Illegal wildlife trade

Global website Etsy colludes in advertising real snow leopard fur

May 25, 2013 Illegal wildlife trade

I was horrified yesterday to see the world’s leading craft marketplace, Etsy.com complicit in selling endangered snow leopard fur. One of its sellers listed a woman’s coat advertised with “genuine real snow leopard fur” collar. I contacted Etsy immediately but they refused to take any action. Selling snow leopard fur directly contributes towards extinction of [...]

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Snow leopards among the new ‘blood diamonds’

February 28, 2012 Afghanistan

The Bronx Zoo based Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) did a study during a few years ago that found military personnel in Afghanistan were supporting the illegal wildlife trade by buying furs coats and animal products including snow leopard pelts. Most buyers did so because they were not aware that it was illegal and that the [...]

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Poachers say they found snow leopards already dead

June 6, 2011 Illegal wildlife trade

A followup to the recent story about snow leopard poachers’ arrest in Nepal by WWF Nepal staff who were involved in the operation. “Two poachers involved in trading of body parts of endangered wild animal were arrested on 28 may 2011 from Mustang district, a district situated inside the Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP). The [...]

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No Paradise for these two snow leopards in Nepal

May 31, 2011 Illegal wildlife trade

A shocking story greeted the readers of Kathmandu Post in Nepal  yesterday. It showed this photo of two snow leopard pelts. Two people have been arrested in Mustang in Nepal (where it is illegal to kill the cats) with the hides of the two snow leopards. One is the owner of the Paradise Guest House [...]

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Nepal newspaper highlights poaching of endangered wildlife

October 31, 2010 Illegal wildlife trade

The Himalayan Times (from Kathmandu, Nepal) wrote in its editorial today that the story of a local man apprehended this week trying to sell three Red Panda skins in Kathmandu, “highlights how poaching of such an endangered animal is on the rise..and points to the laxity of conservation attempts. It is not only Red Panda [...]

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How Harrison Ford’s chest hair helps snow leopards

September 29, 2010 Illegal wildlife trade

I know Harrison Ford supports wildlife conservation but I didn’t realise the lengths he goes to. He did a TV ad for WildAid – “Don’t buy it” – where he says to a Tiger pal, “If some one tells you don’t worry about the slaughter of tigers and elephants, there are lots of them out [...]

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Mr Big wildlife smuggler sentenced

September 8, 2010 Endangered species

If snow leopards and other endangered wildlife protection is going to be meaningful then prosecution for offenders is vital. Good news today that Anson Wong from Penang in Malaysia, dubbed “ the world’s most notorious wildlife dealer, has been sentenced to prison after a lock on his suitcase containing legally protected snakes broke on an [...]

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Habiba Sarabi, snow leopard champion

June 17, 2010 Afghanistan
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Habiba Sarabi became the first female governor of an Afghan province, the province of Bamiyan in 2005. Bamiyan is one of the poorest of all provinces and the place where the ancient Bamiyan Buddha carvings had stood for 1400 years before the Taliban blew them up in 2001. Sarabi’s role in snow leopard conservation has [...]

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Every day has to be Environment Day for snow leopards

June 5, 2010 Endangered species
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Today is World Environment Day 2010  – June 5th. This year’s UN theme  “Many Species – One Planet – One Future” made me reflect on just how important it is right now, this day, this month, this year, to focus our efforts on endangered wildlife before it’s too late. This means a big effort to [...]

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‘Time’ photos of captured snow leopard in Afghanistan

June 3, 2010 Afghanistan
Thumbnail image for ‘Time’ photos of captured snow leopard in Afghanistan

Readers may recall the story of the captured snow leopard in Afghanistan I wrote about in March. Richard Fite, the US veterinarian who advises for the U.S. Agricultural Department in northern Afghanistan, tried to save the cat, which had been captured for the illegal wildlife trade, but sadly she died.  Richard shared his hope with [...]

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