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Reward offered in disappearance of 189 cattle from Alamance County farm

4/30/2015

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Source:  Wxii12.com

Nearly 200 beef cows have been stolen from an Alamance County farm, and state investigators are seeking leads from people who may have information on the suspect behind the large-scale cattle rustling.

The State Bureau of Investigation is investigating the case of missing black Angus cattle — 114 cows and 75 calves — stolen from K-Farms on Crawford Road in Graham sometime between March and mid-April.

“We believe an employee may have stolen them during this period,” said Special Agent Gerald Thomas, who has been investigating the case after it was turned over to the SBI from the Alamance County Sheriff’s Office.

The top breed beef cows are valued at $2,800 each and the calves at $700 apiece, resulting in a value of $371,700.

The owner of the farm, Ronald Kirkpatrick, is offering a $10,000 reward for information leading to the recovery of cattle and the arrest and conviction of the person responsible for the larceny.

According to an Alamance County Sheriff’s Office incident report, Kirkpatrick reported the larceny April 20 and suspected that a man he had hired to take care of the cattle had stolen the animals.

At the beginning of January, a herd count of the cattle indicated all of the animals were accounted for, though during a recount April 12, Kirkpatrick “discovered that most of his cattle were missing,” the report stated.

After the most recent count was done, Kirkpatrick told a deputy they “discovered approximately 30-40 cheaper grade cows in the field” and believed the suspect “was taking the good cattle and replacing some of them with cheaper cattle so no one would notice.”

Thomas said the SBI is asking anyone who has purchased Black Angus cows recently in Alamance County — most likely without knowing they were stolen — to contact him about from whom the cattle were purchased.

Thomas can be reached at 336-256-1362.

For reward information, call 336-213-7246. A flier about the reward says, “All information received will remain confidential.”

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Bengaluru: Kite’s beak, claws chopped off, used for black magic

4/30/2015

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Source:  Deccanchronicle.com

By
Bellie Thomas

Bengaluru: The forest cell volunteers of the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), who rescued a black kite from the compound of Hypercity Supermarket in Kundalahalli on Tuesday, discovered that the bird’s beak and claws were cut off intentionally by someone. Its tail was also cut to stop it from flying.

The tortured kite was being attacked by several crows, when it was spotted by an employee of the supermarket, who promptly called up the forest cell volunteers. The bird was initially treated by a doctor and was then shifted to the Wildlife Rescue & Rehabilitation Centre (WRRC) in Bannerghatta.

Forest officials confirmed that this bird was being used as an object in black magic. “This is not the first case that we have stumbled on rescuing black kites with chopped claws, broken beaks and their tails cut. These birds, which are protected under Schedule 1 of Wildlife Protection Act 1972, are being widely used for black magic because of their aggressive looks, shrill voice, black eyes and other features,” said a Range Officer, Ganesh from the Headquaters at Aranya Bhavan, Malleswaram.

“In the year 2010, we had arrested a Tamil Swami from the Kalyan Nagar slum in Hennur-Banaswadi, who had held around 10 black kites in captivity, of which five of them had their claws and beaks cut off and was practicing black magic with these birds,” Ganesh added. He was then posted as Range Forest Officer, (RFO) K.R. Puram. We conducted a raid on credible information and a case under Wildlife Protection Act was registered against him and he was arrested. The birds were rescued, he added.

“On questioning, swami revealed details regarding the ritual. For a complete ritual, he charges somewhere around Rs 5,000, where the client is made to believe that the kite represents his problems. He goes on with his rituals, lighting lamps, chanting mantras, walking around with the bird whose claws, beaks and tail are cut and after the ritual is over, the bird is abandoned at the house of the person against whom the black magic is done,” said the range officer.

Without claws and beaks the hapless birds are left to fend themselves. They neither eat and drink nor protect itself from its predators. The get attacked by dogs, crows, rats and other rodents and ants. The bird dies a painful death and then the swami concludes that the client’s problems are over,” the officer added.

Unending torture

Though the claws grow back after a long time, they would not be of the shape the bird previously had. The chopped beak is a permanent disability and can only be surgically repaired.

Pariah kites the main target

Black magicians or ill wishers will camp near drains and garbage dumps, usually near slums to capture these kites to use them for their rituals. The Pariah kites or the black kites, zoologically known as milvus migrans, are found mostly in urban habitats near waste dumps as they are opportunistic hunters and scavengers.

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Penticton poaching suspects caught on camera

4/30/2015

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Source:  CBC.ca

By
Brady Strachan

Tips led conservation officers to identify men suspected of illegally killing doe pregnant with twins

Conservation officers in Penticton B.C. have identified two suspects in a poaching investigation after a quick-thinking witness snapped photos of men loading a deer carcass into the back of truck late at night.

