BBC Web trade threat to rare species

[Guest guest]

>BBC DAILY E-MAIL: UK EDITION

>Tuesday, 16 August, 2005, 8:00 GMT 01:00 -07:00:US/Pacific

>

> * Web trade threat to rare species *

>Endangered species are being pushed to

>extinction through their illegal trade over in

>internet, campaigners say.

>Full story:

>http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/em/-/1/hi/sci/tech/4153726.stm

Web trade threat to rare species

The illegal trade in wild animal products over

the internet is driving the world's most

endangered species to extinction, wildlife

campaigners claim.

 

An International Fund for Animal Welfare (Ifaw)

probe found 9,000 live animals or products for

sale in one week on trading sites like eBay.

 

Ifaw claims many traders are taking advantage of the internet's anonymity.

 

The UK Government says it takes wildlife crime

seriously, but Ifaw urged it to act urgently.

 

During a three month investigation, Ifaw found

some of the world's most endangered species for

sale online - almost all being traded illegally.

 

Animal parts

 

These included a live gorilla for sale in London

and a Siberian tiger and four baby chimps on US

websites.

 

Animal body parts included hawksbill turtle

shells, shahtoosh shawls from the Tibetan

antelope and taxidermy specimens of lions, and

peregrine falcons - protected by British law.

 

Ivory items and traditional Asian remedies

containing parts of endangered tigers and rhinos

were common place.

 

The result is a cyber black market where the

future of the world's rarest animals is being

traded away.

Phyllis Campbell-McRae

Director IFAW UK

 

The report, Caught in the Web: Wildlife Trade on

the Internet, said many animals were being

targeted by poachers to meet the demands of

wealthy consumers.

 

Ifaw UK director Phyllis Campbell-McRae said

unscrupulous traders and sophisticated criminal

gangs took advantage of the anonymity afforded by

the internet.

 

" The result is a cyber black market where the

future of the world's rarest animals is being

traded away.

 

" This situation must be tackled immediately by

governments and website owners. "

 

'Laws exist'

 

Of the 9,000 animals and animal parts found for

sale by the probe in its first week alone, 70%

were from species protected by international law.

 

Ifaw wants the Department for Environment, Food

and Rural Affairs (Defra) to ensure that bans are

enforced.

 

Professor William Dutton, director of the Oxford

Internet Institute, said: " Laws exist to stop the

unlawful use of any communication medium, but

governments and agencies need to communicate in

order to address activities that span the globe. "

 

Endangered animals are protected under

international law by the Convention on

International Trade in Endangered Species

(CITES), but there are not enough resources to

enforce it, the report said.

 

British native wildlife law prohibits the trade

all wild birds and mammals found in the UK.

 

But researchers found there was a lack of

understanding of the legislation. They wants

Defra to provide user-friendly information on its

own website.

 

The report urged the department to set up a

hotline for easy reporting of suspicious trade.

 

Unlimited fines

 

Defra welcomed the report. Biodiversity minister

Jim Knight said: " The National Wildlife Crime

Intelligence Unit is working closely with

internet service providers to raise awareness of

wildlife controls and to enhance

intelligence-gathering on wildlife crime.

 

" Last month, we introduced tough new penalties

for people convicted of trading in endangered

species, meaning they now face up to five years

in prison or an unlimited fine. "

 

He said the penalties give police stronger

powers of arrest, entry, search and seizure.

 

The government was also consulting on plans to

use powers under EC regulations to cut wildlife

crime at home and abroad.

 

Website owners are being urged to let users

report their suspicions and work more closely

with government and enforcement agencies.

 

A spokesman for eBay said its animals policy

goes beyond the law in prohibiting the sale of

native and endangered species and it was working

closely with the Ifaw to ensure the site remained

free from illegal items.

 

" If we are made aware of any listing that breaks

this policy, we will end the listing and may,

where appropriate, forward it to the relevant law

enforcement agency for action.

 

" We strongly encourage users to report illegal items to customer support. "

Story from BBC NEWS:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/1/hi/sci/tech/4153726.stm

 

Published: 2005/08/15 22:58:17 GMT

 

© BBC MMV

 

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