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Police van seen with dog hanging from the back in Mexico

6/1/2015

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Source:  Theanimalspost.com

A state van for moving prisoners has been photographed in the Sate [sic\ of Mexico driving with a dog hanging by his neck with a rope from the back of the car.

The photos were taken by a man who was on his way home. The man told Vice he didn’t approach the car because he was afraid of the repercussions and that he prefers to remain anonymous. The man told Vice: “I didn’t want them to know that I was taking pictures of them because in the end we are talking about the Secretary of State and we know when something or someone bothers them, they have the power to make people disappear without any trouble.”

The images were released on social media by the Tomy Foundation with the caption: “If you thought that the D.F.’s government cared about animals you are wrong. Last night police van with license plate 2-DGB and SEGOB and GDF’s economic number B-101 was driving with a dog tied to the back of the car.

“We demand authorities to take action immediately and charge those involved. There’s no use in passing laws banning dogs from rooftops if this is going to be the end.”

The Secretary of the Penitentiary System of the Federal District of Mexico announced that they have launched an investigation to identify the driver and officials travelling in the government truck. The head of the Secretary, Hazael Ruíz Ortega, said all people involved will be punished for the cruel act.

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Texas company pleads guilty to relabeling Mexican shrimp

5/8/2015

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Source:  Katc.com

NEW ORLEANS (AP) - Federal prosecutors say a Texas shrimping company has pleaded guilty to relabeling 35,000 pounds of hard-to-sell Mexican shrimp as wild-caught American crustaceans.

U.S. Attorney Kenneth Polite's office said in a news release that Garcia Shrimp Co., of Brownsville, Texas, admitted Thursday to a violation of the century-old federal Lacey Act.

Polite said the company created false bills of lading and sold the shrimp to a New Orleans-based distributor.

The maximum penalty for violating the Lacey Act is a $500,000 fine and an organizational probationary term of five years.

U.S. District Judge Nannette Jolivette Brown is to sentence the company Sept. 24.

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Police officers leave dog unconscious before taking him away

4/18/2015

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Source:  Theanimalspost.com

Passers-by in Monterrey recorded two officers from San Nicolás de los Garza strangling a dog with a rope until he lost consciousness.

Officers apparently lured the dog with some food, put a rope around the dog’s neck and then started pulling. The pitbull can be seen trying to escape without success and once unconscious officers just throw him into the back of a police truck.

Witnesses of the incident can be heard yelling at the cops to not kill him and that that’s no way to treat a dog.

The reasons why the officers wanted to take the dog are still unclear, with some reports saying it was because he was a stray and some saying it was because he had attacked another dog and it was considered dangerous.

It’s also still uncertain if the dog was killed or not. Some neighbours say that the dog died from suffocation while others say the dog is alive and the owner was able reclaim it.
Video.

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Coast Guard pursues Mexican lanchas poaching off South Texas

3/21/2015

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Source:  Dvidshub.net

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas - The Coast Guard pursued two Mexican fishing crews in the waters off South Texas on Friday afternoon, interdicting one of them.

At approximately 2 p.m., a Coast Guard aircrew aboard an Air Station Corpus Christi MH-65 Dolphin helicopter spotted a Mexican fishing boat, also known as a lancha, poaching fish approximately 10.5 miles north of the U.S./Mexico maritime border and 22 miles offshore. The aircrew witnessed the Mexican fishing crew dispose of three sets of illegal long line fishing gear at sea. The helicopter chased the lancha for 16 minutes before the lancha became dead in the water.

Coast Guard Sector Corpus Christi watchstanders vectored in a boatcrew on a Station South Padre Island 33-foot law enforcement boat to assist with the interdiction. The crew of four Mexican nationals admitted to fishing illegally in U.S. waters and had possession of one set of illegal long line fishing gear on board, with five live red snapper and seven deceased shark.

At approximately 6 p.m., another Coast Guard MH-65 aircrew observed a different lancha setting illegal long line fishing gear and pursued it south of the U.S./Mexico maritime border before terminating the chase. Approximately a half mile of gear had been set.

The Coast Guard estimates over 1,100 annual lancha incursions into U.S. regulated waters, poaching upwards of 760,000 pounds of red snapper each year.

“Unfortunately, illegal fishing activities are not uncommon in South Texas. This is the 19th lancha seizure since October 2014," said Cmdr. Daniel Deptula, response officer at Sector Corpus Christi. “The Coast Guard is committed to protecting marine resources and safely stopping these incursions.”

If you witness suspicious or illegal fishing in state waters (out to 9 miles offshore), please contact Texas Parks and Wildlife “Operation Game Thief” at 1-800-792-GAME (4263). For all suspicious or illegal fishing occurring in federal waters (out to 200 miles offshore), please contact the U.S. Coast Guard at 361-939-6393.