Conservation officer Jeff Hanratty said the witness became suspicious when he heard a loud truck in a semi-rural area of Penticton in the early morning hours of April 16th. 

The witness reported seeing two men attempting to load a deer carcass into the back of a pick-up truck.

Hanratty said the two men fled — leaving the deer behind — but not before the witness took photos of them and their truck.

"It's illegal in B.C. to hunt beyond one hour after sunset or before one hour before sunrise," Hanratty said.

"There's the issue of fair chase. These animals often don't run when they see people in the dark."

Conservation officers determined the female mule deer was pregnant with twins when it was shot.

"Those fawns would likely have been birthed in the next few weeks," Hanratty said.

"The result is three dead deer and of course that has impacts to our future population." 

Conservation officers put out a plea to the public asking to help identify the truck and the two suspects.

Hanratty said officers received several tips and within two days they had identified two Penticton men as suspects.

"Hunters in general are not supportive of poaching activities, and we do get tips," he said.

"To have a witness take photographs and to be able to release those to the public, that's a first that I've seen."  

The suspects are facing possible charges including hunting in closed season, hunting prohibited hours and hunting without licences.

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Frankford man admits illegally hunting wild turkeys

4/30/2015

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Source:  Delawareonline.com

By
Robin Brown

An investigation of illegal wild turkey hunting led to the arrest of a Sussex County who admitted his poaching, state wildlife enforcement officials said Thursday.

Ronald A. Buggenhagen, 74, of Frankford, was arrested Monday, said Cpl. John McDerby, spokesman for the Division of Fish & Wildlife Enforcement Natural Resources Police.

Authorities did not disclose how the investigation began, but McDerby said Buggenhagen was poaching the turkeys on private property in the Frankford area.

Buggenhagen was charged with two counts each of taking over-the-limit of wild turkeys and failing to check a wild turkey, along with single counts of hunting wild turkeys over a baited area, unlawful possession of wild birds and unlawful possession of wild birds for parts of raptors killed without a permit.

He pleaded guilty to all charges in Justice of the Peace Court 2 in Rehoboth Beach.

He was fined $1,755 and banned from hunting turkeys in Delaware for two years.

Buggenhagen – believed to have acted alone in the illegal hunting – also forfeited three wild turkey beards, a turkey tail fan and a hawk tail fan, all seized as evidence, McDerby said.

“We will probably put them on display in our Operation Game Theft trailer that we take around for educational purposes,” he said.

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Confirmed: Chemical used to poison animals near Meeteetse

4/30/2015

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Source:  Powelltribune.com

By
Matt Naber

A reward for information is offered as federal, state and local agencies continue to investigate the fatal poisoning of animals in the Timber Creek area west of Meeteetse.

The Wyoming State Veterinary Laboratory confirmed the chemical used to poison wild and domestic animals was aldicarb, an insecticide known to be highly toxic to mammals, according to a news release from the U.S. Bureau of Land Management.

The poisonings, which took place during the week of March 29 to April 4, are being investigated by the BLM, U.S. Forest Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Wyoming Game and Fish Department and the Park County Sheriff’s Office.

The BLM is offering a reward of up to $2,000, and local pet owners impacted by the poisoning upped the ante to a total of $6,000 for information leading to the identification, arrest and conviction of the person or people involved in poisoning the animals, said Powell resident Julie Thomas.

“We are just trying to get people to help us solve this crime,” Thomas said. 

Three locally owned dogs, a coyote, a skunk, a raccoon and possibly several other animals died due to what appears to be an act of intentional poisoning, the release said.

Aldicarb is sold under the trade name Temik. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency classified aldicarb in the highest toxicity category and has defined strict controls for its delivery and use.

Those recreating in the Timber Creek area should use caution and keep pets under close control. If animal carcasses are located, do not touch them. Report their location immediately to the sheriff’s office or call the STOP POACHING hotline. The substance used may be transferred by touch and is extremely harmful, the release said.

Anyone with information about this crime is urged to call the STOP POACHING hotline at 1-877-WGFD-TIP (1-877-943-3847) or BLM Ranger Ian Canaan at 899-6561.

Tips from an expert

Pet owners should keep their pets inside their vehicles while saddling their horses or preparing for a hike until they are ready to keep a close watch and make sure nothing questionable is eaten, said Gould Veterinary Clinic’s veterinary assistant Shawna Hicks.

“I don’t think a human would have seen these little chunks of meat; it is very lethal, and these little chunks could be no bigger than a sausage patty,” Hicks said. “It won’t be visible to a human.”

But a dog’s nose will easily detect the meat, and the dog will do what comes naturally: Eat it before it can be taken away.

If a dog is suspected to have ingested Temik, Hicks urges pet owners to make the dog throw up immediately. She said one of her clients was able to do this with soda since the foaming action will induce vomiting.

