Ivory destruction Despite efforts to destroy ivory, criminals are becoming more organised, ingenious and dangerous. "We have seen more and more organised crime networks moving into the wildlife trade," says Davyth Stewart from Interpol, the international intelligence agency. "Groups who have been traditionally involved in drug trafficking, fire arms and human trafficking are now moving onto wildlife." It's clearly not a fair match: conservationists pitted against criminal gangs. But the wildlife experts say it's a fight they have to take on. They have gathered at the Zoological Society of London to tackle how to halt the rapidly growing trade in animals. The backdrop to these crisis talks is bleak. Thousands of rhinos, elephants, tigers and others have been slaughtered, becoming part of an illegal market that's worth an estimated $19bn a year. Many criminals see it as low risk, high profit, says Mr Stewart. "There is a lower risk of apprehension, it's unfortunate but law enforcement has not invested the resources in attacking wildlife crime as it has in other crimes," he explains. "Even in courts the penalties are much lower. Just last year in Ireland, we saw two people arrested for smuggling rhino horns worth half a million euros. They received a 500-euro fine." Demand and supply John Sellar, the former chief of enforcement at Cites (the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species), says the focus of the battle should be shifted away from conservation towards the issue of criminality. "It's about locking up the bad guys," he tells the conference.

Rhino poaching in South Africa reaches record levels

 

 
A dead rhino is dehorned by a researcher in Zimbabwe.
 

Figures from the South African government indicate that poaching for rhinoceros has increased substantially in the last year.

A record 668 rhinos were killed for their horns in 2012, up almost 50% on the number for 2011.

The majority of the animals were killed in the Kruger national park, the country's biggest wildlife reserve.

“Rhinos are being illegally killed...all for the frivolous

use of their horns as a hangover cure” Sabri Zain TRAFFIC

Experts say that growing demand for rhino horn in Asia is driving the slaughter.

South Africa is home to around three quarters of the world's rhinoceros

population of around 28,000 animals. In 2007 a mere 13 animals were lost to poachers.

But since then the killing has increased substantially. It is being fuelled

by the belief in countries like China and Vietnam that powdered rhino horn has

medicinal powers and can impact diseases like cancer. Horns can sell for around $65,000 a kg.

Poaching crisis

The rich rewards have attracted criminal gangs who deploy a range of

sophisticated technologies in their efforts to capture and dehorn the animals.

Wildlife crime profound threat to nations, says report

 

 
A tiger cub rescued from smugglers in Thailand en route to China
 

The global illegal trade in wildlife

is worth $19bn (£12bn) a year and is threatening the stability of some

governments according to new research.

Carried out for conservation group WWF, a report highlights a "new wave" of

organised wildlife crime by armed groups operating across borders.

It says funds from trafficking are being used to finance civil conflicts.

The study comes as Malaysian officials captured about 20 tonnes of ivory in one of the

biggest seizures ever made.

“The bloody ivory trade has reached new heights of destruction and depravity in 2012”

Will Travers Born Free Foundation

According to Jim Leape, WWF International director

general, the report underlines the fact that wildlife crime has escalated

drastically over the past decade and now posed a greater threat than

ever.

Armed by ivory

 
A tiger testicle, described by   

the WWF as of dubious authenticity, on sale in Bangkok

South Africa troops tackle rhino poachers

Rhinos are killed for their horns in many parts of Africa

South Africa is to deploy hundreds of extra troops along its borders to help fight gangs smuggling rhino horns, the government has announced.

Justice Minister Jeff Radebe said four military companies would be sent to the borders with Zimbabwe, Swaziland and Lesotho.

Syndicates export the horns from Africa to parts of Asia and the Middle East.

In 2011, a record 450 rhinos were killed by poachers in South Africa, the Department of Environment Affairs says.

Mr Radebe said about 600 soldiers would join the fight against rhino poaching.

"The deployment includes army engineers who are conducting repairs and maintenance on the Zimbabwe-Mozambique border fence, which is approximately 140 kilometres (85 miles)," Mr Radebe said.

Last year troops were deployed along the Mozambican border, many of them inside the world-famous Kruger National Park where more than 200 rhinos were killed last year.

"Effective border management is part of the government crime prevention strategy, which assists to deal with cross-border crime syndicates and curb poaching," said Mr Radebe.