Posted on 21 July 2010
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia,
16 July 2010 – Malaysian Customs Department
arrested two women carrying nearly 400 critically
endangered Madagascar tortoises.
With Malaysia’s International
Trade in Endangered Species Act coming into
effect this month, the two Malagasy suspects
could be sentenced to a maximum seven years
in jail and fined up to MYR 1 million ($310,000
USD).
The women filled their
bags with 369 radiated tortoises (Astrochelys
radiata) and five ploughshare tortoises
(Astrochelys yniphora). Both of these species
are unique to Madascar and listed as critically
endangered on the IUCN red list as well
as on the Appendix I of CITES. Also hidden
in their luggage were 47 tomato frogs (Dyscophus
antongilii) and several chameleons.
"Malaysia's enforcement
officers are to be congratulated on their
crackdown on wildlife crime," said
James Compton, Director of TRAFFIC’s Asia-Pacific
Programme.
This is the second case
in just over a month involving the smuggling
of these rare tortoises into Malaysia.
In early June, Customs
officers at the Kuala Lumpur International
Airport, discovered 285 radiated tortoises,
14 spider tortoises and a ploughshare tortoise
in two unclaimed suitcases that also contained
a stash of drugs. However, no arrests were
made in that incident.
"This is exactly
the kind of action that is needed to protect
Madagascar's rich and unique biodiversity
from the predations of unscrupulous traders",
says Dr Colman O’Criodain, Wildlife Trade
Policy Analyst of WWF International. "Furthermore,
the fact that drugs were also found in the
earlier seizure proves, yet again, that
wherever wildlife crime is committed other
organized crime will also flourish."
The reptiles and amphibians
seized in both cases have been handed over
to the Department of Wildlife and National
Parks (Perhilitan).
Malagasy reptiles are
widely traded globally. With few successful
captive propagation projects whose combined
reported output cannot account for the volume
of individuals in trade, it is assumed the
vast majority of these animals are sourced
illegally from the wild.
These cases confirm
links between criminal elements in Southeast
Asia and Madagascar. TRAFFIC Southeast Asia
urges enforcement agencies within the ASEAN-WEN
to collaborate in shutting these syndicates
down, especially in international airports,
as these are truly the hubs of the trade.
Investigations to find
the masterminds behind the trade in Madagascar’s
tortoises in Southeast Asia should be initiated.
It is these people, and those that continue
to buy these illegal animals that are driving
them towards extinction.
The second seizure of
Madagascar tortoises comes hot on the heels
of several Perhilitan successes this month.
+ More
Local community prized
for work in Mara river basin
Posted on 21 July 2010
Nairobi, Kenya – Last week in New York,
the Mara River Water User’s Association
(MRWUA) won the Equator Initiative Prize
for promoting the protection and conservation
of the Mara Catchment area and supporting
the sustainable and efficient use of water.
The association, which
also assists relevant authorities with water
resources management, issuance of water
use permits and water conflict resolution,
was one of the 25 winners selected out of
nearly 300 finalists from 66 different countries
for their work to reduce poverty through
the conservation of biodiversity.
The Mara River runs
through Kenya and Tanzania and is a vital
source of water for the region. People living
along the river and its basin area are increasingly
facing water shortages, poor water quality
and environmental degradation as a result
of pollution, agricultural runoff, large-scale
irrigation projects, and mining and other
industrial activities.
"I am extremely
honoured our association has attained an
international award. All this would not
have been possible without WWF’s efforts
to mentor and guide us," said Mr. Joseph
Kones, Secretary to the Mara River Water
User’s Association.
In 2005, WWF facilitated
the establishment of Mara River Water Users
Association in Kenya. The association was
formed under Water Act (2005) of Kenya that
sanctions local dialogue and management
of water resources. Other partners are Water
Resources Management Authority, National
Environmental Management Authority and the
Ministry of Agriculture.
“The 2010 Equator Award
is fitting recognition of 5 years of hard
work, relentless devotion and commitment
by the association and WWF to the conservation
of freshwater resources in the Mara River
Basin,” said Ms. Doris Ombara, Project Manager
for WWF’s Mara River Basin Initiative.
Through technical and
institutional support, WWF has over the
years built the association’s capacity.
The association has therefore become a major
contributor to the broader agenda surrounding
integrated water resources management in
the Mara River Basin. By supporting, leveraging
and enabling such institutions, WWF is confident
of good and sustainable approaches that
benefit conservation, improve livelihoods
of local communities, and foster peace through
resolution of water conflicts.
According to a letter
from the Equator Initiative, the association
“joins an elite group of influential grassroots
movement of local and indigenous best practice
in biodiversity conservation and poverty
reduction.”
The Mara River Water
User’s Association now also stands a chance
to become one of five communities to receive
a special recognition prize US$15,000, adding
to the US$5,000 already won.
This is yet another
major win for community organizations that
are now taking lead in environmental conservation.
In May 2010, two water resource users’ associations
supported by WWF and Care Kenya in Naivasha
Kenya were paid over US$10,000 for their
work to sustain water flows in rivers within
the Lake Naivasha catchment.