She also cautioned pet owners to wash their hands immediately since Temik can be harmful to humans, even with just skin contact. The vomit needs to be bagged for examination too.

If a dog appears to have been poisoned, bring it to a veterinary clinic as soon as possible.

“I’m hoping we saw the end of it, since we haven’t had any more incidents of it — but people should be cautious until the person is caught,” Hicks said. “If anyone knows anything, please call the hotline because this was a horrible thing, and they need to be caught.”


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Sturgeon Poached

4/30/2015

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Source:  Kmvt.com

Snake River, Idaho ( KMVT- TV / KSVT- TV ) On Monday, Idaho Fish & Game District Conservation Officer, Ryan Hilton responded to a report of a sturgeon carcass at the Bordewick Access Site along the Snake River.

In Idaho, it is illegal to harvest Sturgeon and a recent case of poaching of the prehistoric fish has Idaho Fish and Game asking for your help.

"You know in Idaho, one of the reasons we live here is because a lot of folks enjoy wildlife. The wildlife belongs to every citizen in Idaho. So it's frustrating for sportsmen and the public in general to see people harvest animals illegally that's why we have laws to protect them, and in this case there's no harvest at all on sturgeon."

Anyone with information on this or any other wildlife crimes can call the Citizens Against Poaching hotline at 1-800-632-5999 or the Magic Valley Fish and Game office at 324-4359. Callers will remain anonymous and reward money is available to those providing information leading to a citation to the responsible party(s). Video.


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16 eagles found shot, killed in South Cariboo region

4/30/2015

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Source:  Globalnews.ca

By
Amy Judd

VANCOUVER – Conservation officers in the South Cariboo region have discovered a number of dead eagles.

Sgt. Len Butler, a Conservation Officer in the Cariboo-Chilcotin Zone, said they received a call in early April from a concerned citizen who found several garbage bags with dead eagles inside.

Sixteen in total have been found over the past month in a few regions. “As the snow starts to come down, people have noticed probably a few old sites,” said Butler. “The birds have completely decomposed so it’s most likely not an event that just occurred this year.”

“So that is definitely a concern.”

Butler said the birds are whole, so it somewhat eliminates possible trafficking, but anything is still a possibility at this time. No parts were removed from the birds.

A number of the eagles found recently were shot, but it is not clear how the rest of them died. They have all been sent to the provincial veterinary lab.

“From that forensics, we’ll be able to tell how they were killed, and also identify what they were possibly feeding on when they were killed,” said Butler. “We’ll be able to get a lot more information on this from the lab.”

He said it is still amazing the different types of poaching conservation officers deal with in these types of cases. “It is not an unusual thing to happen,” he said, speaking of eagle poaching, “but just not in the sheer numbers we have here.”

Poaching can mean any violation against the Wildlife Act. If a suspect is identified, offences like this could mean a fine of up to $100,000, a year in prison or both. Subsequent offences could mean a fine of up to $200,000 and go up from there.

The Report All Poachers and Polluters (RAPP) program is a toll free tip-line and web-based service that allows you to report known or suspected violations of fisheries, wildlife, or environmental protection laws – anonymously and without risk of confronting the offender.

If you have just witnessed a serious violation, call 1-877-952-7277 (RAPP).


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Couple accused of allegedly swindling stockyards of $426K worth of cattle

4/30/2015

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Source:  Wkrn.com

By
Andy Cordan

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) – A longtime investigator for the Tennessee Department of Agriculture says they are dealing with the biggest case of cattle rustling he has ever worked.

Hundreds of cows worth more than $426,000 were stolen.

The case came together Thursday with the arrest of 26-year old Casey Delaney.

Investigators told News 2 the Russelville, Kentucky woman came to Tennessee livestock producers in Columbia in mid-March and purchased 92 cows.

She wrote a check for more than $136,000 for the animals. Authorities said the check bounced and the cows were more than likely sold at another cattle auction in Kentucky. According to agents with the state agriculture department, Delaney was not authorized to buy or sell that many cows in Tennessee so she sent an accomplice named Johnnie Fisher.

Lee Maddox with the Tennessee Farm Bureau said prices for cattle are over $2 a pound, which is an all-time high.

That’s good for cattlemen, but also attractive to cattle rustlers.

“A 500 pound cow can command up to $1,200. Sometimes up to $1,500,” explained Maddox.

Ag agents say Delaney also wrote $139,000 worth of bad checks for cattle in Lawrence County and Fisher wrote bad checks for $151,000 for cattle in Lincoln County.

In all, the couple is accused of swindling area stockyards out of more than $426,000.

Fisher was arrested by law officers in Lincoln County.

Delaney was taken into custody Thursday in Robertson County.

