Prosecutors say this 66-year-old Chinese woman is one of Africa’s most notorious smugglers

[Generic Other]

NAIROBI — They call her the Queen of Ivory — a 66-year-old Chinese woman who became famous for her role in Africa’s illegal wildlife trade. Over 15 years, she helped smuggle more than 700 elephant tusks out of Africa, officials said Thursday. But as authorities closed in, Yang Feng Glan managed to evade arrest.

Until now.

Yang was detained in the Tanzanian capital Dar es Salaam after a high-speed chase and is apparently the most prominent Chinese national charged with wildlife trafficking in Africa. The short, bespectacled owner of a well-known Chinese restaurant doesn’t fit the image of a poaching kingpin, but that’s exactly what she is, according to Tanzanian officials.

Yang was behind an illicit trade worth millions of dollars, using her ties to the Chinese and Tanzanian elite to move ivory across the world, officials said. Ivory trafficking has resulted in immense damage to wildlife across Africa, but particularly in Tanzania. Between 2009 and 2014, the country’s elephant population plummeted from 109,051 to 43,330.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/worldviews/wp/2015/10/08/prosecutors-say-this-66-year-old-chinese-woman-is-one-of-africas-most-notorious-smugglers/?tid=trending_strip_2

[left on green only]

1. What Could They Possibly Do To Her To Make Up For All That She Has Already Done? nt

[Dr. Xavier]

2. I don't believe in the death penalty

but then again monsters like this aren't human, so yeah, she deserves the same treatment that she caused on another, especially a child or an animal. Its difficult for me to believe that I can say that, knowing the conflict it creates for me; but yeah, I would be the first to impale her with a tusk and anyone else that was involved with her. I must be going mad.

[840high]

3. I'm with you.

[CBGLuthier]

6. monsters like this are absolutely human. To deny this is to exaggerate the perfection of the

species. In fact your blood lust over this woman kind of proves my point. I find your desire monstrous and also quite human.

Here is something to ponder, the only real monsters that have ever existed in all the history of the world have all been human beings.

[Generic Other]

8. I felt the exact same way

The tusk part especially. Evil person. It shows in