Historic first resolution on wildlife trafficking adopted by the United Nations Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice

As an International Champion of the Global Initiative to End Wildlife Crime, the Jane Goodall Institute Global welcomes a historic resolution on illicit trafficking in wildlife.

The resolution, adopted during the 31st Session of the United Nations Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice, invites Member States to “provide the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime with their views on possible responses, including the potential of an additional Protocol to the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organised Crime (UNTOC), to address any gaps that may exist in the current international legal framework to prevent and combat  illicit trafficking in wildlife.”

The Commission is the primary policymaking body of the United Nations in the field of crime prevention and criminal justice. The Commission also acts as the governing body of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime which has led global research efforts on wildlife crime with its ground-breaking World Wildlife Crime Reports published in 2016 and 2020.

This is the first time that a United Nations resolution has specifically mentioned a potential new global agreement on tackling illicit wildlife trafficking. This is important because there is currently a gap in international criminal law when it comes to wildlife trafficking.

The UNTOC was adopted in 2000 to promote cooperation to prevent and combat transnational organized crime more effectively. It is supplemented by three protocols against Trafficking in Persons, Smuggling of Migrants and Illicit Manufacturing of and Trafficking in Firearms respectively.

Since its inception in 2020, the Global Initiative to End Wildlife Crime has sought to garner support for a fourth protocol. This protocol would position wildlife trafficking within the scope of international criminal law and provide a framework for state obligations. This would include adopting legislation criminalizing the intentional illicit trafficking of specimens of wild fauna and flora (in any whole or part, whether living or deceased), increasing coordination and exchanging intelligence regarding known organised groups and techniques of concealment, sharing forensic samples, strengthening border and authenticity controls, as well as implementing demand reduction strategies.

Representative to the Global Initiative to End Wildlife Crime, Zara Bending, welcomed the resolution with the following statement:

“The Jane Goodall Institute Global joined the Global Initiative in 2020 and we remain steadfast in our position that an additional Protocol to UNTOC is the most appropriate and high-impact means to disrupt this multi-billion dollar criminal enterprise. This is an historic moment in the fight to end wildlife trafficking and we extend congratulations and thanks to our colleagues at EWC and everyone within our Jane Goodall Institute and Roots & Shoots networks who engaged Member States from around the world in the lead up to the 31st Session.”

The resolution was submitted by Angola, Kenya, and Peru; and was co-sponsored by Colombia, Ecuador, Egypt, Gabon, Ghana, Honduras, Malawi, Morocco, Mozambique, Paraguay, the Philippines, and the United States of America.

JGI Global’s IWT expert Zara Bending with Perri Reynolds, alum of the Centre for Environmental Law Roots & Shoots Illegal Wildlife Trade (ForeverWild) Group.

Read more about the resolution in this press release from EWC.

Kangaroos intercepted in anti-smuggling operation in India

In April, two kangaroos were rescued from Gajoldoba, a tourist destination in the Jalpaiguri district of north Bengal. The trafficking of exotic animals in India has spiked over the past decade. © Hindustan Times

Three kangaroos were recently spotted roadside by villagers in eastern India before being transported to a wildlife park for treatment. One had perished.

How did three iconic native Australian animals come to be in such dire straits so far from home?

Local authorities suggest that the kangaroos likely originated from a private breeding facility in southeast Asia but were abandoned while in transit once officers commenced an anti-smuggling operation. It is reported that the chief warden of West Bengal had received a tip-off indicating wildlife were being smuggled into the state and was quick to respond, resulting in mass vehicle searches. Further kangaroo sightings have been reported in the weeks since.

JGI Global’s wildlife trafficking expert and JGI Australia Board Director, Zara Bending, shared her thoughts on the seizure:

“It’s heart-wrenching to see any animal in a state of fear or confusion, let alone one of our much-loved national animals. Like many parts of the world, the market for exotic pets is booming in India as a sign of status and they’ve tried to get a handle on the range of non-native and exotic species in the country by enacting a voluntary disclosure scheme in 2020.

Kangaroos were among the species identified in the 32, 645 disclosure applications listing exotic pets received by early 2021.

Having data is important, but local laws only criminalise the smuggling of species rather than their possession. So, once animals are in the country it’s simply a case of claiming they were bred domestically in captivity. There needs to be effective legislation aimed to monitor not just what is in the country but the conditions in which animals are being kept, including those bred in private collections. We have grave concerns for public health due to the risk of zoonoses, the involvement of organised crime, as well as for the welfare of animals involved.”

Australia is a biodiversity hotspot boasting species of flora and fauna that cannot be found elsewhere on Earth. In addition to marsupials including kangaroos and gliders, native Australian birdlife (notably parrots), reptiles (including turtles, lizards, and snakes), and spiders can find themselves smuggled overseas to meet the demands of the exotic pet trade. There are even markets for bird and reptile eggs.

