go. These colonies of tiny living animals not only provide vital ecological services, such as protecting shorelines, but are also home to some of the most diverse-and strange-creatures on the planet. Dive a few meters below…
Read MoreAdvocate Aims to Stop Elephant Slaughter in Chad
Chad is one of the poorest country’s in the world, with 80 percent of its population living below the poverty line. It’s suffered years of civil strife, and unrest in neighboring countries like Sudan often spills over and adds to the nation’s instability. To make matters worse, 200,000 refugees have fled the violence in Darfur…
Read MoreThe WildLife: Elephant Poaching in Chad, Stephanie Vergniault
Stephanie Vergniault, Founder and Executive Director of SOS Elephants, talks about elephant poaching in Chad. She tells “The WildLife” host Laurel Neme that the situation is spiraling out of control. In just two-weeks, in February 2011, 20 elephants were killed in Chad for their ivory. All were killed outside of protected areas, making them easy targets. Vergniault notes…
Read MoreRise in Elephant Poaching: Blame Asian Demand or Complicity of Wildlife Officials?
Hardly a week goes by without another report of a major seizure of smuggled African elephant ivory. Just a week ago, on March 30, Thai customs officials seized two tons of elephant ivory (247 tusks) worth $3.3 million hidden in a ship’s hold that had traveled from Kenya. The director of the Kenya Wildlife Service…
Read MoreElephant Killing by GoDaddy CEO Bob Parsons Spurs Debate
The killing of an elephant who had been raiding farmers’ crops during a hunting expedition in Zimbabwe by GoDaddy.com CEO Bob Parsons (who posted a video of the hunt) has prompted an outcry from opponents. PETA notes that is is canceling its account with Go Daddy and calls for others to do the same. Competitors, such as…
Read MoreDe-horning Rhino as Anti-Poaching Measure
De-horning rhino as an anti-poaching measure has become increasingly accepted. An interesting article by Guy Rogers in South Africa’s The Herald Online explores that decision and also describes the actual process. The article focuses on the de-horning of two rhino at the Kragga Kamma Game Park in Port Elizabeth, South Africa. In it, head of the family-run…
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