. Earth Science News .
FLORA AND FAUNA
Hong Kong seizes 7.2 tonnes of ivory
by Staff Writers
Hong Kong (AFP) July 6, 2017


More than seven tonnes of ivory worth over US$9 million was seized in Hong Kong, officials said Thursday, the largest bust of its kind in the city in three decades.

The 7,200 kilogramme (16,000 pound) haul was hidden underneath frozen fish and raised suspicions because of the high transportation fees listed on the bill of import.

Customs officials in the southern Chinese city said the cargo had come from Malaysia and was believed to have been the work of a major smuggling ring.

Three people -- one man and two women -- have been arrested in connection with the find, customs official Wan Hing-chuen said, warning there could be more detentions.

Hong Kong is a major hub for ivory import and processing, but launched a landmark bill last month to phase out the trade by 2021.

Critics say the city's authorities are lagging behind mainland China, where officials have pledged to completely ban ivory trading by the end of 2017.

The global trade in elephant ivory, with rare exceptions, has been outlawed since 1989 after populations of the African giants dropped from millions in the mid-20th century to around 600,000 by the end of the 1980s.

There are now believed to be some 415,000, with 30,000 illegally killed each year.

Ivory is highly sought-after in China, where elephant tusks are used in traditional medicine or to make ornaments. Prices for a kilogramme (2.2 pounds) reach as high as $1,100.

FLORA AND FAUNA
Man stopped on Thai border with orangutans, tortoises, raccoons
Bangkok (AFP) June 22, 2017
Thai wildlife officers have arrested a Malaysian man attempting to smuggle two baby orangutans, 51 tortoises and six raccoons into the kingdom across its southern border, officials said Thursday. The animals were packed into plastic boxes and suitcases loaded into Ismail Bin Ahmad's car, officials said. The 63-year-old was stopped Wednesday as he was attempting to drive through a border ... read more

Related Links
Darwin Today At TerraDaily.com


Thanks for being here;
We need your help. The SpaceDaily news network continues to grow but revenues have never been harder to maintain.

With the rise of Ad Blockers, and Facebook - our traditional revenue sources via quality network advertising continues to decline. And unlike so many other news sites, we don't have a paywall - with those annoying usernames and passwords.

Our news coverage takes time and effort to publish 365 days a year.

If you find our news sites informative and useful then please consider becoming a regular supporter or for now make a one off contribution.
SpaceDaily Contributor
$5 Billed Once


credit card or paypal
SpaceDaily Monthly Supporter
$5 Billed Monthly


paypal only


Comment using your Disqus, Facebook, Google or Twitter login.

Share this article via these popular social media networks
del.icio.usdel.icio.us DiggDigg RedditReddit GoogleGoogle

FLORA AND FAUNA
Holiday weekend leaves more than 100 gunfire victims in Chicago

Ex-bosses stand trial over 2011 Fukushima crisis in Japan

New landslide hits China disaster area

Ex-NY mayor Bloomberg to grant $200 mln to US cities

FLORA AND FAUNA
True romance in the air at Tokyo virtual reality show

Seawater makes ancient Roman concrete stronger

A bioplastic derived from soy protein which can absorb up to 40 times its own weight

New polymer goes for a walk when illuminated

FLORA AND FAUNA
'Perfect storm' of oceanic conditions triggered Great Barrier Reef bleaching

Cornell researchers build American eels an 'eelevator'

Study: Birth control turning male fish into females

Calculating 'old' and 'new' water runoff

FLORA AND FAUNA
Huge Antarctic ice block poised to snap off

More summer sunshine leading to increased Greenland ice melt

Climate change impacts Antarctic biodiversity habitat

On the march: As polar bears retreat, grizzlies take new territory

FLORA AND FAUNA
Incremental discovery may one day lead to photosynthetic breakthrough

Industrial farming disrupts burn-regrowth cycle in grasslands

New study links common pesticide to bee deaths

Lake harvests are likely more fruitful than we knew

FLORA AND FAUNA
'Bulges' in volcanoes could be used to predict eruptions

Huge floods sweep southern Japan, two dead, 18 missing

Sleuthing for Seismic Answers in the Sooner State

Japan typhoon grounds flights, injures three

FLORA AND FAUNA
I.Coast's Comoe park no longer endangered: UNESCO

Mali relaunches beleagured peace process

Clashes erupt in C. Africa a day after peace deal

Mali ex-rebels reject national charter on peace deal anniversary; Dozens killedw/l

FLORA AND FAUNA
Researchers document early, permanent human settlement in Andes

Analysis of Neanderthal teeth grooves uncovers evidence of prehistoric dentistry

Study: Potentially no limit to human lifespan

Beyond bananas: 'Mind reading' technology decodes complex thoughts









The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2024 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. All articles labeled "by Staff Writers" include reports supplied to Space Media Network by industry news wires, PR agencies, corporate press officers and the like. Such articles are individually curated and edited by Space Media Network staff on the basis of the report's information value to our industry and professional readership. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Statement Our advertisers use various cookies and the like to deliver the best ad banner available at one time. All network advertising suppliers have GDPR policies (Legitimate Interest) that conform with EU regulations for data collection. By using our websites you consent to cookie based advertising. If you do not agree with this then you must stop using the websites from May 25, 2018. Privacy Statement. Additional information can be found here at About Us.