No buying, no killing. This slogan raises awareness of an international poaching crisis, but the truth is that endangered wildlife species face a variety of grave threats. Apart from publicizing the importance of protecting the wildlife, tougher penalties are needed to prohibit poaching and smuggling. From December 30, 2013 to January 26, 2014, China led a campaign against transnational wildlife crimes, in cooperation with other 27 countries and international organizations. The operation, code-named Cobra II, has inflicted a stunning blow on poachers and smugglers. It cracked over 350 cases involving more than 400 suspects, and captured more than 3 tons of ivory and ivory products, including over 1,000 hides and a number of other wildlife products. Wildlife poaching and smuggling have become a serious global issue. As early as September 2012, the Chinese Government called for a multinational crackdown on the crimes, initiating the first Operation Cobra, involving 22 countries, in early 2013. The two Cobra operations show that international community is highly united and strongly determined to crack down on crimes of wildlife poaching and smuggling. Furthermore, Cobra operations have provided a strong example of joint law enforcement and offer international cooperation experience in each participating country. Wildlife smuggling cannot be resolved by one country or several international operations. All countries should prepare to make enduring efforts to control wildlife crimes. During the Cobra II Operation, joint law enforcement activities encountered difficulties. For example, local authorities of some countries did not investigate thoroughly where wildlife products came from and where they were sold. Instead, authorities merely imposed fines for wildlife trading. Additionally, some countries failed to reach anticipated objectives during the operation. Nature is an integrated whole. Once a biological chain is destroyed, the rest of nature will fall into irretrievable chaos. Thus, protecting wildlife and endangered species is a measure of protecting the human race. Following the Cobra II Operation, people shall call for more international campaigns to fight against wildlife poaching and smuggling.

THE EDITOR