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Pangolins are increasingly threatened by demand for their scales, which are used in traditional medicines, and for their meat, which is consumed as a luxury. As populations of Asian pangolins decline, the demand is shifting to the four species in Africa, where local cultural use may already pose some level of threat. During 2010−2015 a total of 65 pangolin-related seizures (surrendered and confiscated) were reported in Zimbabwe, with the annual number of confiscations increasing significantly over this period. Zimbabwean authorities have toughened their stance against this trade, and during January−June 2015 three-quarters of confiscations of pangolins (n = 12) resulted in the maximum jail sentence for at least one of the offenders in each case. At present there is no evidence that pangolins are being traded from Zimbabwe to China, and the increased enforcement may be key to ensuring Zimbabwe's pangolins are not threatened by the large-scale illegal trade witnessed in Asia. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Demand for the ‘ivory’ casques of the Helmeted Hornbill Rhinoplax vigil appears to have risen very sharply, although the species is legally protected in every range state (Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Thailand) and it is on Appendix I of CITES. Seizure records and other sources indicate that the majority of hornbills are being killed in Indonesia on the islands of Borneo and Sumatra and smuggled to China where the casques are carved for commercial sale. Between March 2012 and August 2014 a minimum 2,170 heads and/or casques were seized from the illegal trade in Indonesia and China in identifiable enforcement actions. Seizures were made from poachers, smugglers, processing facilities and retailers (both physical shops and online traders). Thirteen seizures occurred in Indonesia in which no fewer than 1,117 specimens were confiscated. In China, 18 seizures resulted in the confiscation of 1,053 specimens. Anecdotal evidence suggests the species is now rare in Indonesia but that demand, reflected in the high prices involved, will not soon abate. Efforts are therefore urgently needed to end this illegal trade, which is controlled by organised crime with interests in other wildlife products, to advertise the penalties for transgressors, and to create awareness of the law and the plight of the species among potential consumers. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The Critically Endangered Black-winged Myna Acridotheres melanopterus is being pushed towards the brink of extinction in Indonesia due to continued demand for it as a cage bird and the lack of enforcement of national laws set in place to protect it. The trade in this species is largely to supply domestic demand, although an unknown level of international demand also persists. We conducted five surveys of three of Indonesia’s largest open bird markets (Pramuka, Barito and Jatinegara), all of which are located in the capital Jakarta, between July 2010 and July 2014. No Black-winged Mynas were observed in Jatinegara, singles or pairs were observed during every survey in Barito, whereas up to 14 birds at a time were present at Pramuka. The average number of birds observed per survey is about a quarter of what it was in the 1990s when, on average, some 30 Black-winged Mynas were present at Pramuka and Barito markets. Current asking prices in Jakarta are high, with unbartered quotes averaging USD 220 per bird. Our surveys of the markets in Jakarta illustrate an ongoing and open trade. Dealers blatantly ignore national legislation and are fearless of enforcement actions. Commercial captive breeding is unlikely to remove pressure from remaining wild populations of Black-winged Mynas. Efforts to end the illegal trade in this species and to allow wild populations to recover are urgently needed. We also recommend the immediate inclusion of Black-winged Mynas in Appendix III of CITES to allow for international support to Indonesia in clamping down on international trade of the species. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The illegal wildlife trade in Indonesia is a major threat to a long and growing list of species. Otters are no exception and recent research has shown the trade in otters as pets in Indonesia is on the rise. While it is illegal to capture and trade otters from the wild in Indonesia, until recently only two of the four native otter species received formal legal protection, and the remaining two species were protected by an insubstantial zero-harvest quota. Recently, the government of Indonesia has provided full legal protection to the Smooth-coated Otter, however, and unfortunately, the Small-clawed Otter remains absent from the list of protected species in Indonesia, and therefore more vulnerable to exploitation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The illegal trade in rhinoceros horn, driven largely by the demand from East and South-east Asia, is a major impediment to the conservation of rhinoceroses globally. We surveyed the town of Mong La, in eastern Myanmar on the border with China, for the presence of rhinoceros horn. No rhinoceros horn was observed in 2006 or 2009, and other African wildlife was rare or absent. During visits in 2014 and 2015 we observed two horns, presumed to be of the white rhinoceros Ceratotherium simum, and one horn tip, small discs from the horn core, horn powder and horn bangles. Shops selling rhinoceros horn all specialized in high-end and high-value wildlife, mostly for decorative purposes, including whole elephant tusks, carved elephant ivory, carved hippopotamus Hippopotamus amphibius canines, and tiger Panthera tigris skins. Organized criminal syndicates are involved in the wildlife trade between Myanmar and Africa, possibly via China. Mong La's geographical position on the border with China, limited control by the central Myanmar Government, and the presence of the Chinese entertainment industry provide ideal conditions for a global wildlife trade hub catering for the Chinese market. Solutions require more intense collaboration between the Myanmar and Chinese authorities to curb the trade in African rhinoceros horn in this part of Asia. