April 2014

After years of requests from the international community Beijing recognizes that the hunting and traduing of 420 species is a  “global threat”. The ban involves pandas, rhinos, pangolins and sharks: used in traditional medicine or considered “treats” these animals are in danger of disappearing. The penalties for violating the new law range from 3 to 10 years in prison.

Eating or hunting rare animals for food is now a criminal offense in China. The government has approved an amendment to the Criminal Code which sets 3 to 10 years in prison for those who “knowingly eat or trade “, the meat of the 420 species currently at risk across the Chinese territory. They include the giant pandas, golden monkeys, Asian black bears and pangolins. Shark fins and rhino horns, key elements in traditional Chinese medicine have also been banned.

The decision was made this morning by the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress, which represents the national parliament. After years of requests from the international community, the Standing Committee defined the hunting of endangered species a “global threat”. In addition, the Commission has “blamed” wealthy Asian consumers who, thanks to a high volume of cash, foment trade in rare animals for personal purposes.

In Asian tradition, some breeds are associated with well-being and vigor. Giant turtle soup ensures a long life, bear’s paw helps sexuality, and powdered rhino horn is used to heal fever, epilepsy, malaria, poisoning and abscesses. Given these beliefs, the hunting and trading of these animals are very popular activities: announcing the reform today, state news agency Xinhua claims that “up to now those involved in these practices went unpunished”.

You can find a list of the protected species which includes one species of seahorse below at http://jpkc.ahut.edu.cn/hjpj/dwml.html

Dear all, Trust Patron Chris Packham is in Malta highlighting the yearly massacre of the migratory birds that fly over the islands every spring. From the 21st to the 26th of April at 9pm UK time he is going to be doing a nightly video diary to highlight this appalling massacre.

Check them out at http://www.chrispackham.co.uk/

Malta has the highest density of illegal hunters (up to 10,000) in Europe and what they are doing is wrong and illegal and has to stop; this affects everyone. The very birds being shot in Malta are our spring and summer nesting birds here in the UK and they are not getting a chance to reach us depleting our own bird species and diversity. Every bird shot is depletes our ecosystem and this is happening throughout Europe where the birds migrate to.

The killing of migrating birds in spring is expressly forbidden by the European Union, but Malta’s government continues to allow turtle dove and quail to be shot at this crucial time of year. As well as shooting at these birds, many Maltese hunters also use the spring hunting season as an opportunity to target rare and protected species of birds that breed in Europe, such as Pallid Harriers, Cuckoos and Bee-eaters. Everything is being shot even birds that are sitting on the ground at night are ‘hunted’ by torch light and shot.

Along with over 60% of the Maltese population, BirdLife Malta believes it is time for this to stop. 45,000 Maltese people (more than 10% of the population) have signed a petition calling for a referendum where they will be able to vote to end spring hunting once and for all.

To help stop the massacre of birds every year make a donation to help pay for video cameras, telescopes, binoculars and other equipment so the volunteers can do their job, please you’re your donation through  https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/stop-spring-hunting-on-malta  There is also a great deal more information on the Indiegogo site and watch Chris’s nightly blogs on his website.

Please make this appeal go viral, send it out to every contact, twitter account and Facebook page you belong to. Help make stopping the slaughter a reality, make this the last year ever that the Maltese Archipelago becomes a Killing Fields

The Mid Kent College Level 1 Land-based studies students are raising money and awareness for The Seahorse Trust! They are selling a range of treats from delicious cakes to fancy phone charms! So far they have raised an amazing £195.54 for the work, so please support them where you can check out our facebook page to see more.

Ade and his team at Kaleidoscope Aquatics Centre in Paignton, Devon has been raising funds for our work in his shop. Ade and his staff have always kindly had a collection tin in the shop and have raised several hundred pounds over the years, so a massive thank you to him and his customers.

Check out more on our Facebook page