At least 70,000 species are in trade globally, according to researchers at the University of Melbourne, and the legal trade in wildlife is ten times larger than illegal trafficking.

The researchers said their findings revealed the sheer number of species taken from their native environments for trade, but also numerous issues of data misinformation or laundering. Such data is hard to find and riddled with discrepancies, making the true scale very difficult to quantify.

The researchers pointed out that the trade comes with significant risks, including the spread of pathogens. The legal trade in some species of frog likely contributed to the spread of a deadly fungal disease which wiped out dozens of amphibian species.

Editor’s note: A little bit of news in that I’m taking a little bit of a break from the newsletter for a few weeks due to some unforeseen circumstances. I hope to be back soon. Paid subscriptions will be put on hold until I return.

Australia: A woman who tried to smuggle 94 reptiles in boots and socks has been jailed for two years and seven months. The Chinese national had packed the animals into the items in order to send them by post to Hong Kong. They included 19 blue-tongued lizards and rock skinks, all native to Australia. (Straits Times)

Thailand: Rangers arrested two men they caught travelling in a car with 81 macaques as cargo. The men are believed to be part of an international wildlife smuggling syndicate and were stopped close to Thailand’s border with Cambodia. (Kuwait Times)

Singapore: Nearly 40kg of smuggled rhino horns were seized at Singapore’s main airport in what is being called the largest seizure of its kind in the country. The horns were enroute from South Africa to Laos and worth more than $1million. Another 150kg of animal parts were discovered in other shipments. (Straits Times)

India: Police made four arrests following an investigation into the alleged sale of Indian star tortoises on Instagram. An account posing as a page for dog lovers was allegedly involved in the illegal sale of 50 animals, investigators said, with 10 rescued during a raid. The animals were delivered to customers using an online delivery app. (Indian Express)

UK: A pile of waste up to 150m long and 6m high has been illegally dumped in a field in Oxfordshire. Local lawmakers described the issue as an “environmental disaster” and “pollution on a grotesque scale”. The dumping is the result of criminal gang activity, officials said warning that action is needed before the local river is polluted. (BBC)

Argentina: A pet shop in Buenos Aires was raided leading to the discovery of 67 animals kept in cramped conditions and showing signs of malnutrition. There were a variety of exotic birds and animals on display for the public to purchase. They included canaries, Java sparrows and zebra finches. (Noticias Ambientales)

UK: Six men were arrested on suspicion of illegal fox hunting in northern England’s Lake District. Fox hunting, which involves the pursuit and killing of foxes by dogs, is a tradition in some parts of British culture but was banned in 2005. Police investigated an alleged incident at a meet of Coniston Foxhounds on November 8, and arrested the men on suspicion of causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal. (BBC)

Cameroon: Authorities in Cameroon withdrew the flag from a vessel which has been accused of involvement in illegal fishing. The Freedom 7 was built in Japan in 1973 but has changed its name 15 times and is owned by a Hong Kong-based company. It has previously sailed under the flag of Panama, Cambodia, Togo and Tanzania. (Business in Cameroon)

Australia: The Prime Minister has dismissed claims that a Commonwealth scheme of buying fishing boats is subsidising illegal fishermen. The story emerged after a Border Force vessel was photographed with four modified fishing boats on board. Some sources have claimed that the boats were given to illegal fishers and asylum seekers as a safe way to return home. (ABC News)

USA: Researchers at Florida International University have developed a rapid DNA test which will be able to identify shark species immediately from their fins. Shark fins are hugely common in the illegal wildlife trade, but are often shipped separated from their bodies making identifying whether the species is protected extremely difficult. The new tool will be able to provide answers on the spot, making life easier for law enforcement officials. (FIU)

Thank you so much for reading Wild Crime. This is a fully reader-supported publication with no outside funding. Paid subscriptions make it possible for us to dig deeper and pursue investigations that take time and resources. But even if you’re reading for free, you’re helping to keep this work alive, and I’m grateful for that.

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The target of the lawsuit are high-ranking military officials in the Russian army, including those who led the invasion of the Ukrainian Sumy region in 2022. According to the investigation, large areas of forest were destroyed with no hope of recovery.

This is the first instance of Ukraine attempting to secure damages for environmental destruction from Russia, which invaded large parts of the country in 2022 and started the war which is still ongoing.

India: A routine seizure of wild meat led police to discover a covert commercial game-hunting syndicate responsible for the killings of at least 60 antelopes over two years. Investigators said the operation turned protected forests into “private killing grounds for the wealthy”, as those with connections were able to pay to track and kill the animals as trophies. (Times of India)

Costa Rica: Tourists should refrain from collecting seashells on Costa Rica’s beaches as it harms marine environments and could be an environmental crime. Officials warned that removing a shell could be classed as wildlife trafficking, and said that crabs, fish and algae species rely on the shells for shelter. More than three tonnes of shells were seized at the country’s airports in the past year or so. (Tico Times)

Turkiye: A lion, barely a month old, was seized in Istanbul having been trafficked into the country illegally. Two individuals have been fined. It was not clear where the lion had been smuggled from, or whether it was intended to be sold overseas or kept in the country. (Turkiye Today)

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Argentina: Seventeen birds – including a blue macaw and six flamingoes – were seized from a tourist property in central Argentina. Most of the birds had had their wings cut to prevent them from flying, a practice which makes rehabilitation into the wild far more difficult. The birds have been transferred to several refuges. (Noticias Ambientales)

Indonesia: Rehabilitation centres for gibbons are struggling to meet demand amid a spike in trafficking. Experts said “misleading” social media content depicting them as potential pets is behind the increase in demand. Urban zoos are also a source of demand in Indonesia, experts said. (Mongabay)

India: Six geckos, a slow loris and 10,000kg of pangolin scales were seized during a raid in northern India. Officers flagged down two individuals on a motorbike at around 2am and found the animals and scales in their bags. The men have been arrested. (Syllad)

St Helena: Illegally importing and selling the teeth and bones of sperm whales landed a man with a $15,000 fine. The resident of St Helena Island, a British territory in the South Atlantic, was also sentenced to 30 days of house arrest. The shipments were falsely labelled to avoid detection. (Island News)

USA: Seventeen men were convicted of poaching in Idaho following a two-year investigation. Four men were stopped in October 2023 and found in possession of the heads of five deer which had been illegally killed. The rest of the deers’ bodies had been abandoned. Since 2016, the group is alleged to have killed 32 mule deer, a moose, a swan and a bobcat. (Yahoo)

Mexico: The Environmental Investigation Agency has called for action on the illegal fishing of totoaba which threatens the existence of vaquita dolphins. There are estimated to be between seven and 10 individuals left and they are threatened by fishing off the coast of Mexico. Evidence will be presented at the upcoming CITES summit. (EIA)

Thank you so much for reading Wild Crime. This is a fully reader-supported publication with no outside funding. Paid subscriptions make it possible for us to dig deeper and pursue investigations that take time and resources. But even if you’re reading for free, you’re helping to keep this work alive, and I’m grateful for that.

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The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, known as CITES for short, regulates international trade in the world’s wildlife. The trade of wild animals is big business, worth billions of dollars every year, both legal and illegal.

CITES attempts to manage the level of trade in order to protect the ongoing future of the world’s species. Animals can be listed on either appendix one, which mostly prohibits international trade, or appendix two, which regulates it via a permitting system.

Every three years, delegates meet to vote on a range of proposals to list or delist certain species. This year’s CITES CoP begins in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, on November 24. Delegates will debate proposals on a number of species, watched by official observers from NGOs and the business communities which would be affected by changing regulations.

Here are a few debates to keep your eye on:

Marine species: gulper sharks

Gulpers are a type of deep sea shark that are fished primarily for their oils, used in a range of cosmetic products. Trade is currently completely unregulated. But rampant fishing of the species has led to population collapses of around 80 per cent – up to 97 per cent in some locations.

A coalition of nations has come together to propose listing them on appendix two, which would mean countries wishing to export them would need to issue permits showing that the fishing does not damage their population.

This is likely to be opposed by fisheries lobbyists who will argue that CITES is the wrong tool to manage fishing. CITES has only relatively recently begun to list marine species, which are often covered already by international fisheries regulations. But conservationists argue that these have failed, with sharks often considered only as an afterthought.

I wrote about this particular proposal in detail for Dialogue Earth. You can read that piece here.

Regulations and black markets: saiga antelopes

The proposal to delist some saiga antelopes can be seen as evidence of a CITES success story. But also shows a lever available to delegates which some experts argue is not pulled often enough.

Saiga antelopes are a bizarre-looking species found on the steppes of central Asia. They are appendix two-listed, but Kazakhstan is proposing that its own saigas be removed. After investing $18 million over five years, Kazakhstan says its populations have shown “stable growth”, with 3.9 million now present in the country. In 2003, there were believed to be less than 30,000.

Hunting and trade in saiga – particularly for their horns – boomed after the collapse of the Soviet Union, prompting a moratorium. But, with populations now recovered, Kazakhstan is arguing that ongoing regulation is creating black market demand and incentivising criminal groups to poach the animals.

This is an example of how trade regulations can impact demand and illegal trafficking. Delegates need to carefully consider these factors when making decisions at CITES.

Communities v conservationists: elephant ivory

Long-time CITEs observers say that discussions often become bogged down with the “big grey things”. Elephants, rhinos, and increasingly sharks, are major topics in conservation and the international ivory ban is pointed to as a major conservation win.

That, too, has unintended consequences. As elephants and rhinos die naturally, range countries can build up stockpiles, which have no ‘legal’ commercial value because of the ban. Similar to the saiga, this can also create demand for poachers.

Namibia is arguing that its good progress in protecting its elephants means it should be able to sell its ivory stockpile to an authorised buyer. The money would be used for further elephant conservation.

There have been two legal one-off ivory sales since its trade was banned, and conservationists say that both times there was an increase in poaching as a result.

The debate between the needs of local communities and range countries which might rely on trade in wild animals and the protection of the animals is one that is central to CITES.

Perils of illegal trafficking: Galapagos iguanas

The mystery of the Galapagos iguana is one that highlights the dangers of wildlife trafficking and how CITES can counter it.