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Bear farms, established for the extraction of bile from live bears, have unknown effects on the conservation of bears in Asia. Whilst some major bile producing countries have tightened legislation on this practice, traders have responded by establishing bile extraction facilities in countries with weaker legislation. We conducted a survey of all known facilities in Lao PDR through direct observation or examination of governmental and non-governmental records, and documented the birth and rapid growth of this industry since the first farm was established in 2000. We also obtained trading values for gall bladders from wild bears in Lao PDR from literature, databases and direct observation. The number of farmed bears tripled from 2008 to 2012. In 2012 121 Asiatic black bears Ursus thibetanus and one sun bear Helarctos malayanus were kept on 11 commercial facilities. Evidence suggests that all bears were wild caught domestically or illegally imported internationally, in violation of national and international law. Moreover, some bile from these farms was being illegally exported internationally. Farmed bile availability has apparently not diminished the demand for wild bile, as the market value has increased dramatically since 2000. We suggest that bear farming in Lao PDR may be increasing the incentive to poach wild bears. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Hunting and trade of otters in South-East Asia is a severe threat to the regional conservation of all four species. During surveys of the wildlife trade in the town of Mong La, Shan State, Myanmar, three species of otters were observed, including a skin of a Hairy-nosed Otter Lutra sumatrana. This is the first record of this species in trade in Myanmar, and the second record of the species in the country. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article provides an overview on the export and harvest of three reptiles species for international markets such as Tokay geckos Gekko gecko for medicinal uses, Javan filesnakes Acrochordus javanicus for skins, and Asiatic softshell turtles Amyda cartilaginea for meat. The three species which were harvested from wild populations are not protected by Indonesian law however, quota system on its export and harvest was in place to avoid overexploitation. It concludes that the wildlife trade regulations are not followed by reptile traders and are not adequately enforced by the authorities.

The trade in laughingthrush species native to Indonesia is not carried out in accordance with Indonesian legislation and regulations. During 65 surveys carried out in bird markets in 1997–2008, more than 11,000 laughingthrushes representing 10 species were observed, including all five species native to Indonesia. Bird dealers claim that these species are becoming increasingly scarce in Indonesia due to over-harvesting for trade, especially the Sumatran endemic Black-and-white Laughingthrush G. bicolor and the Javan endemic Rufous-fronted Laughingthrush G. rufifrons. Indonesia has legislation in place to protect these species from over-exploitation, yet the illegal trade continues on a large scale, carried out openly in city bird markets. Enforcement of this legislation is critical in order to prevent these species from becoming perilously threatened. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The article traces whether the fishing cat inhabit Sumatra, Indonesia. Historical data includes Sumatra in the Indonesian mammal distribution list for fishing cat. A mapping of fishing cat across Sumatra conducted by K. Nowell and colleague also claims the occurrence of the species in five protected areas, which are Way Kambas, Berbak, Gunung Leuser, Kerinci Seblat, and Bukit Barisan Selatan National Parks. It is believed that fishing cat might be overlooked in Sumatra for several reasons, including the possibility to overlook the species due to the large size of the island, the target of most camera-trapping on tigers and only chances of camera-trapping of fishing cat, and the poor understanding of the variation in fishing cat habitat use across its range.

The article discusses the national tiger conservation efforts of the Malaysian Conservation Alliance for Tigers (MYCAT). It describes the declining tiger population in Malaysia due to predation, poaching, and habitat loss. Aside from the Malaysian Nature Society (MNS), several non-government organizations including the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS)-Malaysia Programme and the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF)-Malaysia have been offering support to the National Tiger Conservation Action Plan. Aside from encouraging the public to participate in the Tiger Roadshow community outreach programme, MYCAT also teaches school children about wildlife crimes through the use of art and games.

On 22 January, 2013, TRAFFIC reported that the Royal Thai Customs officers working at the Wildlife Checkpoint of Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi International Airport discovered 11 live otters when they scanned a bag that had been left at the oversized luggage area of the airport (TRAFFIC website, 2013). The otters, six Smooth Otters Lutrogale perspicllata and five Oriental Small-clawed Otters Aonyx cinereus were all juveniles and are suspected to have been smuggled out of Thailand, bound for Japan to be sold as exotic pets. The bag bore no tags and nobody claimed it, and therefore no arrests were made. Officials of Thailand's CITES Management Authority, Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plants and Royal Thai Customs Stated in a press conference that they are investigating the case under Section 27 of Customs Law B.E.2482, Section 16-17 of Customs Law B.E.2469 and Section 23 of Customs Law 2482, as well as the Wild Animal Reservation and Protection Act, B.E 2535 and Animal Epidemics Act, B.E 2499. While there are frequent seizures of live animals at the airport, this is the first involving otters. The otters will undergo health checks before being handed over to the Huay-Ka-Kaeng Breeding Center in Uthai Thani for care. Both species are considered Vulnerable by IUCN in the Red List of Threatened Species (IUCN, 2012) and are listed in Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). Both species are threatened largely due to degradation and loss of habitat. The scale and impact of hunting and capture for commercial trade in some parts of Southeast Asia was once thought to be minimal (Melisch et al., 1996), however, more recently perhaps, poaching for otter skins in many parts of Asia has become a severe threat (Meena, 2002; Poole, 2003; Duckworth and Hill, 2008). More research and monitoring is required to better gauge the current extent of the trade in otters in Southeast Asia and the impact such trade is having on wild populations. Efforts to reduce the poaching and illegal trade are urgently needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the implications of the leniency demonstrated by Malaysian authorities regarding the arrest of Mohd Sharizam Nor and his possession parts from at least 22 tigers. Conservationists claim that the 24 month jail sentence and the failure to impose mandatory fine on Nor proves that Malaysian conservation laws are hampered by the lack of suitable convictions to deter poaching. It also poses a threat to Malaysia's Panthera tigris population estimated at only 500.

