Today, March 3, 2015, is World Wildlife Day, and Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon talked about illegal wildlife trade and how it degrades ecosystems. The UN General Assembly in 2013  adopted an agreement on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). Too late to save Maalim who if raised my his mother in the wild would have had much better chance of  survival.

Bravo to Secretary-General Ban, whose comments give voice to this cause: “Combatting this crime is not only essential for conservation efforts and sustainable development; it will contribute to achieving peace and security in troubled regions where conflicts are fuelled by these illegal activities.”  The Secretary-General adds, “Getting serious about wildlife crime means enrolling the support of all sections of society involved in the production and consumption of wildlife products, which are widely used as medicines, food, building materials, furniture, cosmetics, clothing and accessories.”

According to the United Nations, CITES:

Elephants

• As many as 100,000 African elephants were killed between 2010 and 2012.
• Population of forest elephants are estimated to have experienced a 62% decline between 2002 and 2011.
• In Asia, poached African ivory was valued at $165 to $188 million. remaining virtually unchanged in 2014 compared to 2013.

Rhinos

• 1,215 rhinos were poached in South Africa alone in 2014 – this translates to one rhino killed every eight hours.
• 94 per cent of rhino poaching takes place in South Africa, which has the largest remaining populations
• In 2014, poached rhino horns are valued at $63 to $192 million.

Apes: Chimpanzees, Gorillas & Bonobos in Africa; Orangutans in Asia

Illicit trafficking in live great apes is estimated (at a minimum) lost from the wild over the last 14 months of (from GRASP records) :

• 220 chimpanzees,
• 106 orangutans,
• 33 bonobos, and
• 15 gorillas

“Wildlife crime is a transnational organized crime generating billions of dollars and undermining development. It is also an inter-generational crime that can permanently scar the world through the loss of some of our most beautiful creatures.  To stop this, we must act now,” said Yury Fedotov, Executive Director for the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).

Yes, we hope to see the UN Development Program (UNDP) deal with wildlife crime by concentrating on law enforcement, updating laws and educating communities. Regions in Asia and Africa must partner with neighboring countries and work together to stop illegal trade in these precious animals. What has taken them so long?

“World Wildlife Day is an opportunity to  celebrate wildlife, but it is also a wake-up call to get serious about wildlife crime. We must all do more to halt the illegal trade in wildlife. UNDP and its partners are committed to this task,” said UNDP Administrator Helen Clark recently. Actually, the wake-up call has been there a long time. I pray that with the serious involvement of the UN, we can see some real action on this problem before it’s too late. I ask my readers to follow the UN’s promise to take action; check out their link below. Let them know of the urgency for many of these animals and let’s not forget the birds, too. This may be their last hope.

UN adopts new global platform to tackle wildlife, forest crime

If you haven’t heard of the NGO, Sheldrick Trust Orphans Project for baby elephants and baby rhinos, I invite you to click on this link and sponsor a baby elephant or baby rhino through them. You won’t regret it.