But it’s important to know that the illegal wildlife trade doesn’t just affect animals. In fact, medicinal plants formed a large quantity of the more than 7,000 recorded wildlife seizures related to Australia between 1999-2014, as reported by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime.

What can you do?

As part of the Jane Goodall Institute Global’s ForeverWild campaign, we are asking all our followers to join us in the fight to end wildlife crime.

If you have any information that you suspect may be related to the illegal capture, importation, breeding, advertising, or sale of wildlife please alert Crime Stoppers by calling 1800 333 000 or by visiting www.crimestoppers.com.au

Report suspicious online content or advertisements by following our global ‘report harmful content’ recommendations.

Download and make reports through ‘Wildlife Witness’- an app co-designed by Taronga Zoo and TRAFFIC. This allows tourists and locals to report wildlife trade by taking a photo, pinning the exact location of an incident and sending that intel to TRAFFIC for follow-up.

Zara Bending
JGIA Board Director

Statement from Dr. Jane Goodall on COVID-19: Wild animal markets and bear bile farms

STATEMENT ON COVID-19: Wild animal markets and bear bile farms

Dr. Jane Goodall, DBE

Founder – The Jane Goodall Institute & UN Messenger of Peace Issued 29th April 2020

“The world is facing unprecedented challenges. At the time of writing, the coronavirus COVID-19 has infected over 3 million people globally, and as of 29th April, 218,386 people have died. At present, people in most countries around the world are self-isolating at home (either alone or with family), keeping social distance and reducing going outdoors to a minimum. Some businesses have totally closed down, some carry on with staff working from home, some people are temporarily laid off, and thousands of people around the world have lost their jobs. Already the economic cost of all this is catastrophic.

“We all follow the news and pray that the lockdown will end in country after country as the peak infection and death rate is reached and then gradually drops. This has already happened in China, where the COVID-19 coronavirus originated, thanks to the stringent measures undertaken by the Chinese government. We hope that a vaccine will soon be developed and that we can gradually get back to normal. But we must never forget what we have been through and we must take the necessary steps to prevent another such pandemic in the future.

“The tragedy is that a pandemic of this sort has long been predicted by those studying zoonotic diseases (those that, like COVID-19, spillover from animals into humans). It is almost certain that this pandemic started with such a spillover in China’s Wuhan seafood market that also sold terrestrial wildlife for food, along with chickens and fish.”

ZOONOTIC DISEASE TRANSMISSION IN MARKETS

“When wild animals are sold in such markets, often illegally, they are typically kept in small cages, crowded together, and often slaughtered on the spot. Humans, both vendors, and customers may thus be contaminated with the faecal material, urine, blood and other bodily fluids of a large variety of species – such as civets, pangolins, bats, racoon dogs and snakes. This provides a perfect environment for viruses to spill over from their animal hosts into humans.”

“Another zoonotic disease, SARS, originated in another wildlife market in Guangdong.

“Most wet markets in Asia are not dissimilar to farmers’ markets in Europe and the US. There are thousands of wet markets in Asia and around the world where fresh produce – vegetables, fruit, and sometimes also meat from domestic animals – are sold at reasonable prices. And thousands of people shop there rather than in supermarkets.

“It is not only in China that wildlife markets have provided the ideal conditions for viruses and other pathogens to cross the species barrier and transfer from animal hosts to us. There are markets of this sort in many Asian countries. In the bushmeat markets of Africa – where live and dead animals are sold for food – the hunting, slaughtering, and selling of chimpanzees for food led to two spillovers from ape to human that resulted in the HIV-AIDS pandemic. Ebola is another zoonotic disease that crosses from animal reservoirs into apes and humans in different parts of Africa.

WILDLIFE TRAFFICKING AND THE SPREAD OF DISEASE

“Another major concern is the trafficking of wild animals and their body parts around the world. Unfortunately, this has become a highly lucrative multi-billion-dollar business, often run by criminal cartels. Not only is it very cruel and definitely contributing to the terrifying extinction of species, but it may also lead to conditions suitable for the emergence of zoonotic diseases. Wild animals or their parts exported, often illegally, from one country to another take their viruses with them.

“The shocking pet trade in young wild monkeys and apes, birds, reptiles and other wild animals is another area of concern. A bite or scratch from a wild animal taken into the home could lead to something much more serious than a mild infection.

“Once COVID-19 was recognised as a new zoonotic disease, the Chinese authorities imposed a ban on the selling and eating of wild animals, the Wuhan wildlife market was closed down, and the farming of wild animals for food was forbidden.