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Endangered animals sold in Mexican property, 40 found dead and frozen

3/11/2015

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Source:  Theanimalspost.com

Mexican authorities found 40 wild animals dead and frozen during a raid in a property in Monterrey after reports from neighbours that endangered species were being sold in the property.

Officers also found 12 animals still alive but severely malnourished and living in very poor conditions, with no access to water or food and were being forced to live cramped in cages. They were sent to zoo La Pastora for veterinary treatment.

The animals were being sold on different websites and via social media.

The frozen animals included 17 ball pythons, 4 Burmese pythons, 3 water monitor lizards, 2 swamp crocodiles, 2 sugar gliders, 2 grey squirrels, 2 black-tailed prairie dogs, 2 kestrels, 2 red eye tree frogs, 1 squirrel monkey, 1 cotton eared marmoset, 1 moustached parakeet and 1 corn snake.

The still alive ones were 6 desert tortoise, 2 blue macaws, 2 monk parakeets, 1 sun parakeet and 1 chinchilla.

The illegal possession of animals is punishable by up to 9 years in prison and 3,000 days of minimum wage in Mexican law. An extra 3 years in prison and up to 1,000 additional days of minimum wage are added when the commercial purposes are involved.
Video.

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Dog dies after being burnt by group of youngsters in Mexico

3/11/2015

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Source:  Theanimalspost.com

A dog was rescued in Tlajomulco de Zúñiga, Jalisco, Mexico after a group of young men sprayed gasoline on him and set him on fire for fun.

The dog, Kadafi, was apparently abandoned by his owner last month and was living in the streets, eating and drinking from what neighbours gave him.

Animal rescuer Moisés Catedral reported the incident on his Facebook page in the hopes to find those responsible for such horrible cruelty.

Kadafi suffered severe burns throughout his entire body and face and sadly he couldn’t survive them despite receiving urgent medical attention.

Animal welfare organizations Justicia y Dignindad Animal (Animal Justice and Dignity), Adopta Guadalajara (Guadalajara Adopts) and Red Pro Gato (Pro Cats Network) reported the incident to the authorities and two days after Kadafi passed away a man was arrested.

The man also had 16 other dogs in deplorable conditions. Video.

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Coast Guard: Mexican fishing crew caught poaching in U.S. waters

3/10/2015

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Source:  FOX8live.com

(WVUE) - U.S. Coast Guard officials say guards caught a Mexican fishing crew in the waters off South Texas with about 475 pounds of illegally caught red snapper on Sunday.

According to a press release, a 33-foot law enforcement boat crew saw the fishing boat about 2 miles north of the U.S./Mexico maritime border and about 16 miles from shore. The four Mexican nationals reportedly admitted to fishing in the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone. They had caught 133 red snapper. Coast Guard agents towed the boat to the Coast Guard Station South Padre Island, and handed the four Mexican nationals to U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

Lt. Mike Bell, commanding officer at Station South Padre Island says poaching within U.S. waters has a negative impact on the U.S. commercial fishing industry.

"One of our missions along the border is to stop illegal poaching activities," said Bell. "That mission is essential in protecting our natural resources and the sovereignty of the U.S." 

The Coast Guard estimates more than 1,100 Mexican fishing boats snatch up to 760,000 pounds of red snapper each year.

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Coast Guard interdicts another Mexican fishing crew poaching in the Gulf of Mexico with 133 red snapper

2/27/2015

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Source:  Dvidshub.net

By
Dustin Williams

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — The Coast Guard interdicted a Mexican fishing crew in the waters off South Texas early Thursday morning with 445 pounds of illegally caught red snapper.

At approximately 11:30 p.m. Wednesday, a Customs and Border Protection aircrew alerted Coast Guard Sector Corpus Christi watchstanders of a Mexican fishing boat, also known as a lancha, poaching fish approximately six miles north of the U.S./Mexico maritime border and almost 18 miles from shore.

The watchstanders launched a Station South Padre Island boatcrew aboard a 33-foot law enforcement boat and an Air Station Corpus Christi aircrew aboard an MH-65 Dolphin rescue helicopter. The Coast Guard boatcrew located the lancha 2 miles north of the border and 13 miles offshore. They stopped the lancha after a two-mile pursuit just south of the maritime border and 12.5 miles offshore.

The crew of four Mexican nationals admitted to fishing illegally in U.S. waters. The crew's catch consisted of 133 red snapper totaling 445 pounds. The Coast Guard estimates over 1,100 annual lancha incursions into U.S. regulated waters, poaching upwards of 760,000 pounds of red snapper each year.

“The success of this mission was only made possible by the continued collaborative efforts of federal law enforcement agencies," said Lt. Cmdr. Nathan Allen, chief of law enforcement for Sector Corpus Christi. “It is only through the continued cooperation of all involved agencies, the professionalism of our crews and the support of the local community that we can hope to defeat this threat to U.S. economic and physical security.”