Ecuador has never sanctioned the international trade of two species of iguana that only live on the Galapagos Islands, which are part of the South American country. However, they are freely sold as pets internationally. This is evidence that they have been illegally smuggled off the islands. Indeed, there have been several cases of smugglers caught in the act of removing young iguanas.

Ecuador is concerned that their presence in the pet trade makes it “easier to mask illegal harvest”. Wild-caught specimens can be “laundered” into the system and sold as bred in captivity.

Listing of the species on appendix one would stop the “plundering” of iguanas and enable better monitoring of captive-bred animals, according to the proposal.

Pets and people: tarantulas

Despite their reputation as terrifying critters, tarantulas are popular as pets. They are one of the most heavily traded types of invertebrate, according to CITES proposals, with hundreds of species available for purchase online.

Less than two per cent of species are CITES listed and around two-thirds of those sold in the pet trade are reported to be caught from the wild. A number of species have been proposed for inclusion in appendix two.

Bolivia is arguing that its native tarantula populations are under pressure from the prevalence of this trade and that the impact on species is currently uncertain. Wild pet advocates often argue that the trade in animals creates an incentive to protect populations.

Eels are commonly eaten in countries across Europe and Asia, but their populations have been pushed to the brink by overfishing, pollution and climate change. This has created one of the world’s most valuable illegal wildlife trades with an estimated 100 tonnes smuggled out of the continent each year.

The European eel was listed as endangered in 2007. But that has not stopped the illegal traders.

The latest crackdown is yet more evidence of the presence of smugglers supplying Asian markets. According to authorities, organised crime groups spanning Europe and Asia catch the eels in fisheries and smuggle them to Asia where they are placed in farms and then sold globally as legitimate fish products.

Brazil: Police have charged 31 suspects with fraud and land-grabbing in connection with an allegedly criminal carbon credit scheme. An investigation linked two projects to illegal timber laundering after a mismatch was found between the declared amount of timber and the amount seen on satellite images. Carbon credits can be used by companies or individuals to “offset” emissions. (Mongabay)

Australia: A student has been fined $35,000 for attempting to smuggle more than 100 insects and spiders out of Australia. They included carabid beetles, multiple centipedes and banded huntsman spiders. The majority were regulated species native to Australia. It is unclear where the student had planned to travel too with the animals, which are now recovering in a specialist centre. (Government release)

India: Two endangered gibbons – one dead and one alive – were found in a checked suitcase at an airport in Mumbai. The animals, which were from Indonesia, were tiny with the surviving animal in a distressed state. The passenger had travelled from Malaysia via Thailand and had been given them by a wildlife trafficking syndicate to be delivered to India, authorities said. (CBS)

USA: The US will build a “blacklist” of foreign vessels suspected of engaging in IUU fishing, following the passing of a new bill by the Senate. The new law also requires authorities to develop new technologies for combatting illegal fishing, with a special focus on Chinese and Russian fleets. (Must Read Alaska)

Oman: Abalone fishing has been banned this year in Oman to protect dwindling stocks of the marine snails. Harvesting was allowed for a brief period last year, but has otherwise been banned since 2020. Annual catch has fallen to about a third of 2011 levels, according to the fisheries ministry, which said stocks are put under pressure by illegal fishing. (Muscat Daily)

Australia: Three Indonesians have been jailed and fined for fishing illegally in Australian waters. They are some of the 69 Indonesian fishers who have been prosecuted at the regional court in Darwin since the beginning of July. Australia says it is working with Indonesia to address illegal fishing and educate fishers. The three men were found with hundreds of kilograms of sea cucumber. (Seafood Source)

Brazil: Hundreds of dredges were dismantled in the Brazilian Amazon during an operation targeting illegal gold mining. According to Interpol, the 277 dredges represent $6.8m in illegal gold extraction. Total seizures as part of the operation led to a total economic impact into the hundreds of millions, authorities claimed. (Interpol)

India: A parrot which had been rescued from smugglers in February last year has been stolen from the zoo where it was being kept. Authorities are investigating and said the possibility of “insider involvement” cannot be ruled out. The theft emphasises the challenges of protecting rare species, even once they have been rescued. (Times of India)

Japan: Smugglers and souvenir hunters are putting endemic wildlife at risk in Japan’s Okinawa islands. A growing number of poaching cases is putting hermit crabs, turtles and other species found nowhere else under increasing pressure. The demand is overseas, with most traffickers captured planning to smuggle the animals elsewhere. (South China Morning Post)

Nigeria: New legislation in Nigeria – a hub of the illegal wildlife trade in Africa – would see offenders jailed for up to 10 years for smuggling products of endangered species. It also allows for fines of up to $8,300. The bill has been welcomed as filling gaps in the country’s legal framework, but some experts are sceptical as to how well it will be enforced. (Mongabay)

Thank you so much for reading Wild Crime. This is a fully reader-supported publication with no outside funding. Paid subscriptions make it possible for us to dig deeper and pursue investigations that take time and resources. But even if you’re reading for free, you’re helping to keep this work alive, and I’m grateful for that.

If you’d like to support Wild Crime further, consider becoming a paid subscriber or sharing this newsletter with someone who might find it interesting. Every bit of support makes a real difference.

The body recommended the creation of a series of guidelines to help governments and law enforcement manage the international trade in exotic pets.

Keeping exotic pets is popular across the world – and is often charged by cultural traditions. In parts of Asia and the Middle East keeping big cats is seen as a status of wealth. This leads to stories about lions escaping from captivity in countries like India. Golden frogs in Panama were poached to extinction because of a belief they bought good luck.

Parrots are among the most widely kept animals, proving popular in Europe and Latin America. In Costa Rica a recent study found parrots were kept in nearly 90 per cent of households in some areas. Some pet owners may not even realise that the animal that they keep is illegal.

Habitat loss is a major factor for the survival of all species, but the pet trade, particularly when linked to illegal poaching, is also a factor. While some argue that exotic pets raise the profile of animals and encourage conservation through captive breeding, it also creates demand for animals taken from the wild.

We will be watching out to see what the IUCN comes up with.

Latin America: Some 225 people were arrested during a two-month crackdown on environmental crime, according to Interpol. Operation Madre Tierra VII took place across the region and also led to the opening of hundreds of new investigations into illegal logging, wildlife trafficking and gold mining. The most common violations were forestry-related or in the illegal wildlife trade. (AP)

USA: Spider monkeys are being smuggled into Texas from Mexico at an “alarming rate”, wildlife officials have said. Spider monkeys are protected and endangered but are highly prized as exotic pets. Customs officials said they are often promoted in social media videos showing them dressed in clothes. (Chron)

India: A pangolin-smuggling racket was broken up in Gujarat, in India. The offenders were allegedly capturing the animals in the Gir forest and attempting to sell them in major cities. One live pangolin was rescued and an amount of scales found. Pangolins are sometimes hunted for their meat, but more commonly are targeted for their scales. (Hans India)

Canada: Two shipments of lobster have been seized in recent weeks by Canadian fisheries officers. More than 100 crates were involved in the raid on a commercial plant in Nova Scotia, while more than 8,000 live lobsters were released back into the ocean. In the other raid, just over 80 crates were seized and more than 6,000 lobsters released. (CBC)

UK: Organised crime groups are making millions by illegally managing 38 million tonnes of waste a year, according to a letter from the upper house of parliament. It advised a “root and branch” review is carried out within 18 months to choke the issue. The letter was critical of the Environment Agency for failing to pursue repeated reports and use its available powers sufficiently. (The Guardian)

USA: Officers uncovered what has been called a significant illegal wildlife trafficking operation out of Los Angeles. Authorities found nine rhino horns and thousands of pieces of ivory during a raid on a local business. It is illegal to sell ivory products across California. (KTLA)

Philippines: Illegal fishing has led to another military confrontation in Philippine waters after the Navy said it had driven out some Chinese fishermen illegally operating in the area. Rubber boats were deployed and the offending boat was towed away before being allowed to leave. The fishermen were alleged to be using cyanide. (ABS)

South Africa: Law enforcement officials have changed tactics in South Africa, targeting wildlife trafficking gangs with financial investigations. A report from a government money laundering taskforce reveals how financial tracking has become a crucial part of the investigators’ toolkit. The country’s financial intelligence system recorded 439 suspicious transaction reports in the two years from January 2022 – a large increase from the 139 in the previous reporting period. (Africa Sustainability Matters)

Australia: A crackdown on illegal fishing has led to the replenishing of fish stocks of Heard Island in the Indian Ocean, according to an academic study. Researchers found increasing numbers of fish species and attributed the good news to factors including the removal of illegal fishing, better prevention of bycatch, and possible climate-driven increases in ocean productivity. (Phys)

USA: A routine traffic stop in Texas led to the discovery of more than 160 snakes, frogs and spiders hidden in a truck. Local police said that the smuggling of exotic pets has been increasing in the region. The seizure included royal pythons, milk snakes and bearded dragons, all popular in the pet trade. (News4)

Thank you so much for reading Wild Crime. This is a fully reader-supported publication with no outside funding. Paid subscriptions make it possible for us to dig deeper and pursue investigations that take time and resources. But even if you’re reading for free, you’re helping to keep this work alive, and I’m grateful for that.

If you’d like to support Wild Crime further, consider becoming a paid subscriber or sharing this newsletter with someone who might find it interesting. Every bit of support makes a real difference.

Researchers showed that wildlife trafficking is often connected to other serious crimes, including human trafficking, drugs smuggling and forced labour. Animal parts, including polar bear hides, are even known to have been traded directly for drugs.

The researchers say that their findings illustrate the need to treat wildlife crime in a collaborative, multi-agency way. You can read more of their thoughts in the Conversation.

Another fascinating feature published this week in the Economist 1843 documents how children at a Chinese-run school in Malawi are recruited into the illegal wildlife trade.

The recruitment is linked to Chinese syndicates which smuggle ivory, pangolin scales and rhino horn to China. Such products are popular as status symbols or for medicinal use. The syndicate is also linked to other crimes including corruption and illegal mining.

