Malaysia’s $18m illegal wildlife seizure traced to Africa

Malaysian authorities say they’ve made the largest seizure of elephant ivory and other illegally trafficked wildlife parts in the nation’s history. The Royal Malaysian Customs Department (JKDM) statement said the agency found US$18 million in tusks, rhino horn, pangolin scales and related items while tracking a shipment of timber to…

Togo hosts African leaders to launch counterfeit drug initiative

Togo hosts African leaders to launch counterfeit drug initiative

President Macky Sall of Senegal and his Ugandan counterpart, Yoweri Museveni, are among African heads of state participating in a conference on counterfeit medications hosted by President Faure Gnassingbé of Togo. The two-day conference runs through Saturday and is expected to lead to a “Lomé Initiative” to end the illegal…

New wildlife research makes case for funding African parks

People may think that African wildlife is already facing enough threat from climate change or illegal trafficking, but the continent’s preserves are facing up to USD$2 billion in funding shortfalls that threaten protected areas. That’s according to Peter Lindsey, director of the Lion Recovery Fund and co-author of new research…

U.S. legislators advance Okavango River Basin wildlife protection

Legislation to protect wildlife from poaching in the Okavango River Basin of southern Africa was passed this week by the United States House of Representatives, where members who sponsored the bill raised the alarm over ties between wildlife trafficking and terrorist organization finance. “This ecosystem spans three countries,” said bill…

Seychelles initiative to address alarming heroin use rates

Officials in Seychelles are ramping up efforts to combat the island nation’s notorious heroin problem, which now effects more than 5 percent of the population age 15 or older. That’s according to survey results released earlier this month by the Agency for the Prevention of Drug Abuse and Rehabilitation, which…

IUCN partners put focus on communities to combat wildlife trafficking

There’s a new strategy to combat the illegal wildlife trade in Africa, and it relies on local communities and their role in curbing elephant, rhino and other wildlife trafficking. The International Union for Conservation of Nature, in partnership with the International Institute for International Development (IIED), rolled out a toolkit…