“There are thousands of small operations throughout Asia and other parts of the world where wild animals are bred for food as a way of making a living in rural areas. Unless alternative sources of income for these people, as well as for others exploiting wildlife to make a living, can be found and they can get help from their governments during their transition to other ways of making money, it is likely that these operations will be driven underground and become even more difficult to regulate.

“Nevertheless, whatever the problems, it is clearly of great importance that the ban on trading, eating and breeding of wild animals for food should be permanent and enforced – for the sake of human health and the prevention of other pandemics in the future. Fortunately, a majority of Chinese and other Asian citizens who responded to surveys agree that wildlife should not be consumed, used in medicine, or for their fur.”

MEDICINAL PRODUCTS LOOPHOLES AND BEAR BILE

“The use of some wild animal products for traditional medicine is thus far still legal in China (though rhino horn and tiger bones are banned). And this creates a loophole that will be quickly seized on by those wanting to continue to trade in wild animals such as the highly endangered pangolin, rhinos, tigers, and the Asiatic black bear, known commonly as the Moon Bear because of the crescent-shaped white marking on its chest.

“Other Asian bears – brown bears and Sun bears – are also exploited for their bile. And so long as farming bears for their bile is legal, and a product containing their bile is promoted, this will stimulate the demand for the bile.

“It is important to consider the welfare of the animals who are unwittingly responsible for zoonotic diseases. Today we know that all the animals mentioned are sentient beings, capable of knowing fear, despair and pain. Moreover, many of them demonstrate extraordinary intelligence. Allowing the use of wildlife trading for medicinal purposes can lead to the unbelievably inhumane treatment of some of these sentient beings.

“This is most certainly the case, for example, with bears farmed for their bile in Asia. They may be kept for up to thirty years in extremely small cages – sometimes they cannot even stand up or turn around. The tiny cages prohibit all-natural behaviour for these intelligent and sentient animals, who endure a life of fear and suffering.

“The bile is usually extracted, once or even twice a day, by inserting a catheter, pipe or syringe into the gallbladder, – a highly intrusive and painful procedure. The bears suffer from dehydration, starvation and a variety of infections and diseases. They develop liver cancer (caused by the bile extraction), tumours, ulcers, blindness, peritonitis, arthritis and other ailments. Their teeth are worn down or missing from continually, in desperation, gnawing at the bars that imprison them.

“Not only is farming bears in this way extremely cruel, but it is also of concern for public health reasons. Poor hygienic conditions, the permanent open wounds of the bears, contamination of bile with faeces, bacteria, blood, and other bodily fluids are reasons for serious concern. Finally, many of the bears are continuously given antibiotics to keep them alive and this contributes to antibiotic resistance and the emergence of superbugs, resistant to most known antibiotics. The same is true with the raising of domestic animals in factory farms. These superbugs have led to the death of many patients in hospitals around the world.

“Unfortunately, Tan Re Qing, a product that contains bile taken from Asiatic black bears and said to be helpful in alleviating symptoms linked to respiratory infections, is being recommended as a treatment for patients infected with COVID-19. And this will encourage the continued practice of bear bile farming.

“To end on a note of hope, the active component of bear bile, ursodeoxycholic acid or UDCA, has been available as a synthetic variant for many years and is a fraction of the cost of bile inhumanely harvested from bears. Unfortunately, many people consider bile from wild bears to be more valuable. Traditional Chinese Medicine has great value but, even if the bile from wild bears was a valuable drug, given the cruelty and the risk involved it should no longer be used – especially as the synthetic product has the same properties. In fact, a survey conducted by Animals Asia in 2011 indicated that 87% of Chinese respondents were in favour of banning bear bile farming, and hundreds of Chinese pharmacies have pledged never to sell bear bile products.

“It would be wonderful if all bear bile farms across Asia could be closed and the bears released into those sanctuaries which have been created in China, Vietnam, Malaysia and Laos. There they would be able to walk on grass, climb, bathe in ponds and enjoy the sunshine and the company of other rescued bears. And a decrease in the demand for pangolin scales and rhino horns in many Asian countries for their supposed medicinal value would give a chance for these highly endangered animals to survive into the future. As would a ban on the farming of wild animals for their fur.”

DISEASE ORIGINATING FROM FACTORY FARMING

“It is not only from wild animals that zoonotic diseases have originated. The inhumane conditions of the great factory farms, where large numbers of domestic animals are crowded together, has also provided conditions conducive to viruses spilling over into humans. The diseases commonly known as ‘bird flu’ and ‘swine flu’ resulted from handling poultry and pigs. And domestic animals are also sentient beings who experience fear and pain. MERS originated from contact with domestic dromedary camels in the Middle East, perhaps from consuming products from infected camels such as undercooked meat or milk.”