India: A popular Youtuber has been charged with money laundering in connection with wildlife crime, official sources have said. Elvish Yadav has been accused alongside several others in charges filed close to the Indian capital. He has been accused of generating and possessing the “proceeds of crime” from the monetisation of a 2023 video depicting a protected iguana. (New Indian Express)

Nigeria: Border officers seized 64 donkey skins which were enroute to China via Cameroon. Local officials have warned that the persistent illegal trade in donkey hides could lead the species to extinction in Nigeria. They said that their use in traditional medicines in China has led to an increase in illicit slaughter in the African country. (Sahara Reporters)

South Africa: Five jackal pups were rescued from a wildlife trafficking syndicate in South Africa. The tiny pups were taken to a veterinary hospital in Johannesburg and will be released back into the wild once recovered. (The Post)

Turkiye: Law enforcement in Turkey found 500 red-eared slider turtles packed in luggage aboard a passenger bus on a highway. The reptiles were discovered during a routine traffic stop and were packed into a single bag in the bus’s luggage compartment. The species is native to the US and Mexico. (Turkiye Today)

Europe: Some of the most severe measures taken against climate activists have been in Europe, according to an EU expert. The UK, France, Germany, Italy and Spain have all taken measures to criminalise protest and redefine terrorism laws to prosecute activists, Mary Lawlor, the UN special rapporteur on human rights defenders, said last week. She cited examples of heavier charges for activists in Germany and the UK. (Mongabay)

Mexico: A multi-agency operation freed 13 sea lions which had become trapped in illegally set fishing nets close to San Jorge Island in the Gulf of California. Sea Shepherd, Mexican authorities and other NGOs acted to free the animals. The nets are believed to have been connected to the illegal trade in totoaba, a large type of fish which is fished for its valuable bladder. (Sea Shepherd)

USA: Illegal and unregulated fishing will be tracked using an AI system across the Asia-Pacific region. Planet Labs Federal has been given a US government contract to use its AI systems for vessel detection and monitoring. The company says the technology will “help maintain maritime security around the world”. (Smart Maritime Network)

Thailand: Three Taiwanese nationals were arrested after being found in possession of 52 drugged animals hidden in stockings and wrapped round their bodies at a Bangkok airport. Another Taiwanese was caught two weeks earlier attempting to smuggle slow lorises and tortoises out of the country. Thai authorities believe the cases are linked to a larger Taiwanese wildlife trafficking network. (Khaosod)

Argentina: Nine red-crested cardinals were rescued from traffickers in northern Argentina. Authorities said the birds had been poached, likely to be sold illegally. They will be kept under observation to ascertain whether they are suitable to be released back into the wild. A separate operation in Buenos Aires saw authorities seize two macaws and a toucan from illegal captivity. (Noticias Ambientales)

USA: Authorities have launched a series of operations in Florida as the commercial fishing season has opened. One vessel and crew were hit with a violation for illegally catching stone crabs. Officers first discovered a line of illegally set crab traps in September. (Undercurrent)

Thank you so much for reading Wild Crime. This is a fully reader-supported publication with no outside funding. Paid subscriptions make it possible for us to dig deeper and pursue investigations that take time and resources. But even if you’re reading for free, you’re helping to keep this work alive, and I’m grateful for that.

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The IUCN – the International Union for Conservation and Nature – is perhaps best-known for its “Red List”, which tracks the conservation status of animal species. For example, last week it ruled that the long-tailed macaque will remain listed as “endangered” despite attempts from pharmaceutical lobbyists to overturn its 2022 categorisation.

A new assessment of the Red List, unveiled to open the summit, showed that 61 per cent of bird species are now in decline, up from 44 per cent just under a decade ago. Several species of arctic seal were also flagged as of concern.

The Congress is also an opportunity for discussion of IUCN policy, motions and species assessments. For example, last week a “landmark” resolution was adopted recognising environmental crime as a serious threat to biodiversity and human rights. A motion was also passed that calls for guidelines to help countries manage the commercial trade of wild animals kept as pets.

Ecuador: A highly-criticised Chinese fleet which has been fishing in the area around the Galapagos Islands for months has left the area, Ecuador’s navy said. The fleet has moved on to Peru. The Chinese distant water fishing fleet is the largest in the world and has been criticised by environmentalists and human rights advocates, as well as nations who say it is depleting fish stocks in their waters. (Reuters)

UK: Nearly 2,000 wild animals were seized in co-ordinated raids across the west of England. More than 1,000 geckos, hundreds of tortoises and pythons were seized from a farm in Shropshire, while a further 73 tortoises were found at a cleaning business. Conditions were said to be too cold for reptiles with heat lamps not used. (Shropshire Star)

Malaysia: Two men have been jailed for six months in Malaysia’s first rhino horn conviction. They were arrested after a “dramatic chase” in 2021 after they were found with 50 whole horns in their truck which had been declared as lobster. The case shows the uneven treatment of wildlife crimes. In 2021 a man in Vietnam was jailed for 14 years over horn trafficking, which a South African was jailed in Singapore for two years for trafficking 20 pieces. (TRAFFIC)

Spain: Spanish police raided an illegal breeding facility and found the remains of 250 animals, and rescued 171 live animals. Many of the live animals were endangered including various exotic birds according to reports. The facility was also used for the breeding of chinchillas, dogs and dwarf horses. (UPI)

Nepal: A notorious rhino poacher is one of at least 15 who have escaped from prison in Nepal. The suspect had previously been a fugitive for more than a decade, and is now loose again. Conservationists fear the escapees could once again target rhinos. (Kathmandu Post)

Australia: Nineteen Indonesians have pleaded guilty to illegal fishing in Australian waters. Australian authorities apprehended several Indonesian vessels off the northern coast between September 7 and 11 this year. More than 1,000kg of sea cucumber were seized alongside tonnes of salt used to preserve caught fish. (Baird Maritime)

Ireland: Just eight convictions for wildlife crimes were secured in Ireland in 2024. This is despite 30 cases being referred for prosecution and likely thousands of allegations made; some 1,200 were made in the first six months of this year. These included reports for the burning of land, using illegal snares and the destruction of hedgerow. The level of enforcement has been described as “deeply worrying”. (Irish Times)

Argentina: Turtles, iguanas and caimans were found confined in small enclosures and lacking basic hygiene conditions at a veterinary centre in northern Argentina. Some 128 wild animals, 14 of which had died, were found during the raid. Local organisations warned that the illegal wildlife trade is damaging the area’s biodiversity. (Noticias Ambientales)

UK: A man in Wales has been convicted of animal cruelty for hurting badgers, a nationally protected species, and allowing his dog to be used in illegal fights. He had videoed himself stabbing a badger after it had been harmed by dogs. The man was jailed for 16 weeks, with the judge suggesting she would have liked to have given him a longer sentence, but guidelines did not allow. (Wales Online)

India: Two tiger cubs orphaned by poaching last week have been rescued by park rangers in India. Rangers launched the search after finding their mother had been killed by poachers. Officials said the cubs were likely saved from starvation and will be raised in a special facility before being released back into the wild. A third cub is still missing. (Free Press Journal)

India: A raid on an abandoned timber factory resulted in the discovery of 800 dead bats stuffed in sacks. Eleven people were arrested on suspicion of poaching. Officers said they were acting on intelligence about a “long-running bat smuggling ring linked to jungle mafias”. Bats are legally protected in India. (Pragativadi)

Thank you so much for reading Wild Crime. This is a fully reader-supported publication with no outside funding. Paid subscriptions make it possible for us to dig deeper and pursue investigations that take time and resources. But even if you’re reading for free, you’re helping to keep this work alive, and I’m grateful for that.

If you’d like to support Wild Crime further, consider becoming a paid subscriber or sharing this newsletter with someone who might find it interesting. Every bit of support makes a real difference.

But this boom also risks creating a new extractive underworld. A new report from the UN Office on Drugs and Crime warns of several emerging criminal activities linked to the mineral rush. As well as illegal mining, the report highlights cases of corruption, smuggling, money laundering and human rights abuses.

Tanya Wyatt, the organisation’s lead researcher on crimes that affect the environment, spoke to Wild Crime about the report’s findings and the crimes that are concerning her the most.

What is your role at the UNODC?

I have lots of different things I oversee, but one is the global analysis on crimes that affect the environment, which is a multi-part piece of research that’s looking at the landscape of criminalisation, and asking the question: when the environmental law is violated, when is it actually a crime or not? When do member states or countries actually have a criminal penalty in place for these types of violations?

I think it’s more criminalised than we would have expected. There’s a majority of countries that have at least one criminal penalty in place for the most serious kinds of violations. So I think there’s a good starting point there.

The second piece that we look at is forest crime. So illegal logging and illegal deforestation. And then we’ve had two publications out this year about what we’re calling minerals crime.

How has the global mineral rush created opportunities for criminals?

If you’ve watched any economic news lately you will have seen that gold is getting more and more valuable. So there is this incentive to illegally mine gold, which is one that’s a bit easier in terms of being able to do in a less technical way in terms of equipment. It’s also easier to smuggle.

And then I think both reports show it easily launders into a legal system. There’s really not that many countries in terms of gold or other metals and minerals that have the capacity to refine. And particularly in the case of gold, the global standard is near purity. And so you really have to have some sophistication to be able to do that. So it’s those places where it gets laundered into. And then it’s on a legal market.

Then with critical minerals, the conversation is mostly centred around the energy transition, trying to get off fossil fuels. We need nickel and cobalt and lithium and all these things to create the technologies.

I don’t think it should be overlooked, though, that these critical minerals are also used in the defence industry. So it is energy, but it’s also military equipment and space technology that needs all of these critical minerals.

There are opportunities for criminal infiltration. And it doesn’t look the same as gold. So we can’t just take what we’ve learned from gold or from the Kimberly process for diamonds and paste it on to what we’re doing with critical minerals.

It needs to be a much more context specific approach.

What were some of the criminal activities you found associated with critical minerals?

Corruption is key within all of these. Often at the licencing stage. So maybe you have government actors who are bribed to give licences to areas that actually shouldn’t be mined. Maybe that’s indigenous territory, protected areas or private areas, national parks. So mining is happening where it shouldn’t be because of corruption.

But you also have corruption in terms of changing the paperwork so that [a product] looks like it’s legal even though it’s come from an illegal space.