Officials say it may be sometime until they figure out where the money has gone and where the cows were sold in multiple states. Video.


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Four will appear before magistrates on poaching charges in South Cumbria

4/30/2015

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Source:  Nwemail.co.uk

Four men are due in court today charged with poaching.

The alleged offences are said to have taken place at Holker Estates in Cark on February 22.

The defendants are Ricky Dane Ball, 23, from Roseberry Avenue in Morecambe, William Bowman, 28, from Church Broughton Caravan Site in Foston, Derby, Steven Joseph Charles Dixon, 31, of Keswick Road in Lancaster and Frank James Docherty, 21, of Lochside Crescent in Angus.

Each man is charged with one count of entering land as a trespasser with poaching equipment and one count of criminal damage.

The damage is alleged to have been caused to a wooden bridge worth £200.

The defendants are due to appear in Furness Magistrates’ Court.


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Third person pleads no contest in cattle rustling scheme in Antelope, NE County Court

4/29/2015

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Source:  Ktiv.com

NELIGH, NE (KTIV/US92) - The third person is suspected of being involved in a cattle rustling scheme in Antelope County will be sentenced for his involvement in June.

Twenty-six year old Errik Dummitt pleaded no contest to a felony count of attempted theft in Antelope County District Court Wednesday as part of a plea deal. In return, prosecutors dropped a felony theft charge.

Prosecutors say Dummitt helped load cattle that had been stolen as part of a scheme devised by Rebecca Robbins of Lyons. Robbins arranged for the sale of cattle from an Antelope County farm that didn't belong to her to a Columbus couple.

Robbins was sentenced to 40 months to 10 years in prison for her involvement in December. Her ex-boyfriend, Benjamin Johnson, was sentenced to five years of probation for his involvement in February.

Dummitt faces up to five years in prison when he's sentenced in June.


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Cattle Theft on the Rise as Beef Prices Soar

4/29/2015

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Source:  Kvia.com

By
Angela Kocherga

FORT DAVIS, Texas - The high price of cattle is causing some to bypass auctions altogether and steal lucrative livestock.
 
"It's raining and the cows are fat," rancher Oscar Medley said. After years of drought, life is good again in West Texas ranching towns.

Ranchers who held on to their herds during the drought can now get a hefty price: as much as $1,500 a head. Soaring prices have led to the rise of an old fashioned crime: cattle rustling.

This has Medley recalling an old west saying: "Cattle thieves will be shot and the survivors will be shot again."

Special Rangers are more likely to handle the cases in Texas these days.

"Our rangers last year investigated close to 800 cases and recovered half a million dollars in stolen goods," rancher Robert McKnight said.

He is a sixth generation rancher and a member of the Texas Southwest Cattle Raiser's Association, which pays for the 30 special rangers.

According to investigators, the most vulnerable cattle are those grazing closest to major roadways.

"We are out on our country all the time and we know what's going on," McKnight said.

He keeps a close eye on his heifers, which graze away from the highway, but he can't watch them all the time and that's what rustlers are counting on. Video.


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Poachers shoot cattle, dump carcasses

4/29/2015

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Source:  Stuff.co.nz

By
Jonathan Carson

Police are investigating the discovery of two cattle carcasses that they believe were shot and butchered by poachers on a forestry track near Nelson.

The bodies of two friesian-cross yearlings were found on Tuesday on the north side of Jacob's Ladder on the Thorpe-Orinoco Rd, about 55 kilometres west of Nelson.

Sergeant Rob Crawford said the cattle appeared to have been shot and their identification tags had been removed.

He said whoever dumped the carcasses had removed the back legs and back steaks.

"They've taken the best bits of meat and dumped the rest."

He said there was little doubt the animals had been poached on a farm and butchered before being dumped on the forestry track.

"We'd be very keen to hear from anyone who has information about who might be responsible," he said.

"It's a continuing problem in the rural sector and it costs farmers a hell of a lot of money. It's unacceptable."

Police would also like to identify the owner of the cattle.

Anyone with information about this incident or other poaching should call their local police station.

Information can also be given anonymously by calling Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.


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Reward Offered in Walla Walla Deer Thrill Killing

4/29/2015

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Source:  Humanesociety.org

The Humane Society of the United States and The Humane Society Wildlife Land Trust are offering a reward of up to $5,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for the thrill killing of at least eight deer near the top of Spring Creek Road in the foothills of southeast Walla Walla County, Washington.

Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife officers are investigating the deaths, which they believe occurred late in the day or on the night of Friday, April 10, 2015. The deer were found lying in the fields in the area, shot and left to waste.

Dan Paul, Washington state director for The HSUS, said: “These animals were apparently mowed down for no other reason than perverse entertainment. This is a prime example of the senseless destruction poachers inflict on our wildlife and our community. If it weren’t for the tireless efforts of the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife officers, these serious crimes would go unpunished.”

