Wildlife Crime Key Stage 3 & 4
What is wildlife crime? More than 350 million wild animals and plants are bought and sold in the world every year. Some of this trade is legal, but many species are in danger of becoming extinct and trade in these endangered species is against the law. It has been estimated that the illegal trade in endangered species is worth more than $19 billion every year. Animals may be sold as pets, or to zoos or theme parks. Animals may also be sold for their body parts, for example skins and, bones and other body parts from tigers, ivory from elephants’ tusks and horn from the rhino, or bile from the moon bear which is used in Chinese medicine. People who kill animals illegally are known as poachers.
Aims Understand what wildlife crime is Understand the effect that it is having on wildlife and the ecosystem Look at some of the measures used to combat wildlife crime Find out how DSWF is helping to fight wildlife crime Find out how to help protect species
What is being done to stop illegal wildlife trade? The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) was set up in 1972 to protect endangered species. More than 160 countries, including the UK, have signed the agreement and have a responsibility to implement and enforce trade controls. Because the trade in wild animals and plants crosses borders between countries, CITES encourages co-operation between countries to safeguard certain species from over-exploitation. Under CITES, different species are given different levels of protection, depending upon how seriously they are threatened, for example, species listed in Appendix 1 are the most endangered. The Convention bans commercial trade of species in the greatest danger of extinction and strictly controls trade in many others through government licences. These controls apply to both live and dead animals and plants as well as anything that is made from them and includes around 30,000 species In the UK, it is a criminal offence to import, export, advertise for sale, sell, or buy any species in any form if it is listed on Appendix I of CITES. The maximum penalty is five years imprisonment, a fine of £5,000, or both. David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation Saba House, 7 Kings Road, Shalford, Guildford, Surrey GU4 8JU Tel: 01483 272323 Website: www.davidshepherd.org Registered Charity No: 1106893
Find out more at www.davidshepherd.org
Wildlife Crime The Problem: •
As the world’s human population grows and more people enjoy a better standard of living, the demand for consumer products, including those made from endangered species. These can be seen as status symbols or may be used in Chinese medicine Between 1970 and 2000, 97 per cent of the world’s black rhinos were lost because of the demand for their horns. In 2013 over 1,000 rhino were killed in South Africa alone. At $65,000 per kilo rhino horn is worth more, weight for weight, than gold. Hunters now pay vast sums to shoot rhino from helicopters The world’s remaining tigers are in crisis because of an alarming increase in poaching.3 out of 98 sub species are already extinct and only 3,200 exist in the wild Poaching has wiped out 9 1/2 million elephants in Africa in the past 500 years ago.100 are killed for their tusks every week. 50% are killed before they reach 15 years The annual global trade in endangered wildlife for use in zoos or as pets is wiping out numerous species of birds, reptiles and amphibians Many rangers are killed on duty protecting the park and its wildlife each year (around 100 a year for the past ten years) Wildlife crime has been linked to other crimes and helps fund terrorist groups
The Solution: Laws have been introduced to protect endangered species.These need to be enforced and tough penalties imposed for breaking them The US Endangered Species Act aims to conserve endangered species and the ecosystems upon which they depend CITES lists those species which may not be hunted or traded: these are endangered species and protected by law Investigate the scene of wildlife crime, follow clues and gather information to find out who is buying the products. Agencies such as the EIA (Environmental Investigation Agency) are helping to track down those breaking the law and trying to ensure that they are arrested and imprisoned People need to be made aware of the issues. Education and awareness programmes help. ACAP (Action Conservation Awareness Programme) uses the slogan: “When The Buying Stops The Killing Can Too”. Celebrity support can help to spread the message to a wider audience In the UK, DSWF is part of a committee of NGO’s working to fight wildlife crime in the UK alongside the Metropolitan Police using a combination of law enforcement and publicity.. Named ‘Operation Charm’, the members include the Metropolitan Police Wildlife Crime Unit, the Greater London Authority, WildAid, the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW), WWF-UK and the David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation (DSWF). For more see www.operationcharm.org David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation Saba House, 7 Kings Road, Shalford, Guildford, Surrey GU4 8JU Tel: 01483 272323 Website: www.davidshepherd.org Registered Charity No: 1106893
Find out more at www.davidshepherd.org
