World Wildlife Fund

China approved for controlled ivory imports from Africa

China has been approved as a buyer of legally stockpiled African elephant ivory under strict conditions. The decision was made today at the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) meeting in Geneva, Switzerland.

A Bitter Pill to Swallow

Two reports from TRAFFIC, the world's largest wildlife trade monitoring network, on traditional medicine systems in Cambodia and Vietnam suggest that illegal wildlife trade, including entire tiger skeletons, and unsustainable harvesting is depleting the region’s rich and varied biodiversity and putting the primary healthcare resource of millions at risk.

International organized smuggling group charged with trafficking Amur tiger body parts and 480 bear paws

On 27 May 2008, Primorskii regional court handed out its verdict in the trial of three Russian and three Chinese individuals charged with trafficking Amur tiger body parts and 480 bear paws, for which they had tried to pass to China in August 2007.

Wildlife Protection Bill Advances in House

WASHINGTON – Legislation to protect endangered and iconic animals, including leopards, cheetahs and gray wolves, passed a key congressional panel today and was cleared for a vote by the full U.S. House of Representatives.  World Wildlife Fund’s (WWF) chief scientist, Dr. Eric Dinerstein, testified in support of the bill at a hearing in September.

Body Part by Body Part, Sumatran Tigers Are Being Sold into Extinction

WASHINGTON – Laws protecting the critically endangered Sumatran Tiger have failed to prevent tiger body parts being openly sold in Indonesia, according to a TRAFFIC report launched today.

Lack of meat for Africa’s Largest Concentration of Refugees Causing Large Scale Poaching

Washington - A new report released by TRAFFIC, the wildlife trade monitoring network, and WWF finds that the lack of meat in refugee rations in East Africa is causing a flourishing illegal trade in wild meat, threatening wildlife populations and creating a food security issue for rural communities.

Tigers get more protection in Russia’s Far East, says WWF

Vladivostok, Russia--Today the Russian Government created a new national park that is habitat for the endangered Siberian tiger in the country’s Far Eastern region after six years of research and negotiation by World Wildlife Fund. Roughly the size of Rhode Island, Anyuiskii National Park—1562.5 square miles--is the largest of three protected areas established by the Russian government in 2007.

Wild Salmon Illegally Caught in Russia and Shipped to the U.S.

WASHINGTON--East Asian countries are importing between 50 and 90 percent more Russian Sockeye salmon thanRussia is reporting as caught and much of it is destined for theU.S. according to a new report from TRAFFIC, the wildlife trade monitoring network, and WWF.

New treaty boosts protection of gorillas says World Wildlife Fund, TRAFFIC

PARIS – Today’s new agreement endorsed by nine African countries to better protect gorillas is a major conservation achievement, said World Wildlife Fund and TRAFFIC, the wildlife trade monitoring network.

New Treaty Strengthens Gorilla Protection

WWF Chief Scientist Testifies on Behalf of Great Cats, Rare Canids and International Cranes

WASHINGTON- Dr. Eric Dinerstein, Chief Scientist and Vice-President for Conservation Science at World Wildlife Fund testified before the Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife, and Oceans of the House Committee on Natural Resources today on three bills - H.R. 1464, the Great Cats and Rare Canids Conservation Act of 2007, H.R. 1913, the Great Cats Conservation Act of 2007, and H.R. 1771, the Crane Conservation Act of 2007. Modeled on the highly successful conservation programs for elephants, rhinos, tigers, great apes, sea turtles and neotropical migratory birds, the bills would establish conservation programs to protect some of the world's most endangered and iconic species.

Cross border haul of Illegal bear and tiger parts seized in Russian Far East

Customs and the Frontier Service in the Primorskii province in the Russian Far East have seized a massive cache of illegal wildlife products bound for China.

Luxury Store Owner Convicted for Wildlife Trafficking

Bangkok - A Bangkok luxury store owner was convicted today for breaching Thailand's wildlife protection law. The store owner, Mr Reyaz Ahmad Mir, an Indian national from Kashmir, pleaded guilty to charges of illegally importing and selling "shahtoosh" shawls made from the wool derived from poaching highly endangered Tibetan Antelopes (Pantholops hodgsonii).

WWF Photographs Three-Legged Sumatran Tiger That May Have Survived Capture, Escaped from Snare

WASHINGTON - A WWF camera trap inside an Indonesian national park has captured photographs of a Sumatran tiger in the wild that appears to have escaped from a snare by cutting its paw off.

World's largest photo mosaic of tiger unveiled at CITES; World leaders urged to end tiger trade

WASHINGTON - A two-storey-high photo mosaic of a tiger, created from personal photos of nearly 25,000 tiger lovers worldwide, was unveiled in The Netherlands today to urge world leaders to end all trade in tigers. Individuals from more than 140 countries contributed their pictures to it.

Study: Viable Tiger Populations, Tiger Trade Incompatible

The Hague – In the cover story of this month’s BioScience journal, leading tiger experts warn that if tigers are to survive, governments must stop all trade in tiger products from wild and captive-bred sources, as well as ramp up efforts to conserve the species and their habitats. The paper, “The Fate of Wild Tigers,” describes the wild tiger's population decline as "catastrophic" and urges international cooperation to ensure the animal's continued existence in the wild.

WWF Experts at Global Tiger Forum Available to Discuss Big Cat Conservation, China Tiger Trade Ban

Kathmandu, Nepal – The world’s leading tiger experts and delegates from at least 12 countries are gathering in Nepal this week to discuss the future of the world’s endangered wild tigers at the International Tiger Symposium and Global Tiger Forum. WWF and TRAFFIC scientists, policy experts and wildlife trade authorities are available to provide updates and comment on the meetings.

Lifting Chinese Tiger Trade Ban a Death Sentence for Wild Tigers say WWF and TRAFFIC

WASHINGTON- Any easing of the current Chinese ban on trading products made from tigers is likely a death sentence for the endangered cats, according to a new TRAFFIC report released today by World Wildlife Fund and TRAFFIC-the wildlife trade monitoring program of WWF and IUCN.

The Real Story of Illegal Wildlife Traders Who Smuggle 'Snakes on a Plane'

The storyline of this summer's blockbuster might seem far fetched but illegal wildlife trade specialists know the plot all too well. In recent years, there have been several instances of people literally smuggling snakes on a plane.

Thai police bust smugglers selling rare shahtoosh wool in Thailand

WASHINGTON - For the first time in Thailand, Thai authorities busted a major smuggling ring involved in the illegal trade of shahtoosh wool, which is only obtained by killing the endangered Tibetan Antelope. During a raid on three Bangkok stores located in a high-end tourist area, police seized over 250 purported shahtoosh shawls which are well known in the fashion world for their exceptional quality. A single shawl requires wool from three to five dead antelopes.

Illegal Trade is Propelling Rare Turtle Toward Extinction, New Report Finds

WASHINGTON - A new report released today finds that the illegal trade in the Roti Island snake-necked turtle, found only on one island in Indonesia, has left it all but extinct in the wild. Exotic pet enthusiasts in Europe, North America and East Asia are fueling the illegal trade for the turtle, often without realizing that they are contributing to its demise. No legal trade of this species has been allowed since 2001.

WWF Experts Available For Comment On Avian Flu, Bird Trade and Wildlife Impacts

WASHINGTON - World Wildlife Fund has two experts available to discuss avian flu, the impact to wildlife and North American quarantine policies.