Conservation activists suing Indonesian zoo could inspire global action on endangered species trade

In a court in rural #Indonesia, an environmental group recently filed a lawsuit of global importance. Their case is against a zoo in North #Sumatra that it’s alleged illegally exhibited threatened species, including Komodo dragons and critically endangered Sumatran #orangutans. The illegal wildlife trade is a multibillion-dollar industry that threatens species globally, from #elephants to orchids. Plants, animals and fungi are harvested from the wild and sold to customers around the world as attractions in zoos, as pets, for food, as souvenirs or as medicine. Help animals and #BoycottWildlifeTrade #Boycott4Wildlife

People caught trafficking wildlife are typically tried in criminal law cases, in which courts impose fines or prison sentences that punish the responsible parties in order to deter would-be criminals. But in this recent case, rather than seek punishment against the Indonesian zoo, the activists brought a civil lawsuit ordering the zoo to remedy the harm it allegedly caused by exhibiting these species illegally.

Lawsuit by activists against #zoo in #Indonesia for harm caused by illegally exhibiting endangered #species was successful. It’s a new way to protect #wildlife from illegal and cruel #trafficking #Boycottpalmoil #Boycott4Wildlife Images @CraigJones17 https://palmoildetectives.com/2022/04/03/conservation-activists-suing-indonesian-zoo-could-inspire-global-action-on-endangered-species-trade/

In the press release announcing the lawsuit, the North Sumatra Chapter of the Indonesian Forum for the Environment (Walhi Sumut) and Medan Legal Aid Institute said they were suing to cover the costs of care for one Sumatran orangutan confiscated from the zoo, and to fund monitoring of orangutan habitat to aid the recovery of their wild population. The resulting bill exceeds US$70,000 (£49,438). The typical criminal sanction for wildlife crime in Indonesia is around US$3,500.

The activists are also asking the zoo to publicly apologise and to create educational exhibits that explain how the illegal trade and use of wildlife harms nature and society. Surprisingly, these types of legal strategies that aim to repair harm – rather than punish perpetrators – have been largely overlooked by conservationists in many countries. The Indonesian zoo lawsuit could demonstrate the value of a new legal approach for protecting threatened wildlife.

Historical precedents

The zoo lawsuit parallels landmark pollution cases, such as the Exxon Valdez and Deepwater Horizon oil spills, where the responsible parties (in these cases, oil companies) were sued by government agencies and citizens and required to clean up pollution, compensate victims and restore affected habitats. It is also similar to innovative climate change lawsuits that have argued for the world’s largest oil and gas companies to pay for building protective sea walls, and other measures which help mitigate the effects of global warming.

Similar legal approaches haven’t been a major part of enforcing conservation laws. But through our work in Conservation Litigation – a project led by conservationists and lawyers – colleagues and I are working to bring such lawsuits against offenders globally.

Many countries already have laws that would allow these lawsuits, including in biodiversity hotspots such as Mexico, Democratic Republic of Congo and Indonesia. The 1992 UN Rio Convention called on states to “develop national law[s] regarding liability compensation for the victims of pollution and other environmental damage”. Although laws that oblige offenders to remedy environmental harm have been established already, the Indonesian zoo case is unique as one of the first times such a law has been applied to address wildlife crime. https://player.vimeo.com/video/510514912

The case could serve to influence public views and policies around biodiversity. This has been an important benefit of litigation in other areas, such as in cases against tobacco companies and opioid manufacturers.

Over the years, these lawsuits have secured compensation for healthcare costs, public admissions of guilt from executives and corrective adversiting to clarify earlier misinformation. These cases have not only benefited individual victims, but helped shift attitudes and reform public health policies and company practices.

The zoo lawsuit could achieve something similar by holding the zoo liable for downstream harms caused by its involvement in the illegal wildlife trade. By requesting public apologies and support for educational programmes, the lawsuit would not only seek to remedy harm to individual animals and species, but to help shape public perceptions and policy.