So it is this overlay of public corruption, but also private corruption, that you have companies that are involved in fraudulently producing this paperwork or knowing that we’ve been given a licence to go in and mine somewhere where they should be or take more than they’ve been allocated.

What environmental crime concerns you the most?

I think it’s going to be waste and pollution. There’s so much going on that we don’t know. And you see the figures about how much waste is produced and generated in the world, and that’s only expected to continue to grow. It’s just getting more and more. And our ability to handle it in environmentally sound ways is not keeping up.

And there is this real, still, high-income to low-income dynamic to it. And I don’t just mean global north to global south, that [wealthy countries] send waste and dump it there. But it’s also within.

Our study is going to show, and you would see this if you looked at data in the Basel Convention, that there’s a huge amount of intra-European trade. So it isn’t just about high-income countries to low-income global south countries, but just even within regions. For example, sending a bunch of waste to poor parts of a country or to southeast Europe where there’s lower incomes.

And then, honestly, there’s just a lot we don’t know about the Americas. The big players aren’t a party to the Basel Convention.

So there isn’t a lot of data there. So I think there’s a lot about waste getting dumped and burned that we don’t know about. So for me, it’s really striking that so much attention has gone to wildlife, which I really love and am passionate about, but we really need to open up and start talking about all this waste and pollution.

How does waste crime work?

Industrial waste is a huge part of it. But it is, unfortunately, ourselves as individual consumers, we think we’re doing the right thing.

When I walk down to the block at the end of the street and I put my plastics in, I put my metals in, you have to trust that your municipality is going to take care of that in an environmentally sound manner. But what we see happening in the waste industry is that you have those collectors or intermediaries that are cutting costs in various kinds of ways. So it could be fraud about what the waste actually is; saying it’s a non-hazardous waste when it’s actually hazardous. That’s one way to save money.

You also have dumping or burning in the countryside, which we’ve seen for decades in Italy, where waste management companies pick up people’s waste and then just take it out to an area and get rid of it. So that saves money.

Another real challenge for this kind of environmental crime is how many corporations are involved. Yes, you have your stereotypical organised crime, maybe having front companies or shell companies that might be dealing with waste management.

But it’s just so embedded within a legal sector that it’s difficult for law enforcement to actually tackle. And it’s big money, particularly when you’re looking at any sort of the waste streams that involve metals.

Why is this such a big problem?

If a lower income country is going to take all of this waste, they sometimes don’t have the technology or the capacity to actually deal with it. So it just becomes pollution. It just gets dumped.

And you have people that are having to deal with it, who work in the industry, who are not properly protected with equipment or masks or any of the equipment that would keep them safe. So they’re coming into contact with hazardous or contaminated things. So it’s a health and safety issue, as well as an environmental issue that you have.

It’s dangerous on a lot of levels.

What are the biggest barriers we have in tackling environmental crime globally?

The data are very poor.. So we’re making decisions and basing policies on a fairly limited amount of evidence.

There’s lots of reasons why there isn’t data or that environmental crime isn’t a priority. It’s also not necessarily a recordable offence. So if police agencies or law enforcement are actually collecting data, it’s not necessarily captured in national crime statistics.

But it’s kept somewhere. They know how much environmental crime is going on, but it isn’t nationally reported and shared onwards.

Every two years at UNODC we collect data globally about a variety of things. And one of the topics that member states can share with us is about all of these different environmental crimes and very few countries actually take the opportunity.

That would be one area where I think we could probably make pretty good improvements fairly quickly, with some awareness raising and some capacity building in terms of keeping these statistics.

Then you could turn that data into evidence-based policies, because I think member states do need to know about what you just asked around, what are the tactics? How is this happening?

That might be a very nerdy answer but we need more data.

Piracy increased by 50 per cent year-on-year in the first half of 2025, the largest increase since 2020, according to figures from the International Maritime Bureau.

While piracy in East Africa or Southeast Asia often revolves around kidnappings for ransom, pirates in the Caribbean are typically based on small boats and board vessels armed with machetes or guns to rob them of their cargo, according to Insight Crime.

When these incidents happen in territorial waters, they are technically classified as armed robbery, making it harder to deal with.

Piracy hotspots in Latin America include the Gulf of Mexico, the Caribbean coasts of Colombia and Venezuela, and the Pacific coast between Peru and Ecuador. Researchers linked increased incidents in the Caribbean to the Venezuelan economic crisis.

Thailand: A lion belonging to a social media influencer broke out and bit an 11-year-old boy in rural Thailand. A passerby who intervened to help the boy was also injured. The owner of the lion is well-known online for posting videos with her and said he had let her out of her cage for renovations. Locals said this was the third time the lion had escaped in just a year. (Khaosoden)

Belgium: A third of waste shipments inspected at the Port of Antwerp-Bruges have been found to violate the law. This equates to hundreds of shipments a year. The violations range from incomplete documentation to the shipment of prohibited materials. e-Waste is often marked as second-hand items. A new partnership was launched this summer between local prosecutors and police to tackle the problem. (Brussels Times)

Vietnam: More than seven tonnes of wildlife products – including pangolin scales, python skins and animal bones – were seized in southern Vietnam. The items were being transported by boat and were believed to have been smuggled into the country from Indonesia for sale. Authorities said several of the species involved are protected by Vietnamese law. (Tuoi Tre)

Europe: The European Parliament has called for the elimination of all illegal trade in wild animals and plants by 2030. MEPs called on all parties to recognise international wildlife trafficking as a serious, organised crime, and called on EU member states to criminalise ownership of illegally-sourced wildlife. They also called for the creation of a “positive list” of animals that may be kept or traded as pets in the EU. (European Parliament)

Cyprus: A 10-day operation against songbird trapping networks resulted in the seizure of 1,200 birds and fines of 62,000 euros. Officers targeted what they said was the “core” of organised bird trapping in the cities of Larnaca and Nicosia. On a September 26 raid in Larnaca, officers found more than 400 birds as well as large trapping nets and loudspeakers with bird-mimicking devices. (PhileNews)

India: Officials in northern India are concerned about a spike in elephant deaths in the Haridwar Forest. Rangers found three carcasses of the animals in only six days. Authorities have not confirmed how the elephants died, but locals have speculated they were killed by electrocution. It is not clear whether this was accidental, after collisions with farmers’ fences, or intentional. (Garwhal Post)

Bangladesh: Nearly 1,000 turtles were seized at Dhaka’s international airport, apparently en route to Kuala Lumpur, in Malaysia. Scans of a passenger’s luggage showed the animals and the owner of the suitcase fled when called by security staff. The turtles have been placed in the custody of the forestry department. (BD News 24)

Kenya: Two people were arrested and a motorbike seized allegedly linked to the illegal trafficking of ivory. The two suspects were found with seven pieces of elephant tusk hidden in a bag. The pieces weighed more than 11kg. (All Africa)

Vietnam: Vietnam has set a goal to eliminate illegal and unregulated fishing by the end of November. The pledge came ahead of an inspection by the European Commission. Coastal agencies have been ordered to coordinate to manage vessels which currently lack registration. (Oana News)

India: Officers seized 7kg of pangolin scales in the central Indian city of Hanamkonda. Pangolins are endangered and their trade is banned in India and internationally. But there is a significant market for their scales, which are believed in parts of Asia to have medicinal properties. Four individuals were arrested. (First India)

West Africa: Chinese vessels, often operating illegally, have wrought destruction across seas off West Africa, according to a new report from the Atlantic Council. These companies, both state-backed and private, have rapidly expanded into fishing in the area, the report says. They use bottom trawling and other “destructive methods” which have led to a decline in fish stocks. (Atlantic Council)

Thank you so much for reading Wild Crime. This is a fully reader-supported publication with no outside funding. Paid subscriptions make it possible for us to dig deeper and pursue investigations that take time and resources. But even if you’re reading for free, you’re helping to keep this work alive, and I’m grateful for that.

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Despite the crime contributing to the declining populations of rhinos across the world, gaps remain in enforcement, the report said. It assesses how well international organised crime frameworks have been incorporated into domestic law.

Wildlife trafficking is increasingly being considered alongside other serious organised crimes, but experts frequently argue that sentences are too lenient. The illegal trade in wild animals, alongside other factors like habitat loss and climate change, is a significant contributor to the ongoing species extinction crisis.

However, traffickers frequently get away with paltry jail terms or even fines when they are caught. This makes it an attractive low-risk, high-reward activity for criminal gangs.

It is now well-established that rhinos are seriously threatened and they garner a good deal of public attention. Crimes involving other animals may be even less harshly treated.

Nepal: Interpol has issued a red notice for a Nepali national believed to be behind the illegal poaching of a tiger and the trafficking of its bones to China. Dharke Lama, who also uses the name Turke Lama, has been on the run for 10 years but is accused of poaching in the Satpura Tiger Reserve. The warrant was requested by the Indian State Tiger Strike Force. (The Hitavada)

Brazil: Brazilian police are expanding a programme which enables them to track the origin of gold exports. Illegal mining for the precious metal is a major problem in the Amazon and officers hope that the widening of the scheme will enable them to better catch those who attempt to smuggle it across borders. “Gold DNA” was used for the first time for a successful prosecution in 2023. (Reuters)

US: Authorities from 21 countries partnered to intercept a shipment of 50,000 pounds of glass eels in what has been described as a “major blow” to a wildlife trafficking network. Also known as European eels, the species has declined by as much as 95 per cent since the 1980s and is one of the most trafficked animals in the world. They are prized as delicacies in many parts of the world but little is known about how to breed them. (Miami Herald)

Indonesia: Nearly 50 protected Nicobar pigeons were seized on the Indonesian island of Sulawesi bound for sale. Officers received reports of online posts advertising the birds for sale and acted to protect them. The suspect said they had acquired the birds as chicks and raised them to adulthood to sell. It is illegal to sell the species internationally. (Antara)

US: Environmental enforcement has fallen to record lows as the number of lawsuits brought by the Trump government fell to just 14. This was the lowest figure for any six month period in the past century. However, it is fair to point out that the Biden administration had set the previous low. (USA Today)

UK: A red kite found dead in Scotland was poisoned with a banned pesticide called rodenticide, which is used to kill rats, mice and squirrels. Legal rodenticides can be used with caution, but this type is illegal and its use in this case was described by police as “reckless”. (BBC)

Bahamas: A “full-out assault” is being carried out on the Bahamas’ fisheries by poachers and illegal vessels, the country’s fisheries agency claimed. The country must strengthen its maritime law enforcement capabilities in response to the threat, the organisation’s secretary said. A foreign fishing charter operating illegally in national waters was seized last week. (Tribune)

Croatia: A species of sea urchin is under serious threat of extinction because of overfishing, an expert said. Marin Kirinčić, of the Natural History Museum in Rijeka, said the species is in decline thanks to the amount of fishing in the area. Sea urchins can be sold for as much as 200 Euros per kilogram in some parts of the world and are fished for consumption. (Croatia Week)

Thank you so much for reading Wild Crime. This is a fully reader-supported publication with no outside funding. Paid subscriptions make it possible for us to dig deeper and pursue investigations that take time and resources. But even if you’re reading for free, you’re helping to keep this work alive, and I’m grateful for that.