Washington has had its share of high-profile thrill-killing cases in the past, with some involving as many as 15 animals slaughtered at a time. The incidents led WDFW to sponsor a bill, backed by The HSUS, conservation organizations and lawful sportsmen alike, to elevate penalties to a felony for thrill-killing of big game animals. The bill was signed into law and took effect in 2011.

Ryan John, fish and wildlife officer at WDFW, is looking for information from the public to help identify the shooter in this case. “No information is too small. We will look into all tips provided.”

Witnesses are encouraged to report tips by calling toll-free 1-877-933-9847, emailing reportpoaching@dfw.wa.gov or reporting the crime by using the on-line reporting form at
http://wdfw.wa.gov/enforcement/violation/. Reports may remain anonymous.


Poaching:


  • “Thrill-killing,” also known as “spree-killing,” is a particularly egregious wildlife crime where multiple animals are killed in a single episode. The perpetrators often don’t bother to retrieve their kills, or only recover parts for trophy value or profit.
  • Wildlife officials estimate that nationwide, tens of millions of animals are poached annually.
  • It is estimated that only 1 percent to 5 percent of poached animals come to the attention of law enforcement.
  • Poachers injure or kill wildlife anytime, anywhere and sometimes do so in particularly cruel ways. Wildlife officials report that poachers often commit other crimes as well.
  • The HSUS and the Trust work with state and federal wildlife agencies to offer rewards of $5,000 for information leading to arrest and conviction of suspected poachers.

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South Dakota officials requesting information on deer poaching incident

4/29/2015

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Source:  Ellsworth.af.mil

By
28th Bomb Wing Public Affairs

ELLSWORTH AIR FORCE BASE, S.D. -- The South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks is requesting information about a poaching incident that occurred on base January 2015.

Officials discovered two deer carcasses, apparently killed by bow and arrow and left for waste, Jan. 4 and 5, and SD GF&P is currently investigating the incident.

Anyone with information about the incident can call the Turn in Poachers Hotline at 1-888-OVERBAG or contact the SD GF&P Rapid City Regional Office at 605-394-2391 to speak with a conservation officer.


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Operation Game Thief raises reward in cases of poached deer

4/28/2015

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Source:  Bangordailynews.com

By
Ryan McLaughlin

AUGUSTA, Maine — The Maine Warden Service and Operation Game Thief continue to seek the public’s help in numerous deer poaching cases, according to Cpl. John MacDonald.

MacDonald said Tuesday three additional deer have been discovered in Livermore Falls, Livermore and Leeds since a pregnant doe was found dead in Chesterville on April 23.

In each case, the deer, all of which are does, were killed at night and the bodies discarded in open fields.

Due to the recent activity, Operation Game Thief is increasing its reward to $2,500 to anybody who can provide information that leads to a conviction of those responsible.

Anyone with information is asked to call Operation Game Thief at 1-800-253-7887 or Maine State Police in Augusta (624-7076) or Gray (657-3030). Callers can remain anonymous.


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Trout poaching 'worst in a decade'

4/28/2015

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Source:  NZherald.co.nz

A trout poacher has been jailed for a year while his co-offender is now on the run - in what's been called the most serious poaching case to come before the courts in 10 years.

In the Rotorua District Court today, Thomas Tawha, 41, of Kawerau was jailed for 12 months for poaching as many as 60 spawning trout from a stream near Lake Rotoiti last June and July.

The maximum penalty is two years imprisonment and/or a $100,000 fine.

Eastern Fish & Game officer Anthony van Dorp told the Rotorua Daily Post this was the first case he knew of where a poacher had been sentenced to a jail term.

Tawha's co-offender David Pake Leef, 35, of Te Teko failed to appear in court and a warrant was issued for his arrest.

Judge James Weir said it was the most serious case of its kind in the last decade in New Zealand.

When Tawha and Leef first appeared last year they refused to acknowledge the court's jurisdiction and guilty pleas were entered on their behalf. They were found guilty at a hearing in November.

Yesterday, Judge Weir ordered a man out of court who claimed he was Leef's 'representative' and demanded the judge stand down because his position wasn't recognised under the Maori Land Act.

Leef's mother shouted at Judge Weir, saying her son's conviction was being appealed in the High Court.

At the judge's direction she too was escorted out by police.

The lawyer for Eastern Fish and Game, Mike Bodie, said the men had carried out a "planned pillaging of the stream".

He said Tawha's sentencing would be a legal benchmark as no one had been sentenced under a new act that doubled penalties for poaching.

"This case is the most serious to come before the court in at least a decade,"Mr Bodie said.

He said the effect the poaching had on the progeny of the trout taken was incalculable.