Exploitation of wildlife represents one of the greatest threats to species survival according to the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services. Whilst detrimental impacts of illegal trade are well recognised, legal trade is often equated to being sustainable despite the lack of evidence or data in the majority of cases. We review the sustainability of wildlife trade, the adequacy of tools, safeguards, and frameworks to understand and regulate trade, and identify gaps in data that undermine our ability to truly understand the sustainability of trade. We provide 183 examples showing unsustainable trade in a broad range of taxonomic groups. In most cases, neither illegal nor legal trade are supported by rigorous evidence of sustainability, with the lack of data on export levels and population monitoring data precluding true assessments of species or population-level impacts. We propose a more precautionary approach to wildlife trade and monitoring that requires those who profit from trade to provide proof of sustainability. We then identify four core areas that must be strengthened to achieve this goal: (1) rigorous data collection and analyses of populations; (2) linking trade quotas to IUCN and international accords; (3) improved databases and compliance of trade; and (4) enhanced understanding of trade bans, market forces, and species substitutions. Enacting these core areas in regulatory frameworks, including CITES, is essential to the continued survival of many threatened species. There are no winners from unsustainable collection and trade: without sustainable management not only will species or populations become extinct, but communities dependent upon these species will lose livelihoods. [Display omitted] • Wildlife trade is a major threat to species survival, and most is legal. • Legal wildlife trade often has no assessment of sustainability. • Much legal wildlife trade is not sustainable and is virtually unregulated. • CITES regulates a tiny portion of species in trade, other species remain vulnerable. • New methods are needed to understand the impacts of trade on species survival. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Devising strategic conservation plans to curb Indonesia's wild bird trade is pivotal to protect species. However, limited understanding of nation-wide trade network patterns could hinder this urgently necessary action. Currently, available information either have restricted geographical scope or is focused on trans-national analysis, limiting understanding of domestic-level nation-wide spatial movement and patterns of traded birds. In this paper, we use media-reported local seizures to understand patterns in a domestic-level wild bird trade network. Indonesia's bird trade network involved 18 countries (including Indonesia), all 34 provinces, and 132,945 confiscated birds from 157 species. Songbirds (Passeriformes) (83.8% of all birds) dominated the trade, with the highest number of birds in demand for songbird competitions and listed as of conservation concern in the IUCN Red List. The most important region and the main transit point was Jakarta, the most important source of birds was Lampung and the most important destination for birds was West Java. Malaysia was the most important international source of songbirds (mostly smuggled into Indonesia), while the Philippines was the main international destination for the smuggling of Parrots and Cockatoos. Seizures mostly occur near transit and destination regions, and fewer near source regions. Despite the identified patterns, it is likely a small portion of the actual size of Indonesia's bird trade. This paper provided a low-cost approach for a rapid wildlife trade network analysis and could be easily used to identify trade patterns of other taxa in other countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Illegal and/or unsustainable trade is a major obstacle to effective primate conservation. The wildlife trade in the European Union (EU) and the United Kingdom (UK) is significant, but for many species, such as primates, the trade is poorly understood and sparsely reported. All EU countries are Party to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES); all primates are listed on Appendix I or II of CITES and are included on Annex A or B of Regulation (EC) No 338/97. We here combine data from several databases (CITES, UN Comtrade, TRAFFIC WiTIS) and seizure reports, to provide a narrative of the trade in primates into and within Europe. The legal import of live primates (2002-2021) amounted to 218,000-238,000 individuals (valued at US$ 869 million), with France, the UK, and Spain as the main importers and Mauritius, Vietnam, and China as the main exporters. Over 21,000 primate parts (trophies, skulls, bodies) were imported mainly from African countries, and UN Comtrade data suggests that ~ 600 tonnes of primate meat was imported mainly from Asia. The vast majority of live primates are either captive-born or captive-bred, and this proportion has increased over time. Reports of the illegal primate trade are far from complete, but the illegal trade of specific species or primate meat can have negative impacts of wild populations of already imperiled species. Stronger policies and more effective enforcement in consumer countries, such as the EU, would also aid in, and garner support for, better protecting primates in primate range states., Competing Interests: Conflict of interestThe authors declare no competing interests., (© The Author(s) 2023.)