If you witness suspicious or illegal fishing in state waters (out to 9 miles offshore), please contact Texas Parks and Wildlife “Operation Game Thief” at 1-800-792-GAME (4263). For all suspicious or illegal fishing occurring in federal waters (out to 200 miles offshore), please contact the U.S. Coast Guard at 361-939-6393.

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USCG Rescues 4 Mexican Poachers

2/9/2015

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Source:  Marinelink.com

By
Joseph R. Fonseca

Coast Guard crews rescued four Mexican nationals from their sinking boat Saturday, after they were spotted illegally fishing north of the U.S./Mexico maritime border.

At approximately 8 p.m. Saturday, a crewmember aboard the Coast Guard Cutter Brant, an 87-foot coastal patrol boat, spotted a Mexican boatcrew poaching fish in the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone, 30 miles off South Padre Island.

Sector Corpus Christi Command Center watchstanders diverted a crew aboard a Station South Padre Island 33-foot law enforcement boat and diverted an Air Station Corpus Christi HC-144 Ocean Sentry airplane crew to intercept. The aircrew vectored in the law enforcement boat and cutter.

The Brant's crew intercepted and stopped the lancha, but the lancha began to take on water.  The four Mexican nationals were recovered from their sinking boat before it sank. They were transported to Station South Padre Island where they were transferred to Customs and Border Protection agents for repatriation to Mexico.

Earlier Saturday, the Brant's crew spotted four lanchas fishing inside the U. S. Exclusive Economic Zone and chased them south of the border.

Additionally, the Brant recovered over 800 yards of longline gear on Saturday. The majority of the gear was found in the same general area of the sunken lancha. Each mile of longline have scores of baited hooks and are capable of catching hundreds of fish per mile. The lines seized were discovered with 17 red snapper, two sharks and several other reef fish. All of these fish were found alive and released at sea.

“These cases exemplify how hazardous this illegal enterprise is, both for the Mexican nationals and our law enforcement personnel," said Lt. Cmdr. Nathan Allen, the chief of enforcement for Sector Corpus Christi. "The four Mexican nationals recovered from their sinking boat are fortunate to be alive." 

For all suspicious or illegal fishing occurring in federal waters (out to 200 miles offshore), please contact the U.S. Coast Guard at 361-939-6393.


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US Coast Guard Embarks on Sea Pursuit With Mexican Poachers

2/8/2015

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Source:  UK.news.yahoo.com

The United States Coast Guard intercepted a Mexican fishing vessel on February 6 after observing the crew members poaching fish in US waters, situated off the South Padre Island. A helicopter and boat patrol chased the lancha across the sea during a 30-minute pursuit before successfully stopping the vessel.

Four Mexican nationals, who were aboard the lancha, admitted to fishing illegally in US waters. They were carrying 12 red snappers, 2 nurse sharks and 1 grouper, totalling 150 pounds.

“Mexican lanchas have no legitimate reason to operate in US waters, yet we estimate that there are over 1,100 incursions into our waters annually," said Lieutenant Commander Nathan Allen, chief of enforcement for Sector Corpus Christi. Video.


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Poachers arrested after Coast Guard spots illegal lancha

1/27/2015

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Source:  Lsonews.com

By
Conor Harrison

Written by U.S. Coast Guard

The Coast Guard interdicted a Mexican fishing crew who fled from authorities Sunday, after poaching shark, red snapper, and eel in the waters off South Texas.

At approximately 12:30 p.m. Sunday, an Air Station Corpus Christi MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crew observed a Mexican fishing boat, also known as a lancha, 22 miles north of the U.S.-Mexico maritime boundary line and 31 miles offshore.

Sector Corpus Christi watchstanders diverted a Station South Padre Island law enforcement boatcrew to intercept.  After a 32 minute aerial pursuit, the Coast Guard boatcrew arrived and the lancha crew complied with orders to stop. The lancha had six sharks weighing 154 pounds, 66 red snapper weighing 428 pounds, seven eels weighing 20 pounds, four people and fishing gear aboard the vessel when it was stopped.

All the catch was returned to the sea and the fishermen were turned over to Customs and Border Protection.

“The success of this mission was only made possible by the continued collaborative efforts of local, state, and federal agencies,” said Cmdr. Te-Ali Coley, the air operations officer for Air Station Corpus Christi. “It is only through the continued cooperation of all involved agencies, the professionalism of our crews, and the support of the local community that we can hope to defeat this threat to U.S. economic and physical security.”

If you witness suspicious or illegal fishing in state waters (out to 9 miles offshore), please contact Texas Parks & Wildlife “Operation Game Thief” at (800) 792-GAME (4263).  For all suspicious or illegal fishing occurring in federal waters (out to 200 miles offshore), please contact the U.S. Coast Guard at (361) 939-6393.

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Coast Guard intercepts Mexican fishermen poaching in SPI waters

1/26/2015

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Source:  Kveo.com

SOUTH PADRE ISLAND, TX — The Coast Guard interdicted a Mexican fishing crew attempting to poach red snapper in South Texas Saturday night.

