The Chinese Environmental Journalism Project, hosted by the Oxpeckers Center for Investigative Environmental Journalists and the Wits China-Africa Reporting Project, produced a unique collaborative journalism model that should be replicated

1. Digging Out China’s Role in
Global Rhino Horn Trade
A Presentation for PowerReporting 2013
HONGQIAO LIU
Caixin Environment Hub, Caixin Media
Oxpeckers Center of Environmental Investigative Journalists

2. • 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

3. 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

4. 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?

5. Research Method
 Literature review
 Data collection
 In-depth Interview
 Informal discussion
 Online enquiry
 Undercover investigation
 ……

6. 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
 ……

7. “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

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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

11. 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

12. 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…

15. 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

16. Thanks for listening!
Welcome to China &
Welcome reporting China issues!
Contact:
Hongqiao LIU
liuhq0512@gmail.com
hongqiaoliu@caixin.com
m +86 186 0073 6708 (China)
m +27 84 276 8076 (South Africa)