Wildlife Trafficking
latest news & developments
Parrot egg smuggler ordered to pay for wildlife rescue
A Thai national caught smuggling protected parrot eggs out of South Africa has been convicted and ordered to pay R300,000 towards the care of confiscated wildlife.
UN backs negotiations on global protocol to tackle environmental crime
UN member states have approved negotiations on a new global protocol under UNTOC to target organized environmental crimes, including wildlife trafficking, illegal mining, and…
Suspected wildlife syndicate linked to 468 parrot eggs seized at OR Tambo
A suspected wildlife trafficking syndicate has been linked to the smuggling of 468 parrot eggs through OR Tambo International Airport following the arrest of two Thai nationals.
Quiet plunder of the Succulent Karoo
South Africa's Succulent Karoo, a global biodiversity hotspot, is under severe threat from a sophisticated international plant trafficking operation. What was once dismissed as…
Africa’s forest hornbills gain global protection as Cites lists species for first time
A coalition of African nations has secured new Cites controls on the international trade of hornbills amid concerns over habitat loss and surging demand for body parts
Organised Crime Index 2025: South Africa a continental hotspot for criminal networks
Human trafficking, cybercrime, drug routes and wildlife poaching are surging as South Africa becomes a regional crime hub
Hidden hitchhikers: Ticks on trafficked pangolins pose health threats
Scientists warn that ticks carried by trafficked pangolins may spread pathogens across continents, affecting people and animals
Covid and crackdowns slash ivory and pangolin scale trade
Trafficking of endangered wildlife is down sharply since 2020, the Wildlife Justice Commission finds
Illegal succulent trade is the Western Cape’s most prevalent wildlife crime
CapeNature says 650 species and more than 1.2 million harvested wild plants have been seized in the past four years
Wildlife Justice Commission: Wildlife traffickers captured in joint operation
The suspects were attempting to sell lions illegally when they were arrested
Rhino poaching spikes despite high conviction rate
KwaZulu-Natal remains the epicentre for poaching and the Hluhluwe–iMfolozi Park appears to be fighting a losing battle against the crime
Landmark sentence for West Rand chameleon poacher
It has taken two animal organisations and a local community working together to halt the trade in reptiles, puppies and other animals on the side of a Johannesburg intersection
South Africa sees 59 fewer rhinos killed in the first half of 2022
Figures show South Africa’s efforts to combat rhino poaching pays off
A notorious wildlife smuggler is finally behind bars
Moazu Kromah, aka ‘Kampala Man’, ran a wildlife trafficking syndicate in Africa and law enforcement authorities knew it. Why did it take so long to bring him to justice and what…
Facebook is a ‘major enabler’ of illegal trade in wildlife
An Avaaz Investigation shows how its algorithms drag casual users into international wildlife trafficking rabbit hole