At approximately 7 p.m. Saturday, the crew aboard the Coast Guard Cutter Amberjack sighted a Mexican fishing boat, also known as a lancha, heading north in U.S. waters.

Coast Guard Sector Corpus Christi watchstanders, diverted a Coast Guard Station South Padre Island boatcrew aboard a 33-foot law enforcement boat and launched an MH-65 Dolphin rescue helicopter from Air Station Corpus Christi. The aircrew provided coverage while the Amberjack vectored in the boatcrew, who stopped the lancha with four people and fishing gear aboard approximately 50 miles north of the maritime border.

The Amberjack put the lancha in tow and returned back to Station South Padre Island. All persons and confiscated gear were turned over to Customs and Border Protection.
“This interdiction was in a location where the Mexican fishing boat could maximize their red snapper catch," said Lt. Cmdr. Nathan Allen, chief of law enforcement for Sector Corpus Christi. “We achieved the best outcome possible by stopping the Mexican fishing boat before they could illegally catch any fish or shark.”

If you witness suspicious or illegal fishing in state waters (out to 9 miles offshore), please contact Texas Parks and Wildlife “Operation Game Thief” at 1-800-792-GAME (4263). For all suspicious or illegal fishing occurring in federal waters (out to 200 miles offshore), please contact the U.S. Coast Guard at 361-939-6393.

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Coast Guard intercepts Mexicans poaching South Texas waters

12/31/2014

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Source:  USCGnews.com

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – The Coast Guard interdicted a Mexican fishing crew poaching in South Texas Monday morning.   

At approximately 10 a.m. Monday, an MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crew from Air Station Corpus Christi sighted a Mexican fishing boat, also known as a lancha, 29 miles offshore of South Padre Island and 1 mile north of the United States/Mexico maritime border with fishing gear and bait fish on board. 

The aircrew notified Coast Guard Sector Corpus Christi watchstanders, who diverted a Coast Guard Station South Padre Island boatcrew aboard a 33-foot law enforcement boat.  After a 9-mile pursuit, the boatcrew stopped the lancha with four people, baitfish and longline gear aboard. All persons and confiscated gear were turned over to Customs and Border Protection.

Since Oct. 1, the Coast Guard, Customs and Border Protection and the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department have detected 78 lanchas, all of which were suspected of poaching in U.S. waters. The Coast Guard has interdicted eight of them. 

“All of our state and federal boats and aircraft work in a coordinated effort to combat illegal fishing along the United States/Mexico maritime border," said Lt. Cmdr. Nathan Allen, chief of law enforcement for Sector Corpus Christi.

If you witness suspicious or illegal fishing in state waters (out to 9 miles offshore), please contact Texas Parks and Wildlife “Operation Game Theif” at 1-800-792-GAME (4263).  For all suspicious or illegal fishing occurring in federal waters (out to 200 miles offshore), please contact the U.S. Coast Guard at 361-939-6393.

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Man tries to smuggle drugs inside dogs in Peru

12/9/2014

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Source:  Theanimalspost.com

Peruvian authorities arrested Giussepe Tombolan Gonzales for trying to smuggle 3 kg of cocaine hydrochloride out of the country inside two dogs.

The Italian man with Mexican passport, 22, was surprised by police officers while in his hotel room in Callao, near Jorge Chávez International Airport.

Officers found two St Bernard dogs, 5-year-old Lola and 3-year-old Bombón, with cuts on their stomachs and rushed them to the Police Canine Unit for emergency surgery.

Veterinarians removed a total of 11 packages from inside the dogs. Sadly, Bombón didn’t survive the operation and died shortly after. Lola is still in a delicate state but is for now responding to the treatment.
Video.

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Coast Guard intercepts Mexican lancha poaching in South Texas waters

12/5/2014

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Source:  D9.USCGnews.com

Press Release

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – The Coast Guard intercepted a Mexican fishing crew poaching in South Texas Wednesday with 197 red snapper.

An HC-144 airplane crew from Coast Guard Aviation Training Center Mobile, Alabama, was on a routine patrol and sighted two Mexican fishing boats, also known as lanchas, 42 miles offshore and 8 miles north of the United States/Mexico maritime border at 4:59 p.m. The aircrew notified Sector Corpus Christi watchstanders, who then diverted a Station South Padre Island boatcrew aboard a 33-foot law enforcement boat. The aircrew vectored in the boatcrew, who stopped one lancha with four people aboard, while the second lancha proceeded south of the maritime border.

The lancha had fishing gear aboard without a legal permit and 197 red snapper totaling 590 pounds, which had been caught in U.S. waters. The lancha was towed back to Station South Padre Island and the four crewmembers were turned over to Customs and Border Protection.

Since Oct. 1, the Coast Guard has detected 41 lanchas, all of which were suspected of poaching in U.S. waters, and interdicted five of them. 