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Fire became the leading cause of forest loss for the first time in 2024 in tropical regions, but this is not a natural development. Wildfires are frequently started by people. It could be that a small fire gets out of control and spreads, or it could be set intentionally to clear trees. Other major causes of forest loss include deforestation for industry, including cattle ranching, other types of agriculture and timber.

Despite a global pledge to halt deforestation agreed at Cop26 in Glasgow in 2021, 17 of the top 20 forested nations are losing trees at a faster rate today than when the deal was made.

One country which has experienced increasingly heavy deforestation is Bolivia. This prompted the team at the Gecko Project, a journalism non-profit, to investigate. They found some surprising answers to the question of why Bolivia is losing its forests, and these came together in a documentary entitled Bolivia Burning which is available on YouTube now.

Wild Crime recently spoke to David Hill and Alvaro Garcia, the team behind the film, to find out what they learned.

Where did the idea for the film come from?

David Hill: We had spent years looking at deforestation. Looking at South America made sense in terms of the amount of forest being cleared. But we felt that Bolivia was being ignored. There was very little, if any, coverage in the media about what was going on there. And very few international NGOs were working on it.

Over the last few years, Bolivia has gone from fourth place in the world in terms of losing primary tropical forests, to third, and then last year to second. It’s higher in Brazil, but Brazil is many times larger.

So Tom [Johnson, of the Gecko Project] was very keen to make a film for those reasons. And he was also very interested in the Mennonites, both in terms of their role in Bolivian deforestation and the key role they play in the soy industry, which is one of the two biggest drivers.

Alvaro Garcia: David and I wrote a report a couple of years ago for Global Witness about Bolivia being one of the biggest countries with the highest rates of deforestation. This information was a driver for Tom to take the decision to embark on this project.

How did you come to focus on wildfires?

DH: We knew there were fires and we were following things very closely before we went. Then we arrived right in the middle of what turned out to be the worst ever year for fires in Bolivia’s history. We were on the plane with a group of Spanish firefighters that were coming over to help the Bolivians deal with the problem.

From our first day in Santa Cruz we felt it. We went up to one of the tallest buildings in Santa Cruz on our first night and saw the smog.

And because of the interrelationship between the fires and the deforestation, it was something we really wanted to explore. And so that became the jumping off point for the film itself. The film itself, the story, evolved very organically.

What are the main drivers of deforestation in Bolivia?

AG: [The main drivers are] the agricultural and cattle ranching industry. We know everybody is conscious that they have been the main drivers. The problem with that is that at the moment, the city with the most amount of resources generated is Santa Cruz. That’s thanks to this business. But they pay very little in terms of taxes.

Bolivia is in a deep economic crisis and they see the agriculture industry as a way to get out, get more resources. The consequences are very bad.

There’s a scene in Bolivia Burning where a mennonite colonist is speaking about the impact on the area’s wildlife. What are the consequences of devastation?

AG: Well, it was very ironic that he recognises the fact that [it was an area] that was big and beautiful, it was humid, it was green. And there were these deers and these animals and jaguars. And now you see the field and the field is absolutely empty.

It’s heartbreaking. I mean, two minutes before that, because that was a field that was still on fire. As David mentioned, the film developed very organically and we were just standing by a big massive trunk that was still very hot. And we were just like, okay, yeah, this is really bad. It was a very heartbreaking moment. Because, I mean, you can see the state of the land.

In one of the clips, we’ve been driving for hours and hours and all we’ve seen is burnt forests. We’ve been working on environmental issues for quite some time, many, many years. David would agree with me that it’s the first time that we’ve seen this level of disaster.

And it was very humbling and very shocking as well.

DH: It’s a good word. It was very humbling. It was sad. It was heart-wrenching at times. The forest itself was very quiet. The animals, the birds had gone.

In the film, you show a chart comparing permits for forest clearance and the actual amount of forest cleared. The latter is much higher. How much of this clearance is illegal?

DH: There was a report four years ago from the NGO Forest Trends estimating that roughly three quarters of all agro-conversion land clearance in Bolivia is ‘likely illegal’, although it acknowledges that figure was based on low quality data, and saying that more than half of Bolivia’s soy exports in particular are ‘likely’ to be grown on illegally cleared land.

Unfortunately, we weren’t able to address that distinction between what is legal and what isn’t [in the film] – mainly because, more than anything, we were simply trying to draw attention to how the government has been encouraging and facilitating deforestation.

We heard of coca being grown in even more remote parts and we know that Bolivia has a major gold mining problem as well – the vast majority of which is reported to be illegal. So there are all those other forest-related issues going on on top of the deforestation driven by soy and cattle-ranching.

AG: What we know is that the agencies that are supposed to persecute people that are starting the fires don’t do their job. We know that getting a permit to clear forests is very easy, and even [without a permit], the fines for clearing forests are just minimal.

I’m going to give you an example. On the 24th of June in San Juan it’s the winter solstice and from the 21st there’s a ban on starting fires in the city. And the fine is 4,300 Bolivianos (£463) if you start a fire in the city. If you start a fire in the forest, it’s 200 Bolivianos (£21). And by the way, the agency that is supposed to come and collect the money is not even going to come.

DH: It’s a bit of a cliché, but it does feel like it’s a real culture of impunity. People who do break the law are not held accountable.

A major part of your film is about the Mennonite communities. What are those communities like?

AG: We were very lucky to find a way of talking to them. Some of the colonies are very remote and we were very lucky to be able to roam around and be able to visit these people. They are very, very hard-working people, very, very honest.

I mean, there’s a classification between menonos modernos and menonos clasicos. Menonos clasicos, they don’t have electricity in the house, they still wear the dungarees, it’s very traditional. Women don’t speak any Spanish. Men are only allowed to speak Spanish to trade with Bolivians. Many of them, although they were born in Bolivia, don’t see themselves as Bolivians.

Then there are the menonos modernos that have left these traditional colonies. They wear jeans, t-shirts, they use mobile phones, and you can find them on TikTok.

DH: The film wasn’t our first time [visiting the communities] because of the Global Witness Report, which came out September 2023. So, that was our baptism of fire. But it was always interesting being there. [The communities] physically look so similar to each other, which made it sometimes very hard to navigate unless you were using a GPS, because everywhere looked the same.

Generally speaking, most people were disposed to talk to us. And honestly, it was very interesting hearing about their lives and how they farm as well. We took every opportunity to ask as much as we could about how they go about it.

What role do they play in deforestation?

DH: In terms of their role in the soy industry and deforestation, there’s a report we mentioned in the film from last year, a 2024 report by the Bolivian NGO CEDLA, which said 16 per cent of all Bolivian deforestation in 2016-2017 happened in the colonies. That’s obviously a great deal and they are a comparatively small percentage of the population. And it’s probably an underestimate.

There are certain parts of Santa Cruz in particular where you can drive and all you see is Mennonites farming. So their role there is very important. There’s an irony to it as well in that they’re going out often trying to find new land, some of them deliberately trying to live remotely or apart to some extent from the rest of the Bolivian culture, but at the same time they’re then selling back their produce into that society or culture or even abroad.

AG: When they started the colony 60 years ago, they were making crates for the Coca Cola company because the timber that was in the area was really good. Then they produced sorghum. Then they produced soy. And now Bolivia is opening markets in Asia for cattle ranching and many of them were considering moving into cattle ranching.

So although they live this very traditional Christian sectarian life, when it comes to money, whatever is needed, they’ll produce it. Everything they use is very modern. They know how to use absolutely top end technology. They might not have a TV inside the house, but they know everything that is necessary to know about these new technologies and machinery.

Bolivia Burning is available to watch now on the Gecko Project Youtube channel.

There are thought to be fewer than 150 Malayan tigers living in the wild across the country and police commander Rosli Md Yusof described them as a “priceless national treasure”. “Their loss due to human greed is a betrayal of our heritage,” he added.

But it’s not just in Malaysia where tigers are under threat. They remain highly endangered worldwide, thanks to a cocktail of issues including deforestation, illegal hunting and trafficking and climate change affecting habitats.

A report last year from the anti-poaching organisation TRAFFIC reported that consumer demand for tiger skin and bones in Asia is an ongoing issue. In places like Vietnam and China, tiger parts are perceived to have value in traditional medicines, or are seen as symbols of high social status. In 2021, TRAFFIC found that 43 per cent of traditional medicine practitioners in Vietnam used tiger derivatives in their work.

A more recent review of laws across 12 countries which are home to tigers found critical gaps in protection laws that leave them vulnerable. The report called on tiger nations to fully criminalise the entire supply chain, including digital transactions, and to more clearly define trade to prevent advertising and possession of tiger parts.

Without further help, the majestic tiger could soon be confined to history books.

