On the Trail - Robin des Bois

Seizure of 16 live pythons, 7 lizards (3 of which
were dead), 7 slender loris (Loris tardigradus,
Appendix II)
Nanning, Autonomous Region of Guangxi
Zhuang, China
July 19, 2013
The seized animals were found out back of a 10 m 2
shack, where lived a couple and a repulsive stench.
The animals were taken to a shelter, the Guangxi
Endangered Wildlife Research Centre. A 3.5m long
python skin was also found, its exact species is unknown.
The Asiatic rock python (Python molurus,
Appendix II) and the Burmese python (Python bivittatus,
Appendix II) live in China. The slender loris is
an endemic species from Sri Lanka. Its population
is estimated to be of 1,500 individuals. The main
threat to this species is the destruction of its habitat.
Poaching feeds the pets market and locally the
animals are used for food. The lizard species has not
been determined. 2 species that live in China are
listed in CITES, the common water monitor (Varanus
salvator, Appendix II) and the Bengal black lizard
(Varanus bengalensis, Appendix I).
Palawan residents, were kept in view, the objective
being to know all sides of the traffic operation.
The common hill mynas were collected to be companion
animals. The species has been registered
under Appendix II of CITES since 1997. The population
of Palawan Hornbills is estimated to be between
2,500 to 10,000. They are poached as trophies, for
food, and for the domestic animal market. Oriental
small-clawed otters are the smallest otters in the
world, measuring only up to 90cm long and weighing
around 5kg. The destruction and degradation
of their habitat by domestic pollution, agricultural
practices, deforestation, and human encroachment
are all threats to this otter.
Loris tardigradus © Little Fireface Project
Seizure of 31 live animals including 16 South
American yellow-footed tortoise (Chelonoidis
denticulata, Appendix II), 6 pacas (Cuniculus paca,
Appendix III), 2 white-lipped peccary (Tayassu
pecari, Appendix II) et 1 boa constrictor (Boa
constrictor, Appendix II).
Canton of Joya de los Sachas, Province of Orellana,
Ecuador
July 24, 2013
The seizure took place at the home of an animal
trainer. The owner did not have the require authorizations.
The animals were kept in overcrowded and
filthy cages and fences. Some showed signs of malnutrition.
They were taken to a zoo and put in quarantine.
They will be released into the wild once their
physical condition allows it.
Seizure of 173 common hill mynas (Gracula religiosa,
Appendix II), 3 blue-naped parrots (Tanygnathus
lucionensis, Appendix II), 2 Palawan
hornbills (Anthracoceros marchei, Appendix II),
and 5 oriental small-clawed otters (Aonyx cinerea,
Appendix II)
Dalahican, Province of Quezon, Philippines
July 28 th , 2013
The animals were shut away in metal cages in an
Isuzu. The couple and the 2 other passengers, all
Oriental small-clawed otter © Dave Gunn
Seizure of 2 pacas (Cuniculus paca, Appendix III
in Honduras), one brown-throated sloth (Bradypus
variegatus, Appendix II), one keel-billed toucan
(Ramphastos sulfuratus, Appendix II)
Barra del Colorado, Limon Province, Costa Rica
July 29 th , 2013
The animals were in bags. The sloth was around 2
months old. The toucan was around 3 years old.
The illegal traffic of sloths is on the rise. They are
poached as part of the domestic animals market.
However, the biology of and diet particular to
sloths make their survival at the homes of individuals
improbable.
Brown-throated sloth © Daniel Hinckley
Seizure of 20 animals, including 4 Geoffrey’s spider
monkeys (Ateles geoffroyi, Appendix II), 3
Harris’s hawk’s (Parabuteo unicinctus, Appendix
71
On The Trail # 2. Robin des Bois