Cracking Down On Wildlife Trafficking
http://thedianerehmshow.org/shows/2012-12-10/cracking-down-wildlife-trafficking
International wildlife trafficking has long been considered a critical conservation issue. Now the U.S. State Department has made it a foreign policy priority as well. Wildlife trafficking increasingly threatens the security, national health and economies of many countries. Poaching operations have become more large scale, sophisticated and organized. The black market in wildlife is second only to trade in drugs and arms. It’s a likely source of funding for transnational criminal networks, possibly even terrorist groups. Meanwhile demand has grown for furs, tusks, bones, horns and other illegal animal goods. Robert Hormats, Under Secretary of State for Economic Growth, Energy and the Environment, updates us on new efforts to raise awareness about conservation and stop illegal wildlife trafficking.
Guests
Robert Hormats
Under Secretary of State for economic, energy and agricultural affairs.
Comments
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AS FAR AS THE TUSKS ARE CONCERNED, WOULD IT BE POSSIBLE TO CLONE THE TUSKS OF DIFFERENT SPECIES AS TO ELIMINATE THE BLACK MARKET
From what I have heard on FB and Twitter and other social media, it is the rising economic power in countries which want these animals parts for they perceive as health reasons yet to be proved; China and India are implicated as much as any other countries...60 minutes had a wonderful segment on Turtle hunting for many endangered turtles...
In trying to understand Serious problems with "poaching" how do you explain illegal poaching killing elephants and people like Trumps sons who pay enough money to kill elephants supposedly legally ... why is this possible
What can I do as a US citizen of meager financial means to help? My heart breaks to learn this news and I need to know how I can actively help prevent these atrocities.
More people + more money = more demand, and meanwhile there is less habitat for the animals to hide. In a way I'm glad i am older and will be gone before most endangered species are finally extinct
I don't think your guest should speak for the other wildlife organizations...why didn't any of them come? Were they not invited?
In trying to understand Serious problems with "poaching" how do you explain illegal poaching killing elephants and people like Trumps sons who pay enough money to kill elephants supposedly legally ... why is this possible
I am a doctor of oriental medicine and would like to point out that the demand/trade in China is illegal. Do not conflate this issue with legitimate practice of Chinese Herbal Medicine. NO illegal herbs are used in legitimate settings in China. This trade in China is underground. Such substances are, of course, NOT used in the U.S.
Thanks and love you,
dr.w
RE King Juan Carlos elephant hunting: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-18942736
Given the involvement of organized crime into this area, and the broad global appeal of the "product", I believe the only way to slow this embarrassment of human existence, is to fight fire with fire. They use AK-47's and helicopters, we utilize the same, if not more, fire-power. I say arm the National Preserve rangers and guards with shoulder-fired, surface to air missiles. Countless guards and rangers have given their lives to protect these vulnerable creatures, to no avail. It is a shame that they put their lives on the line to protect our humanity, yet remained out-gunned at every turn. Unless we stand up to these eco-terrorists, nothing will change. Politeness & Education will not solve this problem alone. The animals will continue to die, and when they're gone, those that participated in their eradication (both hunter and consumer) will only move on to other areas of interest and profit, with no understanding or the natural world.
Here is the link to Juan Carlos hunting: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/apr/15/spain-king-juan-carlos-hunting
If people wantAnimal Parts then why not farm the animals. Laws and fines are too slow. if we want to save these monetized species Let's think outside the box here.after all no one would ever worry about endangered cows.
Tragic, we need to reeducate the end user so they know the consequences. Also, need to dispel the myths that these animals can cure their illnesses. These inhumane acts are a tragedy and threaten the extinction of these animals. The hunters are sometimes so poor and see this as a way to put food on the table for their families. WE need to address their problems as well.
Diane,
Can you kindly ask your guest about his thoughts about the request of exotic parrot breeders here in the US for lifting the ban on captive bred parrot exports to other countries. Many feel that a controlled and fish and wildlife supervised export program (which is the case in many European countries) will both economically benefit these breeders which are hurting with the current economic slump, and provide the government with additional income through licensing fee etc. However the main gain will be the reduction in demand of wild caught parrots. This philosophy has been extremely successful within the US, and many feel that the US (which has arguably the best and most experienced bird breeders) has a major role to play in the global bird trade. Thank you.