"We have a close partnership with Texas Parks & Wildlife to combat illegal fishing along the United States/Mexico maritime border. Our coordinated law enforcement efforts to stop illegal fishing include retrieving illegally set fishing gear and pursuing the fishing vessels conducting illicit activity," said Lt. Cmdr. Nathan Allen, chief of law enforcement for Sector Corpus Christi.

If you witness suspicious or illegal fishing in state waters (out to 9 miles offshore), please contact Texas Parks & Wildlife “Operation Game Thief” at 1-800-792-GAME (4263). For all suspicious or illegal fishing occurring in federal waters (out to 200 miles offshore), please contact the U.S. Coast Guard at 361-939-6393.

For additional information about the case, please contact Lt. j.g. Shelly Brown at 361-438-0176.


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Circus with over 180 animals shut down in Mexico

11/26/2014

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Source:  Theanimalspost.com

The Environmental Protection Office of Coahuila (Propaec) has closed down a circus for illegally exhibiting more than 180 animals.

The new law banning animal circuses in Coahuila came into effect only last week after being approved in September.

Authorities visited Barley circus thanks to an anonymous tip and shut it down for the exhibition of 156 exotic animals and 25 horses and camels.

“Article 20 of the Protection and Decent Treatment of Animals Law prohibits the exhibition of animals in circuses and establishes a fine of 25-10000 minimum wage salaries, so we must assess what’s appropriate” said Emilio Darwich Garza with the Propaec.

The legal representative of Barley, Arturo Mendez Preciado, explained they believed the new law would come into effect on November 23rd and they were not told that it was already in action.

Mendez Preciado said it was the government’s fault for not letting people know about the current laws and that if they’d know they wouldn’t have been there.


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Mexican fair cancels bullfights, dolphins and bear shows for first time

10/22/2014

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Source:  Theanimalspost.com

This year’s Querétaro International Fair will not hold any animal shows thanks to the new state law banning the use of animals in performances.

It will be the first time people won’t be able to attend bullfighting events, dolphin, bear and eagle shows and animal circuses at the Mexican fair next month.

One of the organizers said they are trying to avoid complaints and demos from animal welfare groups and want to comply with the new law.

Cock fights will still be carried out in the arena, as long as all the requirements have been met in time and form, said Miguel Osores Irastorza, president of the Regional Livestock Union.

The fair, one of the biggest in the country, also features rides, cattle expos and american-style rodeos.


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Wildlife Trafficking: Beyond Elephants and Ivory

10/21/2014

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Source:  Newswatch.nationalgeographic.com

By
Susan Lieberman

In the wildlife trafficking policy debate in the U.S., the majority of attention to date has been on the ivory and horn of Africa’s elephants and rhinos. Given the devastating losses those species have suffered this is perhaps not surprising. That attention has engaged diverse parties from around the globe, including the Obama Administration, African elephant range states, the EU, and conservation NGOs like the Wildlife Conservation Society, for whom I work. WCS’s 96 Elephants campaign has attracted some 170 partners to raise awareness of this critical issue.

However, elephants and rhinos are not the only species threatened by illegal international trade. Numerous other species of mammals, birds, reptiles, and others are also subject to trafficking, and they too need increased attention and political and financial support. In testimony I submitted to a meeting of the President’s Advisory Council on Wildlife Trafficking, I detailed some of the species whose illegal trade is under the radar but still are suffering the effects of wildlife trafficking.

The final remaining tigers — only about 3,000 remain in the wild globally — are now threatened by illegal killing for their bones and other body parts. Between 2000 and 2013, more than 27,000 seizures of tiger derivatives were reported to CITES, mainly originating in China and Vietnam. Tiger skins are the most commonly reported seizures item from other range states, followed by bones.

All eight species of pangolin, which occur across tropical South and Southeast Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa, are listed by IUCN on its Red List of Threatened Species as threatened with extinction, as well as on the Appendices of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora(CITES). They are traded for their scales for traditional medicine. Their meat, which is also believed to have medicinal properties, is also eaten as a high-status item. In the last decade alone, it is believed that more than one million pangolins have been removed from the wild, with the vast majority entering international trade, much of which is illegal.

More than 50 percent of the approximately 330 species of tortoises and freshwater turtles are listed on the IUCN Red List  as threatened, with international trade as the primary threat. They are traded primary as food and as pets, and much of this trade is illegal. This illegality includes both animals that are trafficked and those that are traded using what appear to be legal permits when in fact the animals have been taken from the wild and falsely identified as captive bred.

Many species of birds are threatened by illegal capture and trade for the pet trade. The straw-headed bulbul, a Southeast Asian bird that was locally abundant across much of its range until as recently as two decades ago, is now thought to be extinct in Thailand and Java, and virtually extinct on Sumatra. Huge demand for the African gray parrot has caused the species to lose almost half of its population in recent years due to extremely high capture rates with associated mortality due to harsh trapping conditions and poor handling of captive birds.