Global: More than 24 years after it was originally proposed, the first part of a World Trade Organization treaty banning harmful fishing subsidies came into effect last week. The treaty prevents governments from offering subsidies for the fishing of already-overfished stocks. According to some estimates, governments have supported such fishing to the tune of $400bn over the past 25 years. (Mongabay)

Brazil: Hundreds of animals, including toucans and tortoises, have been rescued in Brazil in the country’s largest ever operation against wildlife traffickers. Officers arrested 47 people, with more than 800 animals taken to a specialist facility in Rio de Janeiro. The crackdown targeted a specific gang which authorities said had operated for decades. The group also traded in weapons and ammunition. (ABC)

Canada: Five people are facing charges relating to the killing and trafficking of birds of prey, including eagles. The individuals are accused of attempting to sell animal parts, and investigators found freshly removed eagle feet during searches. The crimes took place in Alberta, where indigenous people have some rights to hunt wild animals for subsistence reasons, but products cannot be sold. (Cochrane Now)

Chile: Fifty birds were found inside small juice boxes by Chilean customs at its border with Argentina. The smugglers had been travelling by car and officers’ suspicions were aroused when they saw empty containers for bird food. Of the 50 chicks, 17 had died because of the conditions. Two individuals were arrested on suspicion of wildlife trafficking. (Noticias Ambientales)

Kenya: Stolen donkeys are being sold to buyers in China for use in traditional medicines, putting strain on the species, an investigation has found. Donkey slaughterhouses were closed down in 2020 in Kenya, but the trade in hides continues with animals killed illegally and then exported under false labels. Donkey hides are boiled down in Chinese factories and used to produce a purported remedy for insomnia and aging. (The Revelator)

Australia: Five vessels have been destroyed after they were discovered illegally collecting sea cucumbers. Nearly 1,500kg of cucumber was seized alongside assorted fishing equipment. The ships were identified as having originated from Indonesia. (Baird Maritime)

Hong Kong: A 37-year-old man has been jailed for 40 months for money laundering connected to wildlife trafficking. Experts say it is a first-of-its-kind case in Hong Kong and underscores the connections between wildlife traffickers and money laundering. (South China Morning Post)

Sri Lanka: An elephant keeper has been sentenced to 15 years in prison for keeping a baby elephant and falsifying papers to make it appear to have been obtained legally. It is the first case of elephant trafficking to be filed to a court in Sri Lanka. Prosecutors believe as many as 40 baby elephants have been stolen from their herds and then sold for $125,000 each. Baby elephants are considered as status symbols among the Sri Lankan elite. (The Star)

Indonesia: Nearly 1,000 environmental crimes were handled in the year from November 2024, according to the Indonesian Environment Ministry. Around a third came via public complaints with the rest via routine monitoring and inspections. In total, 845 businesses were sanctioned. (Antara News)

Thank you so much for reading Wild Crime. This is a fully reader-supported publication with no outside funding. Paid subscriptions make it possible for us to dig deeper and pursue investigations that take time and resources. But even if you’re reading for free, you’re helping to keep this work alive, and I’m grateful for that.

If you’d like to support Wild Crime further, consider becoming a paid subscriber or sharing this newsletter with someone who might find it interesting. Every bit of support makes a real difference.

Last week, we brought you the story of Mike Holston, the US influencer who travelled to Australia to film himself wrestling crocodiles. Holston, who goes by the name “therealtarzann” online, was filmed slowly lowering himself into a creek with a crocodile visible in the distance. After a short chase, Holston is shown holding an apparently docile croc by the neck.

He is now being investigated by Australian authorities where interfering with a crocodile can result in fines of up to $24,800. He has claimed his videos are for educational purposes.

This week, a hunting influencer in the US has been charged with wildlife crimes. Ryan Lampers, known online as “StHealthyHunter”, has been charged with unlawfully killing a deer, as well as other accusations of lying about where he killed a wolf and a mountain lion. These animals can only be hunted in certain designated areas.

We all know how social media encourages competition and one-upmanship. Some other wildlife influencers have suggested Lampers may have fallen victim to a sort of race to kill the biggest and most impressive animals.

These incidents raise questions about the ethics of using nature to drive social media engagement. Some argue that educating the public about wildlife could lead to more knowledge about environmental protections. But others will say that wild animals should not be used for viral content.

There is evidence that conservation content online can make a difference. But the line between positive and harmful content is not always an easy one to draw.

USA: A routine bust in March 2024 turned into one of the largest deer smuggling cases in Texas history. The investigation into “ghost deer”, animals moved without proper paperwork and identification, has resulted in 1,200 charges against 22 people. Conservationists warned that the illegal movement of captive deer risks spreading disease which could devastate deer populations. (The Wildlife Society)

Turkiye: A baby gorilla rescued from traffickers in Istanbul will be returned to its native Nigeria after nine months. Zeytin, as he was named by his rescuers, has been recovering in a zoo close to Istanbul where his keepers say he is now well enough to return. Zeytin belongs to a critically endangered species of gorilla and was the first ever to be confiscated in Istanbul. He had been kept in a small box and was extremely distressed. Traffickers had been attempting to transport him to Thailand. (France 24)

Latin America: At least 146 environmental defenders were killed or have gone missing globally in 2024, with Latin America again proving to be the most dangerous place to be an activist. More than 80 per cent of those cases were in the region, according to the latest report from Global Witness. Colombia was the deadliest country, with 48 deaths, with Guatemala second and Mexico third. (AP)

Nigeria: Pangolins are mainly hunted for meat not scales in southeastern Nigeria, according to a new study. Nearly 200 tonnes of scales has been seized in Nigeria since 2010 and the trade is understood to be a major driver in the species’ decline. However, research by Charles Emogor of Cambridge University has suggested that hunters mainly target them for their meat. (Mongabay)

USA: Meat from critically endangered sharks is being sold with false labels in the USA, according to a study from the University of North Carolina. Researchers purchased 30 shark products between 2021 and 2022, including steaks and jerky. Using DNA barcoding, it was established that just under a third of the products were found to originate from species classified as endangered or critically so. (Bioengineer)

Brazil: The most vulnerable cannot continue being the main victims of crime in the Amazon, according to President Lula. He was speaking at the formation of a new international taskforce aimed at combating environmental crimes and smuggling. Brazil’s left-leaning leader said that the protection of indigenous people living in the rainforest must be prioritised. (Agencia Cenarium)

UK: Police are investigating after seven birds of prey were apparently killed in Lincolnshire. The incident is being treated as suspected wildlife crime, although the cause of death has not yet been confirmed. (Raptor Persecution UK)

South Africa: Two Germans were arrested in Pretoria suspected of illegally catching protected geckos and attempting to sell them. The pair were also in possession of some tortoise species and authorities said they were intending to smuggle them out of the country. International trade in all South African tortoises is prohibited by the CITES treaty. (The Post)

Thailand: Some 187 tortoises were seized at the international airport in Bangkok. The animals are native to Egypt and are protected under international law and treaties. The individual in possession of the tortoises did not have the correct export documents, authorities said. The animals will be cared for in Thailand before being returned to Egypt. (The Nation)

USA: A restaurant owner illegally purchased 24 black bear paws from an undercover officer in late 2021. Yan Li, from Washington state, was sentenced to house arrest and fined after purchasing the animal parts, as well as gallbladders from waterfowl. The parts can sell for thousands of dollars overseas, according to authorities. (Seattle Times)

Thank you so much for reading Wild Crime. This is a fully reader-supported publication with no outside funding. Paid subscriptions make it possible for us to dig deeper and pursue investigations that take time and resources. But even if you’re reading for free, you’re helping to keep this work alive, and I’m grateful for that.

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Inside, officers found a grim menagerie: juvenile monkeys, sloths and even an ocelot were found in various states and bound for the illegal wildlife trade. The gang may have made more than $1.5m since 2022, according to authorities. Twelve people, including a Spaniard alleged to be the ringleader and five local government officials, were arrested. Some 1,400 animals were rescued.

The raid, supported by the US Fish and Wildlife Service, was part of a much larger operation called Green Shield. Led by the United Arab Emirates, it comprised coordinated raids across four countries in one of the largest crackdowns on environmental crime in the Amazon Rainforest. More than 1,500 officers from Peru, Brazil, Colombia, and Ecuador made 94 arrests across two weeks, seizing $64m in assets.

Why the Amazon matters

The Amazon is a vitally important hub of biodiversity. It is home to about 10 per cent of all species on Earth and produces an estimated 20 per cent of fresh water on the planet through its basin system, as well as serving as a significant carbon sink. It spans 6.7m square km – roughly similar to the continental US – and sits across nine countries, although the bulk is found in Brazil.

But it is under threat. Deforestation is swallowing up its trees driven by cattle farming, illegal mining and other types of environmental crime. Its animals are poached to fuel the illegal black market in wild animals, while its waters are poisoned by mercury released by gold miners.

Coordinated strike

Green Shield was an attempt to coordinate law enforcement efforts across the Amazonian countries. From a control centre in Colombia’s capital Bogota, agencies used real-time data to carry out 350 raids across the region.

In total, officers seized 310 tonnes of raw minerals, 3,800 cubic metres of timber and tens of thousands of gallons of smuggled fuel. The seizures represent a cross-section of the environmental crimes with which the Amazon is plagued. Illegal gold miners, often linked to violent armed gangs, are driven by the high price of gold, while illegally felled timber is often ‘laundered’ into the legal trade with falsified or altered permits. Illegal Amazonian timber has been linked to decking sold in the United States, according to NGO reports.

In addition, the operation shone a spotlight on the size of the illegal wildlife trade from the region. Authorities seized more than 2,100 live animals and discovered another 6,000 dead. The illegal wildlife trade is highly lucrative and the relatively lighter sentences, compared to the smuggling of drugs or weapons, makes it an attractive sideline for criminal syndicates.

Challenging conditions

Enforcing the law is challenging in a region comprised of dense jungle which spans multiple countries and jurisdictions. To get around some of these challenges, officers used a geospatial software called ArcGIS, according to Mongabay. This displayed intelligence data in multiple languages and across several different sources. Police officers across the countries involved were able to share intelligence more easily, sharing locations and sending reports with pictures to the Bogota HQ in seconds.

Another factor in the protection of the Amazon is that many of the people living in the rainforest are indigenous. Many indigenous people are highly protective of the environment, with the land being a central part of their belief system.

But those who defend the Amazon often face a terrifying threat of violence. The Wampi Nation, an indigenous group living in northeastern Peru, has established its own environmental enforcement patrols in a bid to combat the growth of illegal gold mining in the area. They have been shot at while on patrol, demonstrating the risks that environmental defenders are exposed to. At least 296 defenders have been killed in the Amazon since 2014, according to Global Witness, and Latin America is the deadliest region worldwide.

