Wildlife crime in Surrey part of ‘vile’ global trade

David Shepherd said “With growing demand from far eastern markets it has never been more important that we stand together and stop this vile, criminal trade.” Photo credit Operation Charm

Foundation founder and wildlife artist, David Shepherd CBE said: "People in the UK often believe that the trade in endangered wildlife is nothing to do with them, that it is a problem belonging to another continent. This arrest shows that it affects us all, that it is right here, on our doorstep."

Theft of rhino head
The theft of a rhino head from Haslemere Educational Museum in May 2011 illustrates the lengths that some people will go to cash in on the growing demand for rhino horn products fuelled by a newly affluent China. With rhino horn reaching up to four times the value of gold, weight for weight, it's not just museum exhibits that are being targeted. In 2011, South Africa lost 448 rhino to poachers, an increase of over 7,000% (seven thousand per cent) in ten years.

"2011 was also an ‘annus horribilis' for the African elephant with ivory seizures reaching record levels of 23 tonnes - equivalent to 2,500 elephants," says DSWF, CEO, Melanie Shepherd.

London is a hub for Europe's illegal wildlife trade
The global illegal wildlife trade is worth an estimated £6-12 billion a year and London is a major hub for Europe's illegal trade in endangered species. Since 1995, Operation Charm, an initiative led by the Metropolitan Police and supported by key wildlife charities, including the David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation, has seized over 30,000 endangered species items.

"The illegal use of endangered plant and animal species for traditional medicines and trinkets, threatens their survival in the wild," adds David Shepherd. "The use of tiger parts, for instance, is thought to have contributed to a 95% drop in wild tiger numbers in the last century alone."

Tigertime
DSWF works to save critically endangered animals in the wild and supports anti-poaching projects in Africa and Asia alongside awareness campaigns to stop the trade and save species such as the snow leopard, rhino, elephant and tiger. In 2011, with tiger numbers estimated to be as low as 3,200 in the wild, David Shepherd launched a global campaign to save this iconic big cat from extinction. TigerTime now has a following of over 60,000 supporters and in March takes its campaign to the House of Lords.

"Every wild animal is precious to us whether we live in Surrey or South Africa. As long as they exist so do the vital ecosystems that support them and all life on earth," adds David Shepherd. "With growing demand from far eastern markets it has never been more important that we stand together and stop this vile, criminal trade."

You can help protect these amazing animals either by finding out more at www.davidshepherd.org, signing up to TigerTime at www.tigertime.info or reporting any suspicious activities involving illegal wildlife products to Operation Charm at www.operationcharm.org or call them on 01483 426111.