Between 1975 and 2005, 1.3 million African grey parrots were reported to be legally exported from Africa, and actual numbers removed from the forests of Central and West Africa are likely at least double that due to unreported trade and high mortality in capture and transport. Central American populations of the Scarlet Macaw in Honduras, Guatemala, Mexico, and Belize have been reduced to isolated sub-populations of fewer than 1,000 wild individuals in total—due to illegal trade in this endangered highly attractive bird. More....


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Camel kills man in wildlife park, all animals seized

10/16/2014

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Source:  Theanimalspost.com

Officers from the Federal Attorney for Environmental Protection have seized 25 animals from a wildlife park in Tulum, Quintana Roo, Mexico.

An emergency investigation, prompted by a camel killing a man on Monday, revealed the park had no documentation proving the legal origin and ownership of any of the animals seized.

Authorities seized 13 spider monkeys, 6 whitetail deer, 2 emus, 2 llamas, 1 pig and 1 camel.

Richard Mileski, who was the owner of the park, died after a 600 kg camel kicked him and then sat on him.

“The camel kicked and bit him practically to death, and when he was almost dead, he sat on him,” explained Tulum Civil Defense official Alberto Canto. “Between the blows and the weight of the camel on top of him, he was asphyxiated.”

“Richard lost his life caring for one of the animals that he has dedicated the last 15 year of his life to saving,” posted the park on their Facebook Page.

“Richard founded the Tulum Monkey Sanctuary on his ranch in order to help rescue an endangered species, the spider monkey, from extinction.

“But he did not limit himself to helping the monkeys for his compassion ran the entire range of species from dogs to ducks and horses to javali.”

The animals will remain in the park under ‘administrative custody’ while authorities decide what will happen with them.


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Almost 30 animals seized in Mexican zoo

10/16/2014

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Source:  Theanimalspost.com

Mexican authorities have seized 27 animals from the Santiago Zoo in Baja California Sur and fined the owner 172,380 pesos.

During an inspection, officers from the Federal Attorney for Environmental Protection (Profepa) discovered lack of documentation proving the legal origin of the animals seized, lack of an updated inventory of the animals living there, lack of a Management Plan mandatory for all facilities working with wildlife and general improper treatment and care of the animals.

Officers seized 5 racoons, 3 grey foxes, 1 spider monkey, 2 ostriches, 10 emus, 2 peacocks, 1 caracara, 2 snakes and a turtle.

All animals were taken to a local university where they will be monitored until ready to be released into the wild.


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Poisoned food kills pets and wildlife in Yucatan neighbourhood

10/8/2014

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Source:  Theanimalspost.com

Poisoned food has been thrown around the streets and back gardens of Benito Juárez in Yucatan, Mexico, killing pets, strays and wildlife.

Dogs, cats, opossums and a raven have been found dead after a group yet to be identified placed poisoned pieces of fish, chicken or soup in plastic dishes throughout the neighbourhood and even threw pieces over some fences.

Over ten animals were found dead in their homes and in the streets the next morning. Five-year-old dog Wolf, twelve-year-old dog Sam and one-year old kitten Tanto were just a few of the victims.

Neighbours said that the same thing happened last year but went unreported. Now they had alerted the police in the hope of finding the criminals and prevent it from happening again.

Authorities are still trying to determine what kind of poison was used.


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IUCN calls for immediate action to prevent the Vaquita’s extinction

9/16/2014

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Source:  Sospecies.org

Despite conservation efforts, numbers of Vaquita, a small porpoise found only in Mexico, have continued to decline, from around 600‐800 animals in the early 1990s to about 100 animals today, according to the latest report of the International Committee for the Recovery of the Vaquita (CIRVA).

The IUCN Species Survival Commission (SSC) Cetacean Specialist Group (CSG) has submitted an official statement to the 65th Meeting of the International Whaling Commission (IWC), drawing attention to the risk of the Vaquita’s imminent extinction.

Following the extinction of the Baiji in the early 2000s, the world is now facing the loss of a second cetacean species, the Vaquita (Phocoena sinus), which is restricted to the northern Gulf of California, Mexico. Vaquitas are dying due to accidental entanglement in gillnets used to capture Totoaba (Totoaba macdonaldi), a large fish, whose bladder is a highly prized commodity on the Chinese market. Both the Vaquita and the Totoaba are classified as Critically Endangered on The IUCN Red List.

“Extinction will occur within the next few years unless gillnet fishing is completely suspended in the Exclusion Zone recommended by CIRVA without delay,” says Justin Cooke, CSG member and Official IUCN Observer to the IWC, “Because of the high‐value illegal international trade in Totoaba, the main target of part of the gillnet fishery, strict enforcement is required.”

