Lion cubs for hire, snakes on a plane and poached rhinos
Updates from the week in wildlife and environmental crime
The trade in captive lion cubs is booming in Thailand, where wealthy patrons pose with the animals for social media selfies at exclusive parties, according to a report.
The number of lions in captivity has tripled since 2018, according to a report from Wildlife Friends Foundation Thailand (WFFT). Demand from the country’s elite has fuelled a growing network of lion farms, but the Guardian notes that many of these operations are run by amateurs.
Social media sites are flooded with pictures featuring lion cubs – including from agents who promote them for sale, but also to rent for parties or photoshoots. According to the report, there are at least 444 lions in captivity across the country.
Conditions are often poor. Tom Taylor, from the WFFT, told the paper: “Some of these facilities keep lions in cramped and barren enclosures without sunlight, on concrete substrate, and poor-quality food, resulting in a life of misery.”
India: In a real life incident of the movie Snakes on a Plane, a man was stopped at Mumbai airport with 48 venomous snakes. He had arrived from Thailand. Among the snakes were three spider-tailed horned vipers, which are highly poisonous but usually only target birds. The reptiles were returned to Thailand. (Hindustan Times)
Cambodia: Dolphin populations in Cambodia have increased following a decline in illegal fishing, conservation officials have said. Greater enforcement actions in the first half of this year have reduced fishing activity in a protected area aimed at dolphin conservation. These efforts have meant that there have been no deaths of Mekong dolphins reported this year, while several have been born. (Phnom Penh Post)
Namibia: Fifteen rhinos and one elephant have been poached in Namibia so far this year, the government has confirmed. The brutal killing of one rhino in Hardap earlier this month has prompted its owner to offer a reward worth nearly £7,000 for information leading to the arrest of the perpetrators. The rhino was short and dehorned in early May. (New Era)
USA: The death of a fifth dolphin at a marine park in Florida is part of a “disturbing and unacceptable” pattern according to a US senator. The death is the second reported in May. Gulf World Marine Park said that the site will be closed for the rest of the week, without giving a reason. Earlier in the month officers from the State environment department executed a search warrant at the site and the Fish & Wildlife Commission confirmed a criminal investigation. (News Channel 7)
Australia: A man from Queensland has been given a suspended prison sentence for his involvement in the smuggling of wildlife. In 2023, authorities intercepted a package marked as toys but which was excreting a strange smell. Inside they found snakes, iguanas, turtles and tarantulas. Many of the animals had died. Following a two year investigation, the trail led to the individual who authorities described as a “primary player” in the network. (ABC)
Guinea-Bissau: At least 98 people in three regions of Guinea-Bissau keep chimpanzees as pets or in captivity, a study has found. Some hotels even keep pet chimpanzees on their premises. Many of these animals either die of disease or are killed when they reach puberty and become more aggressive, the study author said. (Mongabay)
Costa Rica: Wildlife trafficking has become the third most common environmental crime in Costa RIca, a country which is home to five per cent of the world’s biodiversity. Recent seizures, including of 30 scarlet macaws, have been part of an overall increase in wildlife crimes. Some tourism experts have expressed concern that these incidents could deter tourists looking for ethical ways to view animals. (Tico Times)
EU: Endangered eels, timber and medicinal plants are among the top commodities being seized in the EU, according to analysis by TRAFFIC. The findings highlight the major role that the EU plays as a hub for trafficking, but also the leadership role it takes in enforcement. (TRAFFIC)
UK: Scotland’s new law criminalising ecocide could set a new global precedent, an expert has claimed. If passed, the bill would make Scotland the first UK nation to outlaw severe and reckless harm to nature. There is a global movement to treat large-scale environmental destruction as a crime, and Scotland could be at the forefront of this, according to two academics at universities in London. Read their views here.
USA: A man has been fined nearly $6,000 for poaching a bull elk in a national park in Nevada. After an investigation, officers discovered the elk’s antlers and an amount of processed elk meat. Hunting is not allowed in the Great Basin National Park. (Hoodline)
China: A new report has claimed that Chinese squid fleets are turning off their trackers and undercutting local fishermen across South America. The report purports to expose a sophisticated network propping up these fleets, which have been accused of numerous abuses. The report found that 69 per cent of squid jiggers operating off the Pacific and Atlantic coasts share ownership with vessels accused of involvement in illicit activities. (Newsweek)