National Geographic: Elephants in Cameroon and Chad face Imminent Threat

  Posted by Laurel Neme in A Voice for Elephants on December 5, 2012         Gangs of heavily armed elephant poachers have crossed the Central African Republic (CAR) from Sudan and are reported to be close to the southern Chad and northern Cameroon borders. Several columns of Sudanese poachers, comprising between 150 to 200 men riding on…

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Ranger in Kruger National Park catches two rhino poachers

  Two men asked a ranger in South Africa’s Kruger National Park ranger to kill and de-horn a rhino, saying it was easier for him to do so. The ranger played along, saying he couldn’t use his official weapon and that the poachers would have to supply the rifle. He set up another meeting and…

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India’s Prime Minister proposes strengthening wildlife crime fighting

  India’s Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on September 5, 2012 said the government would strengthen the country’s Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 and noted a proposal for expanding the number of regional offices, field units and forensic labs of the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau as well as creation of a national database on wildlife crime and…

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Arrest 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.…

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Behind 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…

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The 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…

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ABC 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,…

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Customs Enforcement Initiative Seizes Massive Volume of Illicit Wildlife Products

  Over 22 tonnes and 13,000 pieces of protected wildlife covering 31+ species were seized during a a trans-regional operation to combat cross-border trade in great apes and other wildlife. This recent enforcement initiative was coordinated by the World Customs Organization (WCO) and conducted under the Swedish-backed Project GAPIN (Great Apes and Integrity), which aims to…

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