The Wildlife: Aquarium Trade in Hawaii, Rene Umberger

  Rene Umberger, dive master and activist, discusses the marine aquarium trade in Hawaii and its impact. She tells “The WildLife” host Laurel Neme that every year, over 30 million fish are plucked from their coral reef homes for use in the aquarium hobby, with over 1,500 species targeted. Nearly all, 98 percent, of these saltwater aquarium animals are…

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Operation Flying Turtle: Two Indicted for Turtle Smuggling into the US

  Two men from Osaka, Japan who were arrested earlier this month at LAX airport for smuggling live turtles into the United States, were just indicted by a grand jury in Los Angeles. The arrests were tied to an undercover investigation–code named Operation Flying Turtle–that began about a year ago. As part of that, in…

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Wealth Drives Illegal Wildlife Trade

  Contrary to popular belief, it is no longer poverty that drives poaching of rare and endangered species and the illegal wildlife trade but rather wealth. If it’s rare, people want it–and use that product to show off their wealth. As a result, demand for luxury goods — from ivory to tiger bone wine to…

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Coordinated “Stings” Stop Central African Wildlife Smuggling Rings

  Undercover sting operations by wildlife activists in four central African countries (Cameroon, Gabon, the Central African Republic and Congo-Brazzaville) have broken up organized wildlife smuggling rings and led to the arrest of key dealers and the recovery of hundreds of pounds of ivory, turtle shells and animal skins. These coordinated operations marks a breakthrough…

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Does Legalizing Trade Help or Hurt?

Would legal trade in farmed tiger products increase or decrease poaching of wild tigers? The topic, which is explored in this Mongabay.com article, has been at the forefront of many discussions at CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species) meetings, and is coming up again as government officials from tiger ranges states and conservationists prepare to meet…

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Contradictions in the case for legalizing sales of rhino horn

The debate on whether legalizing a product from an endangered species–like rhino or ivory–increases or decreases poaching rages on. This article in South Africa’s The Times argues for farming rhinos, dehorning them and selling rhino horn stockpiles in order to stop poaching. The argument is: why kill a rhino for just one horn, when you could get…

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Good news in India for convicting head of wildlife trafficking ring

    The conviction rate for wildlife crimes is less than 2% in India, which is an important source & market for illegal wildlife products.The recent judgment against Sansar Chand, who was previously convicted in 1982 and is alleged to be involved in 57 other cases, is remarkable because the court recognized the different nature…

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The WildLife: Special Agent Basics – Training for Wildlife Law Enforcement, Sheila O’Connor, Part II

    US Fish and Wildlife Service Special Agent Sheila O’Connor reveals what it takes to work in wildlife law enforcement. In the second of a two-part interview, Special Agent O’Connor tells “The WildLife” host Laurel Neme about the specialized training officers go through. (Part I last week focused on her adventures stopping wildlife crime—from tarantulas to tigers.)  …

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Mongabay.com: Undercover for Animals: On the Frontline of Wildlife Crime in the US

By Laurel Neme, special to mongabay.com November 03, 2010 US Fish and Wildlife Service Special Agent Sheila O’Connor revealed the inside story of working in wildlife law enforcement to Laurel Neme on her “The WildLife” radio show and podcast. In the first of a two-part interview, Special Agent O’Connor talks about her adventures stopping wildlife crime—scoping out…

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