Tawha's lawyer, Moana Dorset, said her client had been surprised to learn the impact his offending had on the spawning ground and recognised the court must consider imprisonment.

Judge Weir referred to a letter to the court from a respected Ngati Pikiao kaumatua who'd pointed out Tawha and Leef were not members of the local iwi.

The kaumatua wrote it was offensive and disrespectful for the men to claim they had the customary right to take the trout, he said.

The judge noted Tawha had 38 previous dishonesty-related convictions and had been jailed for violent offending.

Eastern Fish & Game region manager Andy Garrick said the sentence reflected the seriousness of the offending.

"The sentences the judge imposed today serves as a very stern warning to others that poaching trout is just not worth it," he said.

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Man held on charges of deer poaching

4/28/2015

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Source:  Zeenews.India.com

Erode: One person has been arrested on charges of deer poaching.

Police said the Special Task Force police along with forest anti-poacher wing were patrolling Makkampalayam area Monday when they heard gunfire.

When they rushed to the spot, they found Benjamin of Kollegal in Karnataka hiding inside a bush.

During interrogation, he admitted that he along with three others tried to poach deer there.

Police are searching for three others who escaped with the gun.

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Men accused of trying to hook alligator in southwest Miami-Dade County

4/27/2015

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Source:  Local10.com

By
Peter Burke

MIAMI - Two South Florida men are accused of trying to capture an alligator.

Erelio Diaz and Rolando Reyez were arrested Sunday on charges of alligator poaching, unlawful possession or sale of alligator skin and possession of wildlife without a permit.

According to a Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission arrest report, Diaz and Reyez were observed with a rope around an alligator's neck near a canal in southwest Miami-Dade County.

Diaz and Reyez "were using a hook and line to capture the alligator," and they were using a chicken to attract the gator to the bank of the canal, the report said.

Both men remained in jail Monday afternoon on $5,000 bond.

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Man admits poaching after birds found in home

4/27/2015

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Source:  Cyprus-mail.com

A 50-year-old admitted to charges related to poaching after police found birds, lime sticks and nets in his Paralimni home on Sunday.

Authorities found two partridges and four thrushes in a cage, 18 frozen birds, 142 lime sticks and three capturing nets after searching his residence at 6am.

The live birds were photographed and given to the Game Department.

Paralimni police continue investigations.


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Two more Sumatran elephants found dead in Aceh

4/27/2015

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Source:  News.mongabay.com

By
Junaidi Hanafiah, Chik Rini

A pair of critically endangered Sumatran elephants (Elephas maximus sumatranus) were found dead this month in Indonesia's Aceh province, just the latest casualties for a species that has been brought into increasing conflict with humans amid the country's oil palm boom.

First, on April 13 in Kareung Hampa village, West Aceh regency, a bull elephant was found with its tusks missing and trunk severed about 150 meters from an oil palm estate belonging to Agro Sinergi Nusantara. It was thought to have perished a week earlier.

An autopsy revealed a bullet hole in the elephant's head, likely the work of poachers in search of ivory, according to Genman Suhefti Hasibuan, the head of Aceh's Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BKSDA).

Poachers have exploited the rising frequency of human-wildlife conflict to kill bull elephants near residential areas, he added.

"They slaughter elephants as is often done by people whose gardens they damage," Genman said.

Then, on April 20 in Seumah Jaya village, East Aceh regency, residents alerted the authorities when they saw an injured elephant hobbling near their fields. Its right leg had been injured in a snare trap.

"The people immediately reported it to the BKSDA so the elephant could be treated and evacuated," said Syahrul, a resident.

The creature perished shortly thereafter.

Since 2012, around 200 Sumatran elephants have died out of a population of 1,700, according to the Indonesia Elephant Forum (FGI). Aceh alone has seen 36 casualties.

Environmentalists cited weak law enforcement as a major culprit.

"If the law is not enforced to prevent the killing of elephants, we could see their extinction in 10 years," WWF-Indonesia's Sunarto said.

The cases of elephant deaths, he added, are inseparable from human-wildlife conflict that has arisen as a result of the widespread conversion of elephant habitat into oil palm plantations.

"We need a comprehensive system overhaul and rearrangement of plantation zoning that do not threaten the habitat of protected wildlife like the Sumatran elephant," Sunarto said.

Acehnese environmental activist TM Zulfikar also urged the government to better protect the elephant.

"Everyone is waiting for concrete action from the government, especially law enforcement officials, to apprehend and prosecute wildlife poachers in Aceh," he said. "This must be done, otherwise we will know [the Sumatran elephant\ by name only."


