Poacher attacked by hippos, devoured by lions

UPDATE: An earlier version of this story incorrectly reported the poachers were attacked by Rhinos. It was the hippos.

Poaching seems quite a bit less appealing today after an incident that occurred in South Africa. All that remains of one man, who entered Kruger National Park with the intent of illegally hunting animals, is his skull and a few scraps of clothing. After he and two companions snuck into the nature reserve under cover of night to check some illegal traps they had assembled, they were apparently ambushed by a group of angry hippos. The three men all ran in different directions, but only two made it out of the park with their lives. The third, park officials say, was devoured by lions.

According to the report from BBC Brasil, the two hunters who escaped the park after being chased by rhinos hippos informed their unlucky partner's family of the grim news. The family then told officials, who later found the man's remains--which were few after the man had been taken for a meal by lions in the park.

Officials aren't sure exactly which animal killed the poacher, telling the Mirror:

It appears the dead man was charged and injured by hippos. It's impossible to say whether he was alive or dead by the time the lions got him.

Poaching in Kruger National Park, and throughout South Africa, is not so uncommon--with rhinos being the primary victims, long hunted for their coveted horns. Recently, however, officials have stepped-up surveillance hoping to nab poachers crossing into the park. …

Poacher Attacked by Rhinos Hippos, Devoured by Lions

Technorati Tags: poaching

Closing of sushi restaurant that served endangered whale ‘a self-imposed punishment’

I’ve never seen anything like this announcement from a business:

After twelve years doing business in Santa Monica, The Hump will be closing its doors effective March 20th, 2010.

The Hump hopes that by closing its doors, it will help bring awareness to the detrimental effect that illegal whaling has on the preservation of our ocean ecosystems and species. Closing the restaurant is a self-imposed punishment on top of the fine that will be meted out by the court. The Owner of The Hump also will be taking additional action to save endangered species.

One such action will be to make a substantial contribution to one or more responsible organizations dedicated to the preservation of whales and other endangered species.

The Hump apologizes to our loyal customers, the community of Santa Monica, and the public at large for our illegal actions. While the current difficulties faced by The Hump overshadow the many friendships formed over the years, we want our customers and friends to know how much we thank you for your support.

The Hump

Technorati Tags: endangered species,marine mammal,poaching

Sushi chef, restaurant charged with serving endangered whale

 

(Reuters) - A California sushi chef and the restaurant in which he worked have been charged with illegally serving meat from an endangered Sei whale, the Justice Department said on Thursday.

Kiyoshiro Yamamoto, 45, and the parent company of the popular restaurant The Hump in Santa Monica were charged late on Wednesday with violating the Marine Mammal Protection Act which makes it illegal to sell any kind of whale meat.

The case stemmed from informants who ordered whale meat at the restaurant in October 2009 and evolved into a sting operation by U.S. wildlife and customs officials who observed whale meat being served at the restaurant last week.

"Someone should not be able to walk into a restaurant and order a plate of an endangered species," U.S. Attorney Andre Birotte Jr. said in a statement. …

Sushi chef, restaurant charged with serving endangered whale

Technorati Tags: endangered species,marine mammal,poaching

Kenya seizes massive ivory haul

Kenyan authorities have seized almost 700kg of ivory worth millions of dollars in a night-time raid at the country's main airport.

The Kenya Wildlife Service says a similar amount was intercepted in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa.

Both consignments - with a potential value of more than $1.5m (£938,000) - were reportedly headed for Thailand.

The BBC's Will Ross in Nairobi says poaching is on the increase mostly owing to high demand for ivory in Asia.

Our reporter says it is not yet clear whether the ivory, recovered at Nairobi's Jomo Kenyatta Airport, had been trafficked from other parts of the continent or was from East Africa.

Twenty years ago the world's elephant population was plummeting and the trade in ivory was banned.

But over the past decade the ban has been periodically relaxed and occasional supervised ivory auctions have been allowed.

Officials say the sales have fuelled demand for ivory in Asian countries, especially China, contributing to a sharp increase in elephant poaching.

So far this year poachers in Kenya have killed 128 elephants for their ivory; last year 98 were killed. …

Kenya seizes massive ivory haul

Technorati Tags: poaching,mammal decline

Helicopters patrol fishing waters off southern Scotland

Helicopter patrols have started over the waters off southern Scotland in a bid to tackle illegal fishing.

Fisheries groups are concerned at the use of gill nets on the northern Solway to capture bass which have a high value in the hotel and restaurant industry.

The nets are illegal and are often set close to river mouths, and catch other fish like salmon and sea trout.

Jamie Ribbens of the Galloway Fisheries Trust (GFT) said threatened species were being killed by the practice.

It is legal to catch and sell bass, but the problem is the use of gill nets, which are prohibited by law.

Mr Ribbens said: "We've been concerned about this issue for some time.

"These illegal nets are killing many threatened fish species which is such a waste."

The GFT is working with Marine Scotland Compliance and salmon fishery boards across Dumfries and Galloway to tackle the issue.

