As a CITES conference gets underway in Thailand, Gerben-Jan Gerbrandy explains why the EU needs to do more for the protection of endangered animals.

Interview: Fighting wildlife crime

A conference on the Convention  on International Trade

in Endangered Species, CITES,  is underway in Thailand

as more evidence emerges of  a big increase in the slaughter of wildlife

by poachers, terrorists  and organised criminals.

calling for new, more globally coordinated  measures to combat the scourge.

If we look at a few landmark species  like rhinos, elephants and tigers,

can you describe how it is at the moment,

and how the situation has changed  over the past couple of years?

If you talk about elephants,  a few years ago the problem in Africa

was not that there were  not enough elephants, but too many.

Now you see killings of between 25,000  and 40,000 elephants each year.

The ones under threat  because of wildlife crime

are animals with ivory, like elephants,  rhinos, because of their horns,

all big cats because of  their beautiful skins and other parts,

People like to have a gorilla skull  or a gorilla hand to buy.

Who are the people  commissioning these trophy objects?

have historically been large markets  for these products,

but in the last couple of years  it has been primarily Asia.

It's China, Vietnam, Laos,  these kinds of countries, Indonesia.

And especially the growing group  of people with a middle income.

They want to show their new wealth  and they do so by buying ivory things,

by buying rhino horns,  by buying tiger parts,

exotic animals  that they present at their homes.

why demand increased so considerably  in the last two or three years.

can fetch half a million euros -  a single rhino horn!

Is that the case that the value of  animal parts has gone through the roof?

Yes, it's incredible.  A rhino horn, which is made of nails,

the same as human nails,  is more expensive than gold.

So a kilo of rhino horn  is more expensive than a kilo of gold.

So criminals see an animal  walking with a golden horn,

by local people who just want  to make a few more dollars.

It's organised crime and even terrorist  organisations and rebel groups

which use this as a way  to buy new weapons

for their terrorist and rebel activities.

of which particular organisations  have actually been doing that?

We all know the story  about blood diamonds.

We see rebel groups from  different countries, Republic of Congo,

rebel groups coming out of Chad  into Western Africa killing elephants,

and these activities  are one of the reasons

why this goes much further than just  a wildlife problem, a problem of nature.

This is also a huge  regional security problem

and that is the reason why, for instance,

former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton  jumped on it.

The United States  is extremely active now,

also the CIA, other intelligence  and even military activities,

because poaching is funding  terrorist activities and rebel groups.

So this is a much bigger issue  than just a wildlife issue.

This is also about security  in the region of Africa and Asia,

but also in Europe  and the United States of America.

If you look at it from the angle of the  protection of biodiversity around the world,

how would you describe  the threat of wildlife crime

We all know that the biological cycle  is very sensitive and crucial.

We all know that if you take  certain elements out of it

Some species are more important  than others.

If you talk about the iconic species  that we're talking about,

The African savannah is to a large extent  kept open due to elephants,

because they eat enormous amounts  of biomass there.

Illegal fishing -  it might be less spectacular

than helicopters flying in killing elephants,

but just take another iconic  marine species like bluefin tuna.

About two-thirds of all catches are illegal.

Is there a plan on a European level  or should there be a plan?

I want the European Commission  and EU Member States

to become much more active  in strengthening customs,

strengthening enforcement,  higher sanctions,