The extermination of elephants reminds me of the slaughter of the U.S. Bison/Buffalo.
FU.S. Department of Agriculture, I believe, is responsible for eradicating many thousands of wild animals each year, by trapping and using indiscriminate poisons like 1080, killing thousands of coyotes and raptors and knocking off unknown numbers of domestic dogs.
What about this, rigtht here in the USA, every year?
I don't know how extinction is avoidable between poachers & habitat loss from over population, each animal would have to have their own security guard! Death isn't the worse part it's the suffering before death.
wildlife rehabber.
One of your callers mentioned exotic pet trafficking. As we have seen, boa constrictors are decimating Florida wildlife, and many many of our migratory birds are also being trafficked because of their beauty or their songs.
We have a tendency to be judging other countries for the loss of wildlife, but we have a lot of work to do in our own country.
In terms of gaining support, there are several NGOs in Africa that are able to implement enforcement if they only had more financial support.
I pray to God that we can stop the slaughter around the world. It is ridiculous to believe these animals can cure cancer and etc. As a former
hunter with my dad i enjoyed the time in the wilderness with my dad whether or not we got anything, and when we did we used everything on it. I abhore the destruction, and the world will regret it once all of these extinct and near extinct animals are gone.
Good morning! How can we solve these problems of animal trade when there is not adequate funding??? If you ask an insptector or FWS person privately, they will tell you they are so underfunded and undermanned that they cannot possibly make much of an impact. For instance, the State of Kentucky does not fund, with taxpayer dollars, this type of action. All activities are funded by donations and a portion of the sale of hunting and fishing licenses.
Thank you.
How does a guest that you consider an expert on animal trafficking not know about the incident in Ohio last year?!?!
I fully support anti-trafficking legislation.
I do not, however, support banning possession all animals because that is a LUDICROUS policy. The Animals are already here, and when a Qualified Care Giver is forced to surrender their animals to UNQUALIFIED HIPPIES who KILL ANIMALS for a living. (for example PETA, the biggest animal killer in this country), it seems to me to be the highest form of animal cruelty. I look at the example of the Elephant in New Zealand that killed it's government mandated adopted handler who CLEARLY had NO BACKGROUND to be in possession of an Elephant and got herself killed in the process. She got what she deserved, and the elephant suffered while not in the care of it's trained handler.
This situation, as your guest has stated, is a crisis. Yet it is not being handled as one. Unfortunately the only thing I have heard from the Undersecretary is "we need to do this, we need to do that..."I know it's complicated... but ELEPHANTS ARE BEING SHOT WITH AK-47s FROM HELICOPTERS! When I hear something like that there is little else I can think of that should't be put on hold while this is stopped. Yes, shipments should be better inspected, yes, we should get kids to blog about the issue, but THIS IS A CRISIS! I can tell you 100% that we are failing in this issue and that we will continue to fail with the delicate measures being taken. Bush (Senior) in the 80's banned ivory and the U.S. is still the 2nd largest importer of endangered species and materials??? Thank you for what you are doing but you will have to do 100 times more and with major force, now, or you won't solve anything.
I agree with Edwards comment, I don't want to watch the extinction and loss of these magnificant animals, people need to quit having so many children, destroying the animals habitat too.
I believe your statement that wildlife tracking is second to arms and drug is incorrect. Human trafficking comes in second. Could you do a show educating your audience on human trafficking? Domestically and internationally? Domestic trafficking surprisingly is more of an issue for our country than international trafficking. Thank you.
As is typical of the democrats and the left, Hormats answer is to use violence in support of their agenda. Not toeing the line? Kill 'em, using the power of government.
Obama, of course, has shown the way in this regard. Eliminate constitutional protections, then kill those you wish to kill.
Taking prisoners is messy, and politically embarrassing especially since the liberals wanted to close Gitmo until Obama became president - now killing all those "terrorists" and Americans abroad with out due process is cool!
