Digging Out China’s Role in Global Rhino Horn TradeA Presentation for PowerReporting 2013

HONGQIAO LIU Caixin Environment Hub, Caixin MediaOxpeckers Center of Environmental Investigative Journalists

• The Wits & Oxpeckers Environmental Investigative journalist fellowship 2013

• Young Journalist of the Year, the 2013 China Environmental Press Awards, 2013

• First Prize of the Nandu Journalism Scholarship, 2011

• Visiting Scholar 2010-2011, Bureau of Education and Cultural Affairs, U.S

• Actively involved in civil society and social movement in mainland China

Nice to meet you!

Hongqiao Liu

Environment & Science journalist

Why rhinos? Why China?

China has thousands of years history of using rhino horn

Traditional Chinese Medition (TCM) is believed to be the main demand

China was once the world’s No.1 consumer before the 1993 ban

Vietnam consumes 2/3 rhino horn while China accounts for the rest 1/3

China’s economic growth & huge potential market

Chinese buyers, sellers, middleman, smugglers are spotted and arrested

Chinese private pharmacy company’s “research” on harvesting horn

RHINOS ARE ENDANGERED

Key issues

China in the chain: What are the traffic routes? How does China’s role differ before and after the ban in 1993?

China domestic market: How big is the market? Who are the consumers? What’s driving the demand? How does black market trade conducted?

Chinese criminals: Who are they? What levels are they?

The next wave:Is China a growing market? Are Chinese more active in the trade? Will China legalize the trade? Will China prove commercial use?

Research Method

Literature review

Data collection

In-depth Interview

Informal discussion

Online enquiry

Undercover investigation

……

Get the stake-holders to talk

Wan ZiMing, State Forestry Administration, China

Michael H Knight, Chairman of IUCN/SSC African Rhino Specialist Group

Tom Milliken, Elephant & Rhino Program Leader, TRAFFIC

Susie Watts, independent environmental policy counselor

Mary Rice, Director of Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA)

Michael‘t Sas-Rolfes, independent Conservation Economist

Colman O Criodain, Policy Analyst, WWF

……

“In addition to Viet Nam, China also appears to be emerging as a country of concern …the rhino horn trade in China is more active than previously recognized and needs to be assessed more deeply.”

Source: African and Asian Rhinoceroses – Status, Conservation and Trade, TRAFFIC & IUCN, Mar 2013

Key findings

Rhino horn trade in China is more active and probably growing

Key findings

Main smuggling patterns: overseas mailing, cargos,

in mix with ivory / timber / other high value smugglings

Source: National Inter-agency CITES Enforcement Coordination Group (NICECG), China, 2013

Key findings

- Growing cross-boarder seizure

- Chinese participate in drinking party that serves grounded rhino horn with rice wine

- Chinese tourists buying raw rhino horn and rhino horn products in Hanoi. The shop offers routing shipping from Hanoi to mainland China cities.

New evidence of active trade flow from Vietnam to China

Source: Seizure report from CITES China; The Hanoi Connection,2013; Tom Milliken interview, 2013

Easy access to rhino horn dealers online in Chinese websites and offline in open market in South Africa

Key findings

Source: Rhino Horn Bar, Baidu Tieba, 2013

Key findings

“Of 43 documented arrests of Asian nationals for rhino crimes in South Africa

24 were Vietnamese (56%)

13 were Chinese (28%)

With the remainder from Thailand and Malaysia.”

Source: The South Africa – Viet Nam Rhino Horn Trade Nexus, TRAFFIC, 2012

Media coverage

- 6000 words investigative feature for Caixin Century Magazine (in Chinese)

- 2500 words investigative feature for Caixin English website (in English)

- 2400 words feature package for Forestry Investigative Journal (in English)

- 5min in-depth video interview with Tom Milliken for Oxpeckers website (in English)

- 4000 words package of feature and interview,for China Dialogue (in English & Chinese) (to be published soon)

- A well-discussed blog on TCM & rhino crisis (in Chinese)

- A map of trafficking routes to China, for Oxpeckers website

- To be continued…

Discussion

How to work with police

Independent investigation VS. undercover operation as police informant

How to deal with first-hand information

Seeing is (NOT) believing

Be careful with agenda setting

Don’t fool your audience & Don’t be fooled yourself

Thanks for listening!

Welcome to China &

Welcome reporting China issues!Contact:

Hongqiao LIU

liuhq0512@gmail.comhongqiaoliu@caixin.comm +86 186 0073 6708 (China)m +27 84 276 8076 (South Africa)