The establishment last year of the Advisory Commission to the Presidency of Mexico for Recovery of the Vaquita reflects the serious concern at high levels, but unfortunately the conservation measures taken to date by Mexican authorities and other stakeholders have not been sufficient to halt the decline in Vaquita numbers.

IUCN is therefore urging the responsible authorities to implement the latest CIRVA recommendations without delay, and is calling upon IWC members to provide Mexico with whatever assistance is needed.

It is particularly crucial for the governments of the USA and China to increase efforts to prevent the illegal Totoaba trade into or through their territory, noting that the species is listed on CITES Appendix I (which prohibits international trade for commercial purposes), and that the nets used to capture this large fish are known to be deadly for Vaquitas as bycatch.

While the longer‐term solution will likely involve the scaling up of Vaquita‐safe fishing technologies, it is essential that gillnet fishing within the proposed Exclusion Zone be ended now in order to avert the extinction of the species.

The 65th Meeting of the International Whaling Commission (IWC) is being held in Portorož, Slovenia, from 15 to 18 September 2014.

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De­marche against whal­ing by Ice­land

9/15/2014

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Source:  Mbl.is

The EU, its 28 Mem­ber States and the gov­ern­ments of the United States, Aus­tralia, Brazil, Is­rael, Mex­ico, Monaco and New-Zealand, de­clare their op­po­si­tion to the fact that the Ice­landic gov­ern­ment still per­mits com­mer­cial whal­ing, in par­tic­u­lar the hunt­ing of fin whales and the sub­se­quent trad­ing of fin whale prod­ucts.

The EU's Am­bas­sador to Ice­land, Matthias Brinkmann, along with the diplo­matic rep­re­sen­ta­tives of the United States, France, Ger­many and the UK de­liv­ered a de­marche to this ef­fect to the Ice­landic gov­ern­ment this morn­ing.

The Am­bas­sador also pointed out that pub­lic opin­ion in the coun­tries that are Ice­land's main trad­ing part­ners is very much against the prac­tise of whal­ing.

This is ev­i­denced by the pub­lic pres­sure put on com­pa­nies around the world to boy­cott Ice­landic goods, not to men­tion the pres­sure that vot­ers and var­i­ous or­gan­i­sa­tions put on their politi­cians, en­cour­ag­ing them to send Ice­land an in­creas­ingly stronger mes­sage.

JOINT DE­MARCHE BY THE EU­RO­PEAN UNION, ITS MEM­BER STATES AND THE GOV­ERN­MENTS OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMER­ICA, AUS­TRALIA, BRAZIL, IS­RAEL, MEX­ICO AND NEW ZEALAND

"We, the Eu­ro­pean Union and its Mem­ber States and the Gov­ern­ment of the United States of Amer­ica, Aus­tralia, Brazil, Is­rael, Mex­ico and New Zealand, wish to ex­press our strong op­po­si­tion to Ice­land's con­tin­u­ing and in­creased com­mer­cial har­vest of whales, par­tic­u­larly fin whales, and to its on­go­ing in­ter­na­tional trade in whale prod­ucts.

Ice­land is well known for its re­spon­si­ble ma­rine re­source man­age­ment prac­tices; how­ever, we are deeply dis­ap­pointed with the Ice­landic Gov­ern­men­t’s con­tin­ued au­tho­riza­tion of the hunt­ing of fin and minke whales.

The au­tho­riza­tions have been put in place with­out pre­sen­ta­tion to the In­ter­na­tional Whal­ing Com­mis­sion (IWC) and with­out re­gard for the long term in­ter­ests of cetacean con­ser­va­tion. We are es­pe­cially trou­bled by Ice­land's har­vest of 125 fin whales in 2009, 148 fin whales in 2010, and 134 fin whales in 2013, all of which are a sig­nif­i­cant in­crease from the seven fin whales har­vested over the 20 years prior to 2009.

The cur­rent 5 year quota of 770 fin whales is con­sid­ered un­sus­tain­able un­der IWC stock as­sess­ment meth­ods.

We en­cour­age the Gov­ern­ment of Ice­land to ad­here to the in­ter­na­tion­ally agreed mora­to­rium on com­mer­cial whal­ing and to re-ex­am­ine the de­ci­sion to con­tinue to is­sue fin and minke whale quo­tas.

We also ob­ject to Ice­land's in­ter­na­tional trade in whale prod­ucts. Fin whales and minke whales are listed un­der the Con­ven­tion on In­ter­na­tional Trade in En­dan­gered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora and we re­main ex­tremely con­cerned with Ice­land’s reser­va­tion, en­tered in 2000, for these and other cetacean species.