If one examines the political violence in America, it is mostly perpetrated by the left. William Ayers, the gays in California when the vote went against their preferred outcome, the occupiers, the environmental whack jobs.....90% of activist violence is committed by the left.
Therefore, not surprising to hear this democrat tool on the radio passing propaganda for the current administration.
As a hunter and very concerned "environmentalist", I must say that I was fairly insulted by the way legal hunters were represented on today's program. I don't make much money but I, like many other hunters donate my time and money to conservation organizations every year. I, like many other hunters also keep close tabs on policies that affect our wildlife and the environment and I contact our elected officials to encourage or discourage their support. Finally, I, like most other responsible hunters, loath animal cruelty, poachers and poaching. Believe it or not, hunting is not just about killing. I, like many others, was disgusted by the tragic events in Ohio. As has been mentioned, one of the biggest issues is the pathetic level of enforcement and the rediculously insignificant penalties that poachers and illegal trafficers recieve. It is nothing more than a slap on the wrist at best. One other thing to mention: Even top researchers at the WWF have stated that legal African big game hunting is crucial to the survival of those species.
Diane ~ Thank you SO Much for this segment!!! Extremely important and under-reported thus far.....
Please expand on this subject!
Explore the vast number of truly exciting people and organizations working on the
UN initiative establishing the Right of Nature.
--- and let's hear it for the State Dept. for taking this on!
We can do much to help thru social media --
Let's do it.
Thanks Diane
You are Amazing!
Realizing that wildlife protection is needed to protect our environment and that our country is working very hard to protect wildlife here and abroad, I am sometimes confused about some of the products on the market. I am particularly concerned where there seems to be some hypocrisy on our part. As an example, the consumption of shark fin soup in China seems to be a problem while shark cartilage capsules are openly sold in the US. I think we need better guidelines and much more public information concerning legal and illegal wildlife trade. And perhaps we need to think about revising our ideas, policies and laws in respect to this issue.
Also, if one would like to get a trophy, ecotourism should develop and encourage the experiencing of the “silent hunt”. This is a philosophical and spiritual practice in which the hunter goes out into a natural setting armed only with a camera. After finding a comfortable and out of the way vantage point, one would enter into watchful quietude and await the passage of animals. At the appropriate instance, the hunter could "shoot" a photo of the animal.
I am sure that this could be adapted for the hunting of wildlife, such that guns would be necessary for protection only. A very great trophy would be the image of the animal from one's own camera with the attestation "No animals were harmed in the shooting of this photo."
My Grandfather had an import/export company in Japan. He exported pearls & art works & imported jewels & Russian sables. His prized posession was his collection of Japanese carved ivory from walrus tusks, all were quite old & very valuable. When they retired to Hawaii, the collection was stolen by organized crime. Grandpa knew quite a bit about insuring delivery of valuables but couldn't cope with these kind of people. I'm horified at the extinction of so many species as I saw the end of the great salmon run growing up in northern California. I'm so saddened for my daughter & her children.
In reply to KC, who wrote :
< Given the involvement of organized crime into this area, and the broad global appeal of the "product", I believe the only way to slow this embarrassment of human existence, is to fight fire with fire. They use AK-47's and helicopters, we utilize the same, if not more, fire-power. I say arm the National Preserve rangers and guards with shoulder-fired, surface to air missiles. Countless guards and rangers have given their lives to protect these vulnerable creatures, to no avail. It is a shame that they put their lives on the line to protect our humanity, yet remained out-gunned at every turn. Unless we stand up to these eco-terrorists, nothing will change. Politeness & Education will not solve this problem alone. The animals will continue to die, and when they're gone, those that participated in their eradication (both hunter and consumer) will only move on to other areas of interest and profit, with no understanding or the natural world. >
---- >>>>
While I certainly don't condone violence, I completely agree. This is war, and a very cruel one at that. It just kills me to read about these tragedies occurring on daily basis now. I hate to say it but I'm sure that elephants are smarter than many humans. These poachers need to be hunted down and dealt with in the field ( perhaps I'm getting carried away, but I don't see another way out, this is URGENT ). Embarassment of human existence is right !