While there has been some success in combating the illicit trade in some iconic wildlife species, and cross-border cooperation and recognition of wildlife crimes have improved, the magnitude of the problem remains large, with around 4,000 various plant and animal species being seized between 2015 and 2021, the U.N. Office on Drugs and Crime reported in Vienna, Austria, earlier this month. “The global scope and scale of wildlife crime remain substantial as the seizures indicate...
Kaziranga National Park in Assam, renowned for its one-horned rhinoceroses, achieved record revenue of ₹8.8 crore in financial year 2023-24, the highest amount in its 50-year history. The surge is attributed to a significant increase in tourist numbers, with 3,27,493 visitors, including 13,919 foreigners, The Statesman newspaper reported. The UNESCO World Heritage Site’s diverse attractions, such as jungle and elephant safaris, have greatly enhanced the visitor experience. As reported by the website Northeast Today, the...
The quaint Union territory of Pondicherry, officially Puducherry, has been reeling under record-breaking high temperatures this year. While people find ways to beat the scorching heat, animals do not have many options. Thankfully, the office of the forest department near the AFT Ground in Mudaliarpet is working on a war footing to make sure no animal in its care suffers heat stroke, according to a news report. Dedicated to rescuing and treating stray and injured...
Air Canada, Canada’s largest airline and flag carrier and a founding member of the Star Alliance, has launched an initiative to spotlight the illegal wildlife trade and its impact on global biodiversity, the company said in a press release on Wednesday, renowned conservationist and primatologist Jane Goodall’s 90th birthday. The awareness campaign, in collaboration with the Jane Goodall Institute of Canada and Dr Goodall herself, will showcase on the airline’s in-flight entertainment welcome screens and...
An estimated 5.5 billion wild animals—yes, that’s right—are being kept in cruel conditions on commercial wildlife farms, according to British charity World Animal Protection. Published on March 4, the charity’s Bred for Profit: The Truth About Global Wildlife Farming Report reveals the scale of this exploitative industry in which billions of wild animals are bred to be traded as pets, used for entertainment or tourist attractions, and turned into ornaments, luxury food, fashion products, or ‘traditional...