Several raids were carried out in indigenous territories as part of Operation Green Shield and authorities pointed out that indigenous groups, living at the coalface of these crimes, are the most immediate victims. “These crimes directly impact indigenous communities, their land, their livelihoods, and their identity,” Emirati Lt. Col. Dana Humaid told the Associated Press.

A blueprint for global law enforcement?

The Operation represents an interesting example of internationally coordinated law enforcement. Humaid told Mongabay that the team “wanted to do things differently”. But it is the latest in a string of law enforcement efforts that have spanned borders. Operation Jaguar targeting poaching of the big cats across several Latin American countries between 2018 and 2021. Operation Cobra targeted rhino horn smugglers between 2013 and 2016.

As international trade and crime becomes increasingly globalised, it is no longer possible for any one country to carry out enforcement alone. An animal can be poached in Latin America, and smuggled to Asia via Europe. More coordinated policing can help intercept these illicit shipments at any point along that chain. As Diego Jiménez Salcedo of Ecuador’s National Police pointed out to Mongabay, criminal groups have logistical capabilities which move beyond borders. “We need the same,” he said.

The involvement of the UAE, a country several thousand miles from the Amazon, as coordinators is an oddity. Mongabay quoted Saeed Al Eissaee, of the UAE Ministry of the Interior, as saying that the country wants to position itself as a leader in environmental protection. He told the website that this would enhance the UAE’s “global influence and reputation… as a responsible actor”.

Whatever the motivations, Operation Green Shield succeeded in breaking up some criminal operations. Yet few expect gangs to step aside after one setback. Routes will change and techniques will be adapted. Law enforcement efforts will need to continue.

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Nigeria: Some 340 live snakes and 17 scorpions were seized at Lagos airport. The animals were set to leave the country before they were discovered by Customs agents. Agents warned that they have seized numerous animals threatened with extinction in the country. (Guardian Nigeria)

China: Tensions are heating up in the South China Sea as the US has proposed training Filipino fishermen as informants to report on illegal fishing. Illegal and unregulated fishing vessels, often from China, are a major problem in the area with Filipino officials stating that they undercut local fishermen. (South China Morning Post)

Thailand: A Vietnamese man was arrested at Bangkok’s airport suspected of smuggling $200,000 worth of rhino horns in his luggage. He had flown from Angola and his final destination was intended to be Laos. He was flagged to authorities using intelligence data and “advanced screening systems”. The global trade in rhino horn is banned, but they fetch high prices on the black market. (VN Express)

France: A couple who kept a black panther at their home as a pet in northern France have been handed a prison sentence and fined tens of thousands of euros. The panther made headlines in 2019 when it was spotted wandering along rooftops in the small town of Armentieres. She is now homed in a rescue centre in the Netherlands. (One Green Planet)

Kenya: Three men were arrested on suspicion of attempting to smuggle and sell elephant tusks, a trade that poses a serious threat to the ongoing survival of the animal. The international trade in ivory, which is sourced from elephant tusks and other animal parts, is banned under international treaties. (The Star)

USA: Poaching costs an estimated $1.4bn a year, according to a new US study which also claims that 96 per cent goes undetected. The researchers recommended increasing “boots on the ground” and making it easier to report incidents. (ABC News)

Officers investigating the illegal trade in wild animals discovered adverts online offering animals including Asian otters and agoutis for sale. The alleged breeder had also shared videos of leopards, owls and ibises.

A search of the facility uncovered more than 150 specimens from 56 species. The individuals in charge did not have the correct breeder permits or permission to operate as a zoo, according to authorities.

Social media platforms and other online marketplaces have become increasingly important conduits for the illegal wildlife trade in recent years. I’ve written about this before for the Guardian.

Read the full story in Noticias Ambientales.

Peru: Four illegal loggers have been jailed for 28 years each for the murder of four indigenous leaders in the Peruvian Amazon. The killings took place 11 years ago and included that of the prominent anti-logging campaigner Edwin Chota. The victims were ambushed on their way to a community assembly to discuss the impact of illegal logging in the area. They were tortured before being killed. (Context)

Gambia: Conflict is breaking out off the coast of Gambia as local fishermen attack foreign vessels who they say are crowding them out of business. Gambian regulations require foreign vessels to have a certain percentage of local staff, meaning it is often Gambian sailors who bear the brunt of the violence. Overfishing is threatening fish stocks off the coast of the African country, which relies on seafood as one of its main industries. (ABC News)

Australia: Authorities have uncovered a money laundering ring linked to the illegal smuggling of native reptiles to China. A 37-year-old was arrested in July accused of acting as a “money mule” to send funds to the overseas illicit networks. The money is alleged to have been used to illegally export the wild animals. (Australian Government)

Thailand: Police arrested two people for selling protected wildlife on Facebook and also seized firearms from an address in Bangkok. Further searches of the property revealed a slow loris, an endangered primate. Officers had arranged to buy a bearcat from the pair as part of a sting operation. (Thaiger)

Uganda: A Sudanese lawyer has been told to pay a $37,000 fine or face five years in prison for attempting to smuggle 436 pieces of ivory through an airport. A Ugandan court handed down the sentence after the shipment was discovered disguised as wood samples. Africa has lost an estimated 60 per cent of its elephant population in the past decade as a result of poaching. (Chimp Reports)

USA: Senators in the US have called for sanctions on Chinese seafood over alleged human rights violations in its commercial fishing industry. The senators said that China has turned unregulated fishing “into a weapon against American fishermen”. The Chinese fishing fleet is the largest in the world but there have been allegations of harsh treatment of foreign fishermen and other human rights issues. (Seafood Source)

India: Six men have been jailed for three years each for poaching tigers and leopards, the first convictions secured by the Tamil Nadu wildlife crime bureau. A raid on their temporary camp uncovered tiger skins and bones, and leopard parts packed for transport. The raid was carried out following intelligence from Wildlife SOS, which infiltrated the gang. (New Indian Express)

Panama: Four countries on the Pacific have joined forces to combat illegal and unregulated fishing. Officials from Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia and Ecuador met to draw up a roadmap for cooperation. (Tico Times)

There are believed to be just 10 vaquita porpoises left in the world. They live in a small area in the Gulf of California that sits between Baja California and mainland Mexico.

Their decline has mainly been driven by their presence in accidental capture in illegally-laid gillnets set to catch Totoaba, a large fish caught for its swim bladder for export to Asia.

The report, from the US-based Center for Biological Diversity, said that Mexico’s claims to taking enforcement action against illegal fishermen in the area do not stand up to scrutiny. Despite the country banning certain types of fishing gear in 2020, their use has continued unabated, the report claimed.

Meanwhile, the future for the vaquita porpoise seems increasingly bleak. “This report confirms a heartbreaking reality. Illegal gillnet fishing is squeezing the last breaths out of the poor vaquita,” said Sarah Uhlemann, international program director at the Center for Biological Diversity.

The full report can be accessed here.

Somaliland: Ten cheetah cubs were rescued in the disputed region of Somaliland, with one eight-month-old unable to walk having been tied up for six months. Authorities believe the animals were destined to be sold in the illegal wildlife trade. Another was “very malnourished”, highlighting the dreadful conditions that animals involved in the illicit wildlife trade are kept in. They are now being cared for by the Cheetah Conservation Fund. (Euronews)

New Zealand: There were more than 100 seizures of shark products, including teeth, meat and oil, in New Zealand in 18 months from the start of 2024. Researchers said this shows that the country is a key transit point for illegal shark products. The products all came from species which are protected under international treaties. (The Press)

USA: A roadside zoo in Oregon which has operated since 1968 has been closed down and its owner indicted on charges of animal neglect. West Coast Game Park Safari was raided in May and allegedly found underfed animals, missing records for some specimens, and even a dead tiger being stored in a freezer. Brian Tenney, the owner, now faces 371 charges, including drug offences and the alleged ownership of a machine gun. (OPB)

Suriname: Fishermen are being attacked by pirates off the coast of South America, an investigation has found. It highlighted a shocking attack in 2018 off the coast of Suriname which left 15 Guyanese fishermen dead. Some had car batteries tied to their legs and were thrown overboard. Coverage of piracy usually focuses on the threat to global shipping, but some 14 per cent of incidents involve local fishermen. (Maritime Executive)

Vietnam: Authorities held a mock trial to raise awareness of the impact of illegal and unregulated fishing. The case, in the city of Can Tho, was attended by more than 450 residents, and recounted a real life case in which two fishing vessels had entered foreign waters to fish illegally. The two “defendants” were sentenced by the mock court to 10 and eight years in prison. (Vietnam Plus)

Global: Soaring gold prices are leading to a worldwide surge in illegal mining, according to a report. From South Africa, to the Amazon Rainforest and Sudan, the trade has accelerated. Illegal gold mining can be a brutal affair, exemplified by the slaughter of 13 mine security guards in Peru in April. It can also be linked to other crimes, often involving drug cartels. (ChosunBiz)

India: A report has highlighted the “abysmal” conviction rate for wildlife offences in the Karnataka region of India. Between 2020 and 2025, there were 13 confirmed cases of tiger killings in the state, but no convictions. Four of the cases have seen no arrests. Conservationists have said this shows that state authorities are not taking the killings seriously. (Bangalore Mirror)

Nepal: Nepal has become a member of the International Big Cat Alliance in a move hailed by conservationists as a big step towards protecting felines. The coalition aims to help countries to cooperate to protect seven species, including tigers, leopards and snow leopards. These three are all present in Nepal. (Zoombangla)

USA: Seventy sharks were rescued from illegally deployed fishing nets roughly 31 miles off the US coastline. The local coast guard found more than two miles of longline nets with 70 sharks and 20 snappers entangled within them. Authorities believe the nets belonged to crews from Mexico operating illegally. (WFLA)

DRC: The capture of African gray parrots has been banned in the Democratic Republic of Congo, an important protection for one of the world’s most trafficked birds. Gray parrots are classified as endangered and are trapped from the wild frequently for sale in the pet trade. Conservationists have praised the new measure and said that it could have significant benefits if properly enforced. (Mongabay)

John Hume bred the world’s largest rhino herd, comprising more than 2,000 animals. His plan had been to sell their horns legally to traders in Asia, but after international trade was made illegal he was faced with ruin.