Mr Ribbens added: "Populations of salmon and sea trout are a concern and we need to do everything we can to protect existing stocks." …

Helicopters patrol fishing waters

Technorati Tags: overfishing,ocean overexploitation,poaching,fish decline

First global illegal fishing treaty agreed: UN

ROME (AFP) – A group of 91 countries have agreed on a treaty that will block ships involved in illegal fishing from entering signatory ports and thus help prevent the fish going to market, the UN said on Tuesday.

The UN's Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) hailed the agreement to prevent, deter and eliminate illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing as "the first ever global treaty focused specifically on the problem."

New measures include requiring foreign fishing vessels to request permission to enter port ahead of time, informing the authorities of their fish cargo, as well as committing signatories to regular inspections of foreign ships.

Illegal fishing accounts for 14 percent of all fish caught in the world, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature. …

First global illegal fishing treaty agreed: UN

Technorati Tags: overfishing,fish decline,ocean overexploitation,poaching

Illegal Amazon timber passed off as eco-certified in massive wood laundering scheme

A Brazilian federal prosecutor is leading an investigation into charges that illegal timber from the state of Pará is being laundered as "eco-certified" wood and exported to markets in the United States, Europe, and Asia, reports Sunday's edition of O Globo.

Prosecutor Bruno Valente Soares has found evidence to suggest that timber companies are doctoring paperwork and using other methods to disguise timber that is being illegally cut from reserves and indigenous lands.

International buyers pay a premium for certified timber, which they can market as being more sustainable than other wood. The timber goes to furniture makers and construction companies abroad.

The scheme allegedly involves up to 3,000 companies across Pará's timber sector, writes Liana Mello.…

Illegal Amazon timber passed off as eco-certified in massive wood laundering scheme

Technorati Tags: Amazon,poaching,deforestation

Conflict zone Mountain Gorillas viewed by rangers for first time in more than a year

Eastern DRC – Mountain gorillas in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) have been seen by park rangers for the first time since the rangers were forced out of areas of Virunga National Park by Laurent Nkunda’s army 15 months ago. Virunga National Park director, Emmanuel de Merode, successfully negotiated with Nkunda and got confirmation that Institut Congolais pour la Conservation de la Nature (ICCN) would be allowed to reenter and work in the southern part of the park.

Virunga National Park director, Emmanuel de Merode, successfully negotiated with Nkunda and got confirmation that Institut Congolais pour la Conservation de la Nature (ICCN) would be allowed to reenter and work in the southern part of the park.

ICCN, the government institution in charge of protected areas management, park rangers and their families were forced out of the park when rebel leader Nkunda and his army took control of several parts of the park including the areas where mountain gorillas are found in September 2007. Since that time, no one outside of Nkunda’s army has been allowed to monitor the gorillas.

“We were very worried about the mountain gorillas as we had not any contact with them for over a year but ICCN rangers have already seen many of the mountain gorilla families and we are happy to report that most of them seem to be doing well,” said de Merode. “We are continuing our census of the gorillas and are reinstating our antipoaching operations.”

Conflict zone Mountain Gorillas viewed by rangers for first time in more than a year
Thu, 01 Jan 2009 14:51:00 GMT

Technorati Tags: gorilla,extinction,poaching

Anti-whaling activists joined by Daryl Hannah

[Be sure to check out Whale Wars, which documents last year's Sea Shepherd campaign against whale poaching. --Jim]

CANBERRA (Reuters) - Hardline anti-whaling activists prepared on Tuesday to pursue Japan's Antarctic whaling fleet with support from Daryl Hannah, who criticized Greenpeace for opting out of the annual chase.

The Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, which clashed last year with the eight-ship fleet, bombarding it with stink bombs and briefly boarding a harpoon vessel, departs Australia on Wednesday for the Southern Ocean.

Hannah, who starred in the 1980s films Blade Runner and Splash, will travel part-way on Sea Shepherd flagship Steve Irwin.

Sea Shepherd will be alone during this year's five-month hunt, in which the Japanese aim to cull close to 1,000 endangered fin and minke whales under an international loophole allowing scientific whaling for research.

Anti-whaling activists joined by Daryl Hannah
Tue, 02 Dec 2008 13:27:12 GMT

Technorati Tags: Daryl Hannah,Sea Shepherd,Steve Irwin,overfishing,extinction,whale,poaching

Rangers return to Congo gorilla park after a year

GOMA, Congo (Reuters) - Park rangers returned to a reserve that is home to nearly a third of the world's remaining mountain gorillas Friday, more than a year after fighting forced them to abandon the area, a park chief said. Armed Tutsi rebels loyal to renegade General Laurent Nkunda occupied the gorilla sector of Virunga National Park in September 2007, forcing rangers to leave.

...

"It is a huge step that all sides have agreed that the protection of Virunga as a World Heritage Site and its mountain gorillas is of sufficient priority to transcend political differences," park Director Emmanuel de Merode said in a statement.

...

More than 150 rangers have been killed in eastern Congo in a decade of conflict that has claimed more than 5 million lives -- more than any conflict since World War Two -- through violence, hunger and disease.

Rangers return to Congo gorilla park after a year
Sat, 22 Nov 2008 01:40:00 GMT

Technorati Tags: Congo,gorilla,poaching