In response to these developments, IFAW today is renewing its call for eBay, Inc. to institute a full and complete ban on all elephant ivory products worldwide.
 
“eBay’s affiliates in countries including Germany, Australia, France and China have virtually eliminated the illegal ivory trade on their Web sites thanks to severe restrictions and outright bans, ” said Jeff Flocken, IFAW’s Washington, DC, Office Director.

While the exact circumstances and status of the shipments remains unclear, the export of fin and minke whale meat to Japan appears to have taken place without the knowledge or authorisation of relevant Icelandic, Norwegian and Japanese authorities according to the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW).
 
Robbie Marsland, Director of IFAW UK, said: “We are still working to establish the facts in this particular case, but attempts by anyone to circumvent the relevant authorities and regulations to resuscitate the international trade in whale meat has very grav

The satellite technology transmits regular signals from the bear’s collar allowing researchers to follow them remotely and download information about their movements and whereabouts via internet updates three times a week. The collar is programmed to record information about the animal’s location every 90 minutes and to automatically drop-off after a period of 18 months.
 
“The bears are in good condition after their hibernation in their self-made wintering den. They are being released in spring now when they have access to good forage in the wild.

The team observed and documented sealers on the ice in the Gulf of St. Lawrence hunting with hakapiks on the opening day of the hunt.
 
“We witnessed today a classic example of the cruelty associated with this hunt. We filmed as a sealer struck a seal with a hakapik before it slipped into the water. The sealer tried to pull the seal out by the hind flippers but it slipped underwater anyway,” said Cheryl Jacobson, hunt observer with IFAW.

Canada’s commercial seal hunt is the largest hunt for marine mammals in the world. Hunters are allowed to kill pups as soon as they begin to molt their white coats, which occurs when the animals are about two weeks old.
 
“In spite of the fact that the DFO has refused to issue observation permits for the opening day of the annual slaughter, I have no doubt that the world will be watching closely.” said Sheryl Fink, senior researcher and veteran seal hunt observer with IFAW.