It’s also significant that this case is being brought by a non-governmental organisation (NGO). Governments can bring criminal cases against offenders, while the NGOs cannot. But in many countries, citizens and civil society groups are permitted to launch civil lawsuits in response to environmental harm, expanding the potential for public conservation action.

These types of lawsuits are often hindered by difficulties paying lawyers, corruption in legal systems and the intimidation of activists. With more than one million species potentially facing extinction, it’s important to recognise and support these rare cases which are testing new ways to protect the planet’s most threatened forms of life.

Jacob Phelps, Senior Lecturer in Conservation Governance, Lancaster University

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

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How does COVID-19 affect Wildlife Conservation?

How does COVID 19 affect Wildlife Conservation? This pandemic has affected several continents, and everyone seems to be at its mercies. It’s sad to see people lose lives, property, jobs, among others. It’s crippling the economy and results to be a pandemic pushing us to a very difficult corner.

How does COVID-19 affect Wildlife Conservation? “Don’t cancel the dates for your #safari #tour #hike in #Africa but rather postpone. If you can manage to keep supporting genuine NGOs fighting for wildlife, please do so.” by @winniecheche

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No Money = No Tourism

Apart from the duty to observe social distancing, not many can be able to risk what they have for a quick visit to the national parks. This is a moment where everyone is only concentrating on the basics, and how to survive this pandemic.

We have families that fully depend on funds obtained through tourism activities, from offering tour guide services, selling curios, getting help from NGOs in the conservation field, etc. With whatever is happening around the world, this is becoming almost impossible for these families.

What will happen to them? How will they support their livelihoods? Were they lucky enough not to contaminate the virus before the borders started to be closed? Is there any plan for them by any organization out there?

What about wildlife?

Most of the wildlife rescue and treatment is mainly done by these NGOs. And they have been contributing towards wildlife welfare in a great way, especially for the endangered species. Through the funds, they have been able to support both the wildlife and local communities in those areas.

I am afraid of what will happen to them once the funds stop coming through. And borders continue to be closed. Our wildlife that may need medication attention may be in a difficult place.

Luckily, aside from primates, most wildlife are safe from the virus

So far, only a few of the primates have been noted to be vulnerable to the coronavirus. Hence making the other wildlife safe from any infections through interactions with infected humans.

Being a zoonotic disease, this was prone to happen since the disease was from animals to humans.

The wildlife are also having a good time away from humans for once. Most tourists ain’t visiting the conservation areas as before hence human traffic has extremely reduced. Our wildlife can now enjoy reduced interference and can be wild. With this, it will not be a surprise for their population to increase, as well as for increased vegetation growth.

With everything we are currently going through, it will be healing being able to visit healthy nature parks.

Keep supporting wildlife NGOs and don’t cancel your safari!

Don’t cancel the dates for your safaris, game drives, hikes, etc, but rather postpone. If you can manage to keep supporting the genuine NGOs fighting for wildlife and local communities’ welfare, please do so.

We are in this together, and together we will get through it safely.

Wildlife and environment need you to be their voice and caretakers, please corporate.

Dispose of the gloves, masks, sanitizers’ bottles and any the packaging correctly. Let’s not create more problems for mother nature as we fight this pandemic.

Let this pandemic be our turning point when it comes to any kind of live wildlife trade, no life has a price tag on it.

Our pockets will have less cash, but we will eventually survive

Mother nature needs that even after this pandemic. Whatever that can be considered and done at a slower pace to avoid global warming lets embrace that option. We no longer have the luxury to allow us time for more developments so as to lower our emissions.

We are one, and that’s why the coronavirus only started in one place and gradually moving to other places. Showing us how deeply connected we are. We need each other in saving our only planet. and it needs our collective efforts. Stay safe and have hope.

By Cheche Winnie

Read more on Cheche Winnie’s blog