Paws for thought: hooked on cheetah conservation

THE choice of the Cheetah as the Endangered Wildlife Trust's logo was an obvious one for me. My first encounter with this graceful, swift feline was as a game ranger in Bechuanaland (now Botswana) in 1966.

I came across a young, tame female in the garden of a farmer. Her mother had been killed because of predation on the farmer's sheep before he realised she had a cub with her.

The cheetah was on a chain attached to a long wire, and she had the run of the large lawn. I got right up close to her and was deeply struck by the beautiful large eyes and the continuous purring sound.

My next encounter was after visiting the Africana Library on Diagonal

Street in downtown Johannesburg one Saturday afternoon in 1972. I was horrified to spot cheetah skins hanging like washing on a line in a muti shop. Even more so when the owner was happy to sell me one and advised me he could get more. The memory of it was etched in my brain as I thought back to my first encounter in Bechuanaland.

I continued to prepare for an exhibition scheduled for October of the same year and included in my subjects a pair of cheetahs, with the objective of following David Shepherd's (British wildlife artist) idea of a print appeal and, at my own cost, had 250 prints produced and announced as a Cheetah

Appeal as James Clarke, of The Star newspaper, opened the exhibition at the Lister Art Gallery in Bree street, Johannesburg on October 1, 1973.

Clarke was later to become a founding trustee of the Endangered Wildlife Trust.

All numbered prints were sold at R20 each. After printing expenses, the appeal raised a nice sum of R4 500 to be donated for cheetah conservation.

As I write this today, in 2023, the cheetah is considered vulnerable, and with the transformation of the wildlife industry, it is in a far better position today than back in 1973, thanks in no small part to the work of the EWT and private landowners.

The original logo was adapted from the publication by the Late Dr Rheay Smithers,

dimension, the original paw lacked the small indentation between the back pad.

This was rectified during Dr Ledger's time after I retired in 1985.

A RECENT report by the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organised Crime has revealed a staggering surge in environmental crimes, threatening not only the planet's ecosystems but also the livelihoods of local communities.

These crimes, ranging from illegal wildlife trade to unregulated fishing and the trafficking of rare timber and precious stones, are estimated to be worth between $110 billion and $281 billion annually, positioning them among the most profitable illicit economies worldwide.

The report, titled Hidden in Plain Site, is written by Kristina Amerhauser and Robin Cartwright and looks at illicit financial flows related to three specific illicit environmental flows: timber trafficking from Myanmar to China; gemstone trafficking from Mozambique to Thailand; and abalone trafficking from South Africa to the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.

The study highlights the intricate and often violent networks behind these crimes, which have intensified over the past two decades due to political instability, urbanisation, and increasing consumer demand.

These syndicates are adept at using corruption to facilitate their operations, which span continents, the report finds.

In a shocking revelation, the report details how the internet and smart devices have revolutionised the illegal trade, allowing for a broader reach and more efficient transactions, often under the guise of legitimate business. This shift to digital has been partly spurred by the Covid-19 pandemic, which brought increased scrutiny to physical marketplaces.

Myanmar's forests, particularly in Kachin State, have been decimated by illegal logging, driven by ceasefires with local militias and a voracious demand from China. Despite government crackdowns, illicit logging persists, moving into new regions as hardwood resources are depleted.

The discovery of vast ruby deposits in Mozambique has led to a frenzied influx of informal miners. Despite a large-scale mining operation dominating official exports, a significant portion of the rubies is smuggled out of the country, facilitated by corruption and the inability of miners to legally certify their finds.

The study also sheds light on the extensive informal economies in Mozambique, Myanmar, and South Africa, where cash remains the primary currency for illicit transactions.

This preference for cash payments enables a wide array of bribery and corruption, from local police, to armed groups imposing "taxes" on illegal operations.

In a concerning trend, the report notes the use of barter systems, where illicit commodities are exchanged for other illegal goods, including drugs.

This practice is particularly prevalent in the abalone trade in South Africa, which is often swapped for narcotics or used to finance other criminal activities.

The research notes the critical role of informal value transfer systems like hundi and hawala in moving money for environmental crimes, especially in countries like Myanmar, which has been blacklisted by global financial watchdogs.

Mis-invoicing and trade mispricing are common tactics used to launder money and evade taxes, further complicating efforts to combat these crimes.

The findings highlight the urgent need for enhanced financial investigations and anti-moneylaundering measures to tackle environmental crimes.

With the majority of profits made overseas, particularly in consumer countries, there is a pressing demand for international cooperation and stronger enforcement to disrupt these destructive supply chains and protect the world's natural heritage, the authors write. |

THE Cheetah Appeal came about when the founder of the Endangered Wildlife Trust conservationist, Clive Walker, had his first encounter with the big cat in Bechuanaland.