We urge Ice­land to with­draw this reser­va­tion and safe­guard these species from in­ter­na­tional com­mer­cial trade. We are not con­vinced that Ice­land's har­vest and sub­se­quent trade of fin whales meets any do­mes­tic mar­ket de­mand or need; it also un­der­mines ef­fec­tive in­ter­na­tional cetacean con­ser­va­tion ef­forts

We rec­og­nize the con­ser­va­tion ef­forts made by Ice­land un­der other in­ter­na­tional agree­ments and hope the Ice­landic Gov­ern­ment will be able to ex­tend this stance to fully sup­port global ef­forts for cetacean con­ser­va­tion. Fur­ther­more, we would like to draw at­ten­tion to the con­sid­er­able eco­nomic, so­cial and ed­u­ca­tional ben­e­fits of Ice­land’s grow­ing whale watch­ing in­dus­try as a pos­si­ble al­ter­na­tive to com­mer­cial whal­ing.

We hope the Ice­landic Gov­ern­ment will se­ri­ously con­sider the ben­e­fits of elim­i­nat­ing com­mer­cial whal­ing and re­turn to its pre­vi­ous po­si­tion of ac­cep­tance of the mora­to­rium on com­mer­cial whal­ing that was put in place by the In­ter­na­tional Whal­ing Com­mis­sion in 1986.

In sum­mary, we once again call upon Ice­land to re­spect the IW­C’s global mora­to­rium and end its com­mer­cial whal­ing and in­ter­na­tional trade in whale prod­ucts."

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Saving the Endangered Mexican Gray Wolf

9/12/2014

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Source:  Advocacy.britannica.com

By
Earthjustice

A
coalition of conservation groups has placed the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) on notice that they intend to bring a lawsuit to hold the agency accountable for failing to produce and implement a valid recovery plan for the imperiled Mexican gray wolf. With only 83 individuals and five breeding pairs in the wild, Mexican gray wolves remain at serious risk of extinction. Recovery planning and implementation, legally required under the Endangered Species Act (ESA), are necessary to ensure the lobos’ survival.

Earthjustice is representing Defenders of Wildlife, the Center for Biological Diversity, retired Mexican Wolf Recovery Coordinator David R. Parsons, the Endangered Wolf Center and the Wolf Conservation Center. The Service developed a document it labeled a “Recovery Plan” in 1982—but the Service itself admits that this document was incomplete, intended for only short-term application, and “did not contain objective and measurable recovery criteria for delisting as required by [the Endangered Species Act].” Most importantly, the 32-year-old document did not provide the necessary science-based roadmap to move the Mexican gray wolf toward recovery.

A plan which included genetic analysis and called for three interconnected populations totaling at least 750 animals as criteria for delisting was finally drafted by a Service-appointed recovery team in 2011, but has never been finalized.

Extensive scientific evidence, including research and analysis conducted by the Service’s own recovery team, is available to guide successful recovery planning.

Background The Mexican gray wolf (Canis lupus baileyi)—the “lobo” of Southwestern lore—is the most genetically distinct lineage of wolves in the Western Hemisphere, and one of the most endangered mammals in North America. By 1980, hunting and trapping caused the extinction of lobos in the wild, with only a handful remaining in captivity. In 1998 the wolves were reintroduced into the wild as part of a federal reintroduction program under the Endangered Species Act. Today in the U.S., there is a single wild population comprising only 83 individuals, all descendants of just seven wild founders of a captive breeding program. These wolves are threatened by illegal killings, legal removals due to conflicts with livestock, and a lack of genetic diversity.

The Service has never written or implemented a legally sufficient Mexican gray wolf recovery plan. The Service’s most recent recovery team has done extensive, rigorous work to determine what needs to be done to save the Mexican gray wolf. Recovery team scientists, agree that in order to survive, lobos require the establishment of at least three linked populations. The habitats capable of supporting the two additional populations are in the Grand Canyon ecoregion and in northern New Mexico/southern Colorado.

In July 2014, the Fish and Wildlife Service published a proposed revision of the rules governing management of Mexican gray wolves under the Endangered Species Act. The proposal includes provisions that would allow for increased take—or killing—of the critically endangered animals, and proposes to pick up wolves dispersing north of Interstate 40, which would prohibit the establishment of additional populations called for by recovery planners. The proposal is not based on a legitimate recovery plan.

Case Updates
  • September 10, 2014: Legal Document
    Mexican Gray Wolf: 60-day Notice of Intent
  • September 10, 2014: Press Release Coalition to Sue Fish and Wildlife Service for Failure to Produce Mandatory Recovery Plan for Endangered Mexican Gray Wolf
    Federal agency still reliant on incomplete, deficient 1982 plan for the rare wolves

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Dog found without eyes, raped

9/10/2014

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Source:  Theanimalspost.com

Pet dog Max was found with both eyes gouged out last month in Yucatan, Mexico.

The family said the six-month-old had gone missing the day before they found him near a wasteland behind a school in Tizimin, yelping.

After an emergency examination, vets said the cocker-dachshund mix had also suffered sexual abuse.

Max had to be put to sleep right away to prevent further suffering.

Max’s family, together with activist Doris Canul Chan, reported the incident to the police the next day.

Authorities are still trying to locate the aggressors. Video.

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