CONCLUSION

“Scientists warn that if we continue to ignore the causes of these zoonotic diseases, we may be infected with viruses that cause pandemics even more disruptive than COVID-19. Many people believe that we have come to a turning point in our relationship with the natural world. We need to halt deforestation and the destruction of natural habitats around the globe. We need to make use of existing nature-friendly, organic alternatives, and develop new ones, to feed ourselves and to maintain our health. We need to eliminate poverty so that people can find alternative ways to make a living other than by hunting and selling wild animals and destroying the environment. We need to assure that local people, whose lives directly depend on and are impacted by the health of the environment, own and drive good conservation decisions in their own communities as they work to improve their lives. Finally, we need to connect our brains with our hearts and appropriately use our indigenous knowledge, science and innovative technologies to make wiser decisions about people, animals and our shared environment.”

“While there is a justified focus on bringing COVID-19 under control, we must not forget the crisis with potentially long-term catastrophic effects on the planet and future generations – the climate crisis. The movement calling for industry and governments to impose restrictions on the emission of greenhouse gases, to protect forests, and clean up the oceans, has been growing.

“This pandemic has forced industry to temporarily shut down in many parts of the world. As a result, many people have for the first time experienced the pleasure of breathing clean air and seeing the stars in the night sky.

“My hope is that an understanding of how the world should be, along with the realisation that it is our disrespect of the natural world that has led to the current pandemic, will encourage businesses and governments to put more resources into developing clean, renewable energy, alleviating poverty and helping people to find alternative ways of making a living that do not involve the exploitation of nature and animals.

“Let us realise we are part of, and depend upon, the natural world for food, water and clean air. Let us recognise that the health of people, animals and the environment are connected. Let us show respect for each other, for the other sentient animals, and for Mother Nature. For the sake of the wellbeing of our children and theirs, and for the health of this beautiful planet Earth, our only home.”

Dr. Jane Goodall, DBE

Founder – the Jane Goodall Institute

& UN Messenger of Peace 29th April 2020.

 

Australia to finally ban domestic trade in elephant ivory and rhinoceros horn

At the 18th Conference of Parties to the Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) delegates for Australia formally announced the country’s intention to finally ban the domestic trade of elephant ivory and rhinoceros horn. Environment Minister Sussan Ley will meet with National Environment Ministers in November to discuss nationwide enactment and enforcement across all jurisdictions.

The announcement comes well after the Joint Parliamentary Committee on Law Enforcement completed its Inquiry into Australia’s domestic markets, with its Final Report recommending the measures last September. The ban could see some exemptions including musical instruments made prior to 1975 and containing less than 20% ivory as well as CITES accredited museum pieces. A domestic trade ban on ivory will see Australia join jurisdictions including the UK, China and most recently Singapore despite trade continuing legally in Japan and many EU countries.

It appears that the potential for Australia to become a “weak target” for organised criminal syndicates trafficking illegal wildlife products and other blackmarket commodities played a significant role in the decision. As explained by Zara Bending (Board Director at JGIA and Associate at Macquarie University’s Centre for Environmental Law) in her expert appearance before the Inquiry: “…a common concern is that displacement will see the activities of these resilient criminal networks shift to states where legal rules are lax in substance or implementation or are ambiguous or non-existent.”

JGIA thanks its volunteers and supporters for raising their voices for wildlife as part of our Global ForeverWild campaign to end wildlife trafficking (link to page). We also want to acknowledge the part that our young people at Roots & Shoots Australia have played in this movement, including three of our youth leaders (Shannon, Mary and Maya) attending public hearings last year.

You can read the Committee’s Final Report here:  https://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/Joint/Law_Enforcement/Elephantivoryrhinohorn/Report)

Protecting the Old to Save the New

Imagine you’re a forensic wildlife scientist. As part of a project to find out where the world’s illegal ivory comes from, your days consist of drilling and testing trinkets and carvings made from elephant ivory. One day, you look down through your microscope to inspect a sample you’ve taken from a Cambodian market souvenir…something isn’t right. You realise that what you’re looking at isn’t elephant ivory at all. The carving was made from a woolly mammoth tusk!

This actually happened earlier this year to a team of Edinburgh Zoo-based scientists, and it opens up the debate on how countries should deal with the trade in extinct wildlife parts, particularly if their trade could hasten the extinction of their modern-day cousins. Zara Bending (JGIA Board Director, and Associate at the Centre for Environment Law at Macquarie University) recently published a piece in The Conversation analysing recent efforts to protect the extinct woolly mammoth. Read more: https://theconversation.com/why-we-need-to-protect-the-extinct-woolly-mammoth-122256?fbclid=IwAR0oBABTreAGs36vYxJKrch1W_eDgof3q3QuUmryjZnW3nC8yz_IAuhLRdo