Citations:
  • Chik Rini. "Tragis! Indonesia Kehilangan 200 Gajah Sumatera Dalam 3 Tahun Terakhir" Mongabay-Indonesia. 17 April 2015.
  • Junaidi Hanafiah. "April Ini, Dua Gajah Sumatera Ditemukan Mati di Aceh" Mongabay-Indonesia. 25 April 2015.

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Eight Killed in Clash Over Cattle Rustling in East Darfur

4/27/2015

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Source:  Dabangasudan.org

By
Ed Daein

Eight people were killed, and one was wounded in Abu Karinka locality, East Darfur, on Sunday, in a clash between a “rescue team” and a group of cattle rustlers.

Mohamed Ahmed El Dud, head of the East Darfur Local Government Bureau, told Radio Dabanga from the capital of Ed Daein that when a local rescue team tracing stolen cows found the thieves in the area north of Abu Dungul, north of Keleikeli Abu Salama, a gunfight erupted.

“Four cattle thieves and four members of the team were killed. One cattle thief was injured.”

El Dud explained that both parties have been stealing cattle from each other since some time.


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Raiders butcher prized beef

4/27/2015

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Source:  Stuff.co.nz

By
Andrea Fox

Cattle butchers have struck a beef breeding farm near Whakatane, slaughtering two valuable in-calf cows and forcing the destruction of two others because of gunshot wounds.

Residents of Herepuru Rd about 5km from Matata and 35km from Whakatane are meeting to discuss installing a security camera in the road after the incident last week, in which the cows, among 113 in a paddock near the roadside, were gunned down with a .22 rifle.

Farmer Chrissy Weeks hoped police were following good leads after a woman neighbour in the road on the way to work early last Wednesday morning confronted three men loading up a dark-coloured, late model sedan.  Weeks said the neighbour advised the men, who said they had been camping, to move on because the area was private property.  The neighbour did not get a number plate because it was covered, Weeks said.

She said the local butcher, who she had quickly advised about the poaching so he would be on the lookout for stolen meat, reported a similar car hanging around his shop.

Edgecumbe police are investigating.

Weeks said the cows, which would have each weighed 550-600kg, were valued at $1500 to $1800 each. The prime cuts had been taken from the butchered animals, she said. The front shoulders had been cut off and left lying.

The poaching strike was clearly pre-meditated and would have taken the best part of a whole night to accomplish, she believed.

"Presumably someone dropped them off and picked them up later. They came down a bank, across a creek and up a bank and must have herded them into a corner. They'd cut a track down, they had ropes to lower the meat down, meat hooks and big sheets of plastic."

Weeks said the killers had obviously been disturbed because they had left much of that gear behind.

The butchered animals were a purebred in-calf hereford cow and an in-calf charolais cross cow.

The animals that had to be put down because their jaws were broken by gunshots were a murray grey cross and an angus-hereford cross.

Weeks is unaware of other reported poaching incidents in the district.

The paddock the cows were in was screened by bush and is used for winter grazing only

She said a neighbourhood meeting of owners of cattle studs, farms and lifestyle blocks in Herepuru Road was proposed to discuss installing a camera in the road to operate 24/7.


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Thailand customs seizes three tonnes of elephant ivory stashed in container from Kenya

4/27/2015

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Source:  Straitstimes.com

BANGKOK (AFP) - More than three tonnes of elephant ivory have been found at a Thai port stashed in a container shipped from Kenya, customs said on Monday, the second huge haul of tusks from Africa in less than a week.

The discovery, which would be worth millions of dollars on the black market, was destined for Laos where the illegal ivory trade flourishes.

Some 511 pieces of ivory, weighing over three tonnes, was found on April 25 in a container "marked as tea leaves transported from Mombasa, Kenya, and on to Laos", Thai customs said in a statement.

Scores of whole tusks - some nearly 2m long - were among the pieces seized.

A record four tonnes of African elephant ivory was seized at Bangkok's main port on April 20, in a container that arrived from the Democratic Republic of Congo and was also destined for Laos.

Once in neighbouring Laos, the authorities believe the ivory would likely be sold on to buyers from China, Vietnam or back into Thailand, countries where ivory ornaments are coveted despite fears the trade is pushing wild elephants to extinction.

Laos "is increasingly being used as a major transit point for such large volumes of illicit ivory and other wildlife products", Chris Shepherd of conservation group Traffic told AFP.

"The increase in large-scale seizures is of great concern. Whether the ivory is coming from freshly killed elephants, or from stockpiles of ivory in Africa, needs to be investigated," he added.

Conservationists say poaching and conflict has destroyed large numbers of African elephants in the wild, prompting experts to warn the species could be wiped out within decades.

Thailand has launched a crackdown on the ivory trade amid mounting international pressure.

Global regulator Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (Cites) has threatened an international ban on Thailand's entire wildlife business if it fails to curb the trade in tusks on its soil.

