Mongabay.com: Innovative technology creates safe haven for rhinos

28 November 2016 / Laurel Neme Unveiled last week, the new system integrates a set of technologies — Wi-Fi, thermal cameras, biometrics, closed-circuit televisions, and sensors — to create a security network across an entire game reserve. The new technology system — called Connected Conservation — is a joint initiative between two international technology companies: Dimension Data…

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National Geographic: Hong Kong Starts Countdown to Ivory Trade Ban (2)

First posted on 2016-06-27     Wildlife Watch Hong Kong Starts Countdown to Ivory Trade Ban Hong Kong’s five-year plan for closing its ivory market will eliminate a legal loophole exploited by smugglers. By Laurel Neme PUBLISHED June 27, 2016 Chinese police stand guard over ivory that was seized from a boat arriving from Hong Kong in March.…

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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: 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: 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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Mongabay.com: Latin American illegal wildlife trade exploding in scope and scale

Mongabay Series: Latin American Wildlife Trade 4th November 2015 / Laurel A. Neme Millions of tropical birds, sharks, sea cucumbers, totoaba, queen conch, sea turtles, caimans and a vast number of other animals are falling victim to wildlife trafficking. Latin America is astoundingly biologically diverse, while its enforcement of wildlife trading laws is extremely weak, creating the perfect…

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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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Huffington Post: How Legal Markets Fuel Ivory Smuggling in Hong Kong

Posted: 10/27/2015  Hong Kong’s legal ivory market fuels ivory smuggling and elephant poaching says a new report by WildAid, an international nongovernmental organization that aims to eliminate illegal wildlife trade. Together with undercover video by independent investigators provided to WildAid and WWF-Hong Kong, the report, Illusion of Control, released Oct 23 in Hong Kong, reveals that ivory traders…

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National Geographic: To Stem Thriving Online U.S. Ivory Market, Stronger Laws and Enforcement Needed, Says Author of New Report

First posted on 2015-05-18     To Stem Thriving Online U.S. Ivory Market, Stronger Laws and Enforcement Needed, Says Author of New Report Posted by Laurel Neme in A Voice for Elephants on May 8, 2015   Images: Craigslist.org via “Elephant vs. Mouse” report by IFAW and 96elephants.org In a new report, Elephant vs. Mouse, the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW)…

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