National 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…

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National 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…

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National Geographic: 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, 2016     China is the world’s largest ivory consumer, with its legal market often providing cover for illegal ivory. The intertwining of these two markets—legal and illegal—is…

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National Geographic: Why Shutting Down China’s Ivory Trade Won’t Be Easy

First posted on 2016-01-09   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 China is the world’s largest ivory consumer, with its legal market often providing…

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National Geographic: 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, 2016 For many species threatened by the illegal wildlife trafficking, such as rhinos, elephants, tigers, and bears, debates persist as to whether a legal trade in their parts and products can reduce…

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National Geographic: Chinese Researchers Explore How to Implement Ivory Ban

China has a 3,000-year tradition of carving ivory. Shutting down its thriving ivory market won’t be easy. By Laurel Neme, National Geographic PUBLISHED Tue Dec 15, 2015   When Chinese President Xi Jinping announced in September 2015 that China would, together with the United States, work toward a complete domestic ban on ivory, it was a welcome…

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National Geographic: Take it to the People: Model for an Ivory Sales Ban

Posted: 11/24/2015        Elephant ivory seized by officials in Hong Kong. Photo courtesy of Alex Hofford.   Voters in Washington state sent a strong message to the world on November 3 when they passed the country’s first-ever comprehensive state ban on commerce in endangered animal species. The Washington Animal Trafficking Initiative 1401 (I-1401) prohibits…

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National Geographic: Hong Kong ‘Open-Minded’ to Banning its Ivory Trade

In a major policy shift, the world’s largest legal ivory market pledges new efforts to combat wildlife trafficking and may end ivory sales. By Laurel Neme, for National Geographic PUBLISHED October 28, 2015 Hong Kong—the world’s largest retail market for elephant ivory—says it may now consider banning its ivory trade. Hong Kong is also a major transit hub for…

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