The 83-year-old, along with five others, has been bailed by a court in South Africa. One of his alleged co-conspirators has previously been charged with forging a document to authorise the transport of rhino horns. They have been accused of obtaining local trading permits for the horns, “while intending to channel the horns into illegal markets” overseas, according to prosecutors.

Rhino horns are prized in parts of Asia and used as medicine for hangovers, or even cancer. Rhinos are frequently poached for their horns in Africa, and Hume had claimed that his ranch could “serve as a safety net” for their dwindling population.

Cathy Dean, grants lead at the organisation Save the Rhino, said the arrests mark a “critical juncture” in the fight against the illegal horn trade. “Every horn trafficked represents not only a threat to rhinos and the ecosystems they call home, but also fuels wider organised crime, exploiting people and communities throughout the chain of criminal activity,” she added.

You can read a full account of the case in the Daily Maverick.

Canada: A Taiwanese fishing vessel was sighted illegally harpooning dolphins in the North Pacific, according to the Canadian Coast Guard. Authorities carried out a two-month monitoring mission in the remote ocean just outside Canadian national waters. Other vessels were observed illegally catching salmon and harvesting hundreds of shark fins. (Times Colonist)

Sri Lanka: Leopards are being intentionally targeted by traffickers, conservationists have warned, after the discovery of a group of hunters carrying a freshly-skinned carcass. Conservationists said the incident challenged prevailing wisdom that the big cats are not deliberately targeted but are instead killed opportunistically by hunters looking for other animals. Demand for the skin, teeth and claws of leopards is high, they said. (Mongabay)

Argentina: New charges have been added in Argentina’s largest wildlife crime case after a key defendant attempted to flee the country. A raid of the offices of Caza y Safaris, a company which offered hunting trips to tourists in rural Argentina, uncovered more than 8,000 animal parts. The owner of the company, Jorge Noya, had been photographed with a dead jaguar in the past and is currently under house arrest awaiting trial. (Mongabay)

China: Chinese zoos and safari parks are driving demand for smuggled elephants, an investigation has found. One particular park, offering live elephant shows, near the border with Laos reportedly attracted 10 million visitors between 2016 and 2022, making more than $80 million. The investigation claims that these parks break the law by buying elephants commercially from Laos. It is permissible for zoos to obtain protected animals from overseas, but it is a breach of international agreements for such transfers to be commercial. (NZZ)

Hong Kong: Customs rescued 419 endangered live tortoises and more than 1,500 live coral during a two month operation in July and August. The estimated value of the finds was $4.3m. Five people have been arrested. (Customs Department)

Argentina: Two Brazilian poachers were arrested in the northern Misiones province in a biosphere reserve. The individuals were armed with a shotgun and were carrying items which can be used as bait to attract wild animals. They were captured during a routine patrol. The province is home to the famous Iguazu Waterfalls and lies on a triple border with Brazil and Paraguay, making it attractive for transnational criminals. (Noticias Ambientales)

USA: A man from Florida admitted to neglect after leaving more than 100 geckos locked in a storage unit for more than two months. Forty-one of the animals had died when they were discovered while many of the survivors appeared to be malnourished. The storage unit had been locked over non-payment of bills. The animals found were African fat-tailed geckos. (Orlando Sentinel)

Europe: Spanish and Portuguese environmental police seized $175,000 worth of clams and arrested eleven people. Clams are illegally harvested in the Tajo River. Officers believe the group may have made nearly $2m via their illegal fishing activities so far this year. Illicit clam harvesting risks illness as contaminated food can enter the supply chain. (Food Safety News)

Indonesia: A fishing vessel flying the Philippine flag was seized on suspicion of illegal fishing by Indonesian authorities. The ship had a gross tonnage of 754 tonnes, making it the largest catch in a decade, according to the Fisheries Minister. It had 32 crew members on board as well as a 1.3km fishing net, but no permits from the Indonesian government. (Xinhua News)

Peru: Biodiversity in the Paracas Marine Reserve is being threatened by illegal fishing as well as a lack of oversight, according to research by a Peruvian marine institute. The region is a refuge for a large number of species, including sea lions, dolphins and migratory birds. The research warns that informal activities, including the use of explosives, are threatening the region. (Seafood Source)

China: China and South Korea have signed an agreement to boost their efforts to crack down on illegal fishing in shared waters. Ministers in Seoul also called on Beijing counterparts to do more to tackle Chinese ships that engage in illegal activities. Under the agreement China has agreed to accept all Chinese vessels stopped for violating regulations in Korean waters. (Korea Herald)

New Zealand: Three endangered sea lions were shot dead in Canterbury, New Zealand this weekend. Two died immediately, while a third suffered injuries so severe it had to be euthanised, according to local police officers who described the incident as “upsetting”. Under New Zealand law it is illegal to injure or kill protected wildlife. (1News)

Brazil: A man transporting 600 turtle hatchlings in suitcases on board a bus was allegedly planning to sell them at a street market in Rio de Janeiro. Hatchlings can fetch up to $125 each on the black market, but many are likely to have died because of the poor conditions they were transported in. (Noticias Ambientales)

Argentina: A police operation in the Argentine city of Mendoza found several handicraft and artisanal items sold to tourists made from the parts of protected wild animals. Claws, beaks, teeth and bones, apparently originating from wildlife in Brazil, had allegedly been used to make jewelry and other decorative objects. The parts came from animals including toucans, caimans and sharks, authorities said. (Noticias Ambientales)

South Africa: An American trophy hunter was killed by a buffalo during a hunting expedition in South Africa. Asher Watkins was a property executive from Dallas and was tracking the buffalo before it attacked him, according to his travel company. (World Animal Network)

USA: A jaguar used as a “photo prop” in hotels for selfies and then sold as a pet is recovering at a wildlife sanctuary in San Diego. Authorities charged two individuals related to the case but, in an example of the relatively light sentences for wildlife crimes, one of the perpetrators received just six months probation. (Fox 5)

Global: British organisation TRAFFIC will use AI to expand its Wildlife Trade Portal after the awarding of a grant by the Wolfson Foundation. The portal is an open-access database of wildlife trade seizures globally. Its data has been used by law enforcement agencies, researchers and journalists to detect patterns in global trade. (TRAFFIC)

The incident highlights the demand for rare and endangered corals among collectors. Corals are invertebrates that play a crucial role in the building of reefs, and as such are classified as animals not plants.

They account for a quarter of all marine life. Traffickers in Australia, Fiji and Indonesia target them, prying them from reefs using chisels and hammers.

The corals seized in New York had apparently travelled from Indonesia and had been individually packed in plastic bags filled with water. Nevertheless, the travelling conditions were tough and 30 of the 200 specimens had died by the time they were discovered.

The US Fish and Wildlife Service says that the USA is the primary market for corals. You can read the full story in the New York Times here.

Peru: An environmental activist was shot dead in the Peruvian Amazon this weekend, according to local authorities. Prosecutors said the preliminary motive being considered for the murder of Hipolito Quispehuaman was the environmental advocacy work he had been involved in to protect the Amazon. At least 54 environmental defenders, more than half of whom were from indigenous communities, have been murdered in Peru since 2012. (CBS News)

Canada: A man who believes himself to be “unbound by laws” and has described short stints in jail as “literally a joke”, has been sentenced to six years for sea cucumber poaching. Scott Steer was accused of selling more than $1 million worth of cucumbers. He has also been involved in the illegal fishing of crabs. (CBC)

Indonesia: Nearly 100,000 turtle eggs have been seized at a port in Indonesia where they are thought to have been bound for illegal sale. One of two men arrested in connection with the case is a serving soldier in the army. Turtle eggs are protected in Indonesia and perpetrators can be jailed for up to eight years. (BNA)

South Korea: Members of a local archery club are being investigated for allegedly hunting black goats in the state of Busan. The group had permission to hunt wild boars but are accused of illegally targeting the goats. (Maeil Business Newspaper)

India: Fifteen members of a gang that killed a pangolin nine years ago have been jailed for three years. They were also fined for their crimes, which included trying to sell 3kg of pangolin scales. All species of pangolin are considered to be highly endangered. (PTI News)

Argentina: A native eagle was among the wild birds seized from a market in Mendoza, the northern city famous for its wine production. The black-chested buzzard-eagle is a protected species and is considered to be threatened. Six other animals were also seized in the raid. Argentina’s forests is home to many species of wild bird and trafficking is a known problem. (Noticias Ambientales)

Cayman Islands: Two men attempting to smuggle nearly 200kg of cannabis and two exotic birds were arrested off the coast of the Cayman Islands. The parrots were critically endangered yellow-naped amazons which are highly sought after as pets because of their mimicry skills. The case illustrates how wildlife crime often dovetails with other serious offences. (Cayman Compass)

UK: Twenty-five people, including a 13-year-old, have been charged over a suspected incident of hare coursing which took place in January. Hare coursers chase hares across fields with dogs or vehicles, usually for sport or entertainment but sometimes for the purposes of gambling. The hares are frequently torn apart by the dogs. Local farmers said their crops had been destroyed during the incident in question. (BBC)

Malaysia: A man who was trying to smuggle four monkeys and two armadillos out of Malaysia was arrested at Kuala Lumpur’s airport. He had planned to travel to India. (Bernama)

Myanmar: Tiger parts are being sold at the ‘supermarket of illegal wildlife’ in the town of Mong La in Myanmar’s Shan State. The town sits in the Golden Triangle, the infamous region where Myanmar, Laos and Thailand meet which is beset by issues of illegality, including the market in animal parts. A full tiger can earn a smuggler nearly £13,000. (Times of India)

Philippines: Illegal fishing is thriving in the Philippines thanks to weak governance and legal loopholes, according to the local branch of the NGO Oceana. Its new report highlighted the mounting crisis means that the government will miss its target to replenish fish stocks by 2028. Oceana called for stronger monitoring and surveillance of the issue, as well as stronger guidelines on monitoring devices. (AgTechNavigator)

Just a final note from me to say that I’m on holiday next week so there won’t be a newsletter. I’ll be back the week after with the usual updates.