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Entries for ' Counter Wildlife Trafficking'

Professionalized Anti-Poaching Operations Led to Arrest and Conviction of Four Elephant Poachers in Republic of Congo

Press release

November 30, 2018
Professionalized Anti-Poaching Operations Led to Arrest and Conviction of Four Elephant Poachers in Republic of Congo
Four poachers responsible for killing elephants in the periphery of the Nouabalé-Ndoki National Park were sentenced to five years’ imprisonment by the local district court on Thursday the 22nd of November.  Leonard Beckou, the gang leader, is a repeat wildlife crime offender, having been arrested twice before in 2015 and 2016. His latest poaching raids were conducted close to local villages, sparking fear within local communities, and highlighting the negative impact of elep...

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Tags: Forest elephants, Wildlife protection, Counter Wildlife Trafficking


Successful Anti-poaching Operation Leads to 5-Year Conviction for Three Poachers in Republic of Congo

Press release

February 23, 2018
Successful Anti-poaching Operation Leads to 5-Year Conviction for Three Poachers in Republic of Congo
Three poachers responsible for slaughtering eleven elephants in and around Nouabale-Ndoki National Park in January were convicted to five years’ imprisonment by the local district court last week, according to WCS (Wildlife Conservation Society). The poachers, who had ventured deep into the remote Ndoki forest and spent three weeks killing elephants for their ivory, walked into an ambush setup by park rangers as they exited the forest on February 2nd. Three of the six poachers were apprehe...

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Tags: Forest elephants, Wildlife protection, Counter Wildlife Trafficking


Elusive Congolese Poacher Sentenced to Five Years in Jail

Press release

December 15, 2017
Elusive Congolese Poacher Sentenced to Five Years in Jail
A local court sentenced a notorious elephant poacher and ivory trafficker to five years in prison and a fine of 1,200,000 XAF (~2100 US$). The sentencing, which took place yesterday, is an indication that Congolese government is becoming increasingly serious about dealing with criminals that threaten the country’s natural heritage Over the last 12 years, Benjamin Mbondo, known locally as “Benz,” had garnered an infamous reputation for slaughtering elephants and traffick...

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Tags: Forest elephants, Wildlife protection, Counter Wildlife Trafficking


Heartbreaking Video of Rescued African Gray Parrots Destined for Pet Trade

Video

November 14, 2017
Heartbreaking Video of Rescued African Gray Parrots Destined for Pet Trade
Rescued parrots are being treated by team from WCS Global Conservation Program and Bronx Zoo WCS constructed a facility to care for parrots Bronx zoo veterinarians and bird department staff are supporting care for the confiscated birds Hundreds of parrots have been released back into the wild, but many have succumbed to disease or injuries sustained during capture by traffickers Scientists estimate up to 20 parrots die for every parrot that makes it into the pet trade WCS partners and ...

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Tags: Nouabalé-Ndoki National Park, Wildlife protection, Counter Wildlife Trafficking, Grey parrots


Pangolins at ‘Huge Risk’ as Study Reveals Dramatic Increases in Hunting Across Central Africa

Science publication

July 19, 2017
Pangolins at ‘Huge Risk’ as Study Reveals Dramatic Increases in Hunting Across Central Africa
First study of its kind shows true scale of problem facing world’s most illegally traded mammal. Hunting of pangolins, the world’s most illegally traded mammal, increased by a staggering 150 percent in Central African forests from 1970s up to 2014, according to a new study by the University of Sussex, WCS (Wildlife Conservation Society), and other groups. The first-ever study of its kind, just published in Conservation Letters, shows the true scale of pangolin exploitation...

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Tags: Conservation science, Pangolins, Counter Wildlife Trafficking


Major Ivory Trafficker Jailed in Republic of Congo

Press release

June 02, 2017
Major Ivory Trafficker Jailed in Republic of Congo
Northern Congo’s notorious elephant poacher and ivory trafficker Daring Dissaka, 39, has been convicted and sentenced to five years imprisonment. Connected to international ivory networks, Dissaka’s imprisonment represents another significant step forward for the Republic of Congo’s justice system and forest elephant conservation in Central Africa. A group of investigators and legal experts, who make up the Wildlife Crime Unit (WCU) employed by the Nouabale-Ndoki National Pa...

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Tags: Forest elephants, Wildlife protection, Counter Wildlife Trafficking


New Strategy Dismantles Ivory Trafficking Networks in Northern Republic of Congo

Press release

December 20, 2016
New Strategy Dismantles Ivory Trafficking Networks in Northern Republic of Congo
An integrated approach with on-the-ground patrols coupled with intelligence-driven operations are effectively taking down the patrons of elephant poaching and dismantling the criminal syndicates. This summer, wildlife rangers from the Nouabalé-Ndoki National Park, a protected area managed by WCS (Wildlife Conservation Society), arrested more than 30 poachers; seized over 100 kilograms of ivory; and detained six semi-automatic weapons around the limits of the park. This includes the arrest and...

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Tags: Forest elephants, Wildlife protection, Counter Wildlife Trafficking


CITES CoP17: WCS Congratulates CITES Parties for Extending Protections to the African Grey Parrot

Press release

October 02, 2016
CITES CoP17: WCS Congratulates CITES Parties for Extending Protections to the African Grey Parrot
  African Grey Parrot Is Placed on CITES Appendix I “If this bird could talk – and it certainly can – the African grey parrot would say thank you..” Sue Lieberman, WCS VP of International Policy VIDEO: WCS Susan Lieberman intervening on behalf of the African grey parrot at CITES CoP17 Oct. 2, 2016: https://vimeo.com/185196804/settings CITES African Grey Parrot proposal WCS position on African greys (pg. 14) The following statement was rele...

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Tags: Policy & partnership, Counter Wildlife Trafficking, Grey parrots


Congo Republic burns its entire stockpile of seized ivory

April 29, 2015
Congo Republic burns its entire stockpile of seized ivory
The following statement was issued today by Dr. John Robinson, WCS Executive Vice President for Conservation and Science at the conclusion of the International Conference on Illegal Trade in Wild Fauna and Flora in Africa: “We applaud the Government of the Republic of Congo and President Denis Sassou Nguesso for hosting the first-ever Africa-wide event to develop a strategy to put an end to wildlife trafficking in fauna and flora on the continent. The 4-day conference provides us with a...

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Tags: Forest elephants, Wildlife protection, Counter Wildlife Trafficking


Tusk Smuggler Gets Tough Sentence

Press release

August 18, 2011
An ivory trafficker from China is learning a hard lesson in a Congolese prison cell, where he will spend the next four years. His crime was attempting to smuggle ivory to Beijing. The contraband included five elephant tusks and various ivory items, such as chopsticks, carvings, and hankos, which are traditional name seals. When he attempted to board a Kenya Airways flight in January, the authorities stopped him.   The Ministry of Sustainable Development, Forest Economy,...

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Tags: Forest elephants, Wildlife protection, Counter Wildlife Trafficking