Case study: Anti-poaching dog squad, India Jorba, the Belgian Shepherd (Malinois) dog, joined the anti-poaching team in 2011 after training with his handler, Anil Das. He is being used to catch poachers in Assam and has already helped catch around 30 criminals. He has an amazing sense of smell and can sniff out drugs, tiger skin and bones, bear bile, rhino horn and elephant tusks. Read the following by Nicki Dunnington-Jefferson and the answer the questions. “I first met Jorba in the room he was sharing with Anil – just the two of them. They are always together, day and night. Jorba was lying on top of his cage, intelligent, expressive brown eyes curious and body relaxed, but alert. I sensed immediately the restrained power in this beautiful animal; I wanted him as a friend and not an enemy. After this encounter, the Forest Range Officer, Mr.Deka, sat me down and asked me exactly what I wanted to do. I told him, producing my email from DSWF. After a few minutes he looked up at me with a grin and told me to come back in the morning. He would arrange for vehicles and staff to take us all into the Park after the tourists had left and I could then take my pictures. I was ecstatic. Bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, (my guide), Bubu, and I arrived the following day. I took pictures of Jorba lying on his cage before we set off into the Park. Mr. Deka’s vehicle had been wrecked by elephants so he arranged for an open Jeep to transport We based ourselves at Donga Watch Tower and it was in this vicinity that I took most of the photographs of Anil and Jorba in action. It wasn’t easy trying to photograph an enthusiastic and extremely strong dog that was panting with excitement and nearly pulling Anil off his feet! Anil issued his instructions in both Assamese and English. At one point, upon the command “sniff ”, Jorba just rolled over and wanted to play! However, when we went nearer to Donga Beel, he began to get the hang of it and set off at high speed on a long lead, dragging Anil in hot pursuit behind him.” Why do you think Jorba was excited? Imagine that you are the one holding Jorba’s lead. Where does he lead you? What do you see? What happens next? Jorba and the Dog Team have been so successful that funds are being raised to pay for similar teams at other conservation projects. David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation Saba House, 7 Kings Road, Shalford, Guildford, Surrey GU4 8JU Tel: 01483 272323 Website: www.davidshepherd.org Registered Charity No: 1106893
Top to bottom: Anil and Jorba; Indian rhino which are poached for their horn; Captured poacher
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Case study: Anti-poaching dog squad, India Activities: Why do we need to protect endangered animals? Why are they endangered? Why do you think poachers kill endangered animals? How might you persuade them not to? Use the website to find out more about an endangered mammal and why it is poached.
David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation Saba House, 7 Kings Road, Shalford, Guildford, Surrey GU4 8JU Tel: 01483 272323 Website: www.davidshepherd.org Registered Charity No: 1106893
Find out more at www.davidshepherd.org
Photos courtesy Michael Vickers, www.tigersintheforest.co.uk, Aaranyak, Nicky Dunnington-Jefferson, SRT
Write a short story or poem from the poacher’s point of view. How do you feel when you realise that you are being chased? What happens next?
Wildlife Crime How is DSWF helping to fight wildlife crime? Investigation: Undercover agents are sent into the field to investigate illegal wildlife crime. In Assam a trained Belgian dog called Jorba is helping to sniff out poachers and this has been so successful that the scheme will be extended to some of DSWF’s other conservation projects. Training: Anti-poaching is a demanding and dangerous job and requires careful selection to find the right people as well as a lot of money to provide thorough and efficient training. Sometimes ex-poachers make the best anti-poachers as they know how poachers operate and the routes they take. DSWF helped reduce poaching in Russia, allowing Amur (Siberian) tigers to increase from 100 to over 400 in the wild. Equipment: Anti-poaching patrols need suitable clothing, tools, guns to protect themselves and radios so that they can keep in communication with their team and radio for help when needed.
Captured poachers in India
Nature Reserves and Protected Areas: Where endangered animals are particularly vulnerable, protected areas have been established to try to keep the poachers out. This reduces the incidence of poaching but the areas need to be patrolled 24 hours a day. Legislation: DSWF works with governments to introduce and enforce conservation laws. It works with the EIA and CITES and helps funds Operation Charm, run by the Metropolitan Police to flush out illegal trade in wildlife products in London, a hub for wildlife trade. Education and Awareness Programmes: It is important to raise awareness of Operation Charm, conservation issues in both children and adults. ACAP aims to make people aware of the importance of not buying endangered confiscated rhino horn animal products and is endorsed by celebrity supporters like Jackie Chan and Sir Ralph Fiennes.Teaching about conservation issues in schools is vitally important and DSWF aims to highlight some of the issues through its website, competitions and by involving children in exciting fundraising work. Campaigns such as TigerTime (including Cub Club) are influencing policy makers through its large supporter base on social network sites. http://www.davidshepherd.org/project/tigertime/
How Can You Help? Be informed. Find out which species are endangered. Do not buy products made from endangered species Tell others about this. Make a poster to stop people from buying illegal wildlife. Raise awareness by entering DSWF’s Global Canvas art and Poetry competition Adopt an endangered mammal. http://www.davidshepherd.org/help-us/adopt-an-animal.php
David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation Saba House, 7 Kings Road, Shalford, Guildford, Surrey GU4 8JU Tel: 01483 272323 Website: www.davidshepherd.org Registered Charity No: 1106893
Find out more at www.davidshepherd.org
