3,000 hermit crabs in a suitcase: inside the week’s weirdest wildlife seizures
From Japan to Cameroon, here are the wildlife stories making headlines this week.
Last month, the big story was of 5,000 ants packed in test tubes. This week, police in Japan found three tourists with as many as 3,000 hermit crabs packed in their suitcases.
The alarm was raised by hotel staff after hearing an unusual rustling emanating from the cases of the Chinese nationals. Upon checking the cases and finding the unusual cargo they swiftly alerted the police and the men were arrested. The animals weighed around 160kg and were believed to have been bound for sale overseas, possibly to feed demand for exotic pets.
Hermit crabs are protected in Japan as a national natural monument giving police the power to arrest the alleged perpetrators under the country’s cultural properties protection laws. You can read more here.
South Africa: A stark reminder of the brutal unintended consequences of poaching. At least 123 vultures died in one of South Africa’s biggest national parks after feeding on an elephant carcass which had been poisoned by poachers. Another 83 were successfully treated and are in recovery. Poachers, operating in the Kruger National Park, had fed the elephant agricultural pesticides apparently hoping to harvest its body parts. (Fox8)
Armenia: A family of Syrian brown bears were rescued from a backyard in Armenia where they were being kept in “filthy” cages and denied basic care. The bears were found during an investigation by the Foundation for the Preservation of Wildlife and Cultural Assets, which was acting on a public tip off. The male bear had allegedly been held captive for 12 years and used to breed cubs which were sold. The bears are now recovering at a specialist facility. (International Animal Rescue)
North Korea: The North Korean government has been accused of profiting from the illegal wildlife trade, in a study by researchers from University College London. The paper identifies the autocratic country as being a significant player in the illegal trade despite its apparent isolation from international affairs. In a potentially significant finding, the paper claims that North Korea pioneered bear bile farming before China and South Korea. (Daily NK)
Europe: Tens of thousands of dolphins, porpoises and whales are killed every year in European seas after being caught in fishing nets. The Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA) report claims that bycatch thresholds have been exceeded and some of the animals caught are critically endangered. Fishing nets are one of the biggest culprits in the deaths of cetaceans. (EIA)
USA: Officers are hunting a man who allegedly stabbed a young seal on a beach in Oregon. The seal pup was seriously injured after receiving multiple stab wounds but was treated and has now been relocated. It is unclear what prompted the attack. (Men’s Journal)
Saudi Arabia: The Gulf state has become the latest country to join the UN’s agreement to deter and eliminate illegal fishing. The agreement will help facilitate closer cross-border collaboration on the issue and provide countries with technical support to combat illegal fishermen. (Cairo Scene)
Cambodia: A reporter documenting logging in a Cambodian wildlife sanctuary was attacked by a group of men, allegedly including a former police officer. Ouk Mao, a Cambodian environment journalist, was able to document parts of the incident before escaping. The Prey Land national park is a frequent target of illegal logging. (Mongabay)
Cameroon: More than 300kg of illegal bush meat was seized at a checkpoint in central Cameroon. The meat included that of several species protected by wildlife protection laws in the country, such as the golden cat, a douera baboon and a boa snake. Despite a push to improve awareness of the damage of the illegal bush meat trade, it continues to be a major issue for wildlife in parts of Africa. (Le Bled Parle)
China: Arresting footage has shown the sheer size of the Chinese distant water fishing fleet that is so vast it can be seen from space. The image, taken from the International Space Station, was shared by the son of an astronaut and highlights the size of China’s maritime presence. The fleet is the largest fishing fleet in the world and has been linked to a range of abuses, from illegal fishing practices to human rights abuses. (India Today)