Under Thai law, registered ivory from domesticated Thai elephants can be sold. But experts say that loophole allows criminal gangs to launder poached African ivory through the kingdom.

Thailand's fishing industry is also under scrutiny for exploitation of migrant workers and over-fishing.

Last week the European Union threatened to ban Thai fish imports unless the kingdom does more to halt illegal fishing.

Thailand is the world's third largest seafood producer and an European Union ban could cost it around US$1 billion annually.


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Indonesian National Police Seize Major Shipment of Pangolins, Arrest Smuggler

4/27/2015

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Source:  Newswise.com

WCS’s Wildlife Crimes Unit assists in bust

Newswise — The Indonesian National Police’s Criminal Investigation Division (BARESKRIM MABES POLRI), the Government of Indonesia, and the Wildlife Conservation Society’s Wildlife Crimes Unit (WCU) today announced the seizure of a shipment of pangolins headed to China and valued at approximately 1.8 million US dollars (USD). The pangolin smuggler involved in the case has been arrested.

This is the largest case of pangolin smuggling in Indonesia since 2008 when the Indonesian National Police, supported by WCS’s WCU, arrested two smugglers and confiscated 13.8 tons of frozen pangolins in Palembang.

The seizure took place on April 23, 2015, at the Belawan seaport in Medan, the largest city on the island of Sumatra. Belawan Seaport is notorious for being an import and exit point for illegal wildlife trafficking. The haul included 5 tons of frozen pangolins, 77 kilograms of pangolin scales, and 96 live pangolins. A smuggler, identified by the initials SHB, has been arrested in the case. SHB allegedly dealt and exported pangolins that he ordered from local dealers in Aceh and north Sumatra. Under Indonesian law, trafficking of pangolins, their parts and by-products is punishable by a maximum penalty of five years of imprisonment and a maximum fine of USD $10,000.

In recent years, the price of pangolin has increased sharply in the international market, driven by demand from China. Based on current black market prices, the value of the seized shipment is 1.826 million USD. Pangolin scales (considered to have healing qualities by traditional Chinese medicine practitioners) are valued at USD $3,000 per kg, pangolin meat (considered a delicacy) at USD $300 per kg, and live pangolins at USD $992. Smugglers also ship pangolin innards, including fetuses, for traditional medicinal purposes.

Based upon evidence gathered during the arrest, the shipment was headed to China. In order to avoid police and customs detection, the suspect had exported the shipping container that held the pangolin cargo from a secondary port to a cargo ferry offshore, where it was obscured among other containers. The cargo ferry then docked at Belawan port where the container was to be transferred to a vessel destined for China via Haiphong Seaport in Vietnam. The exporter also shipped live pangolins to Penang, Malaysia through a remote seaport in Medan.

There are eight species of pangolins (Family: Manidae) still in existence worldwide. Four of the species are of Asian origin including the Sundanese Pangolin (Manis javanicus), which is listed as Critically Endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. The pangolin's large scales are made of keratin, the same material as fingernails and rhino horns, and account for 20% of its weight.

Deputy Director Tipidter, CID of the Indonesian National Police, Police Senior Commissioner Didid Widjanardi said, “Pangolins are protected under Indonesian law. The Indonesian National Police and WCS’s WCU have done a great job in tackling pangolin smuggling since 2008. We will continue our collaboration in the future through preventive actions, which is important to saving pangolins in their habitat.”

WCS Executive Director for Asia Programs Joe Walston said, “This is a major breakthrough, both in terms of the enormous size of the shipment and in terms of the increasing sophistication of collaborative methods used by Indonesian authorities in making the bust. WCS is committed to supporting the Government of Indonesia in dismantling this insidious illegal trade.”

WCS’s Wildlife Crimes Unit is supported by the Liz Claiborne and Art Ortenberg Foundation, Fondation Segré, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service Multinational Species Conservation Funds, and the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation.


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Six arrested in Benue for stealing 500 cows

4/26/2015

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Source:  Informationng.com

By
Daniel

The police in Katsina-Ala, Benue State, has arrested six persons in connection with the alleged rustling of over 500 cows at Tacha village, Yoyo Council ward of the state.

The suspects are said to be cooling their heels in detention as they undergo interrogation at the State Criminal Investigation Department, at the Command Headquarters, Makurdi.

It was learnt that the suspects were part of a larger gang that specialized in cow rustling and kidnapping of persons in that axis of the state.

“They are a gang that is known for cow rustling and kidnapping in Katsina-Ala and environs,”a source said.

“Their last notorious assignment was the rustling of over 500 cattle, early this month at Tacha village, Yoyo Council ward of the state.

“The police are diligently investigating the matter which has led to the recovery of about 21 of the cow at the cattle market and Hausa quarters, all within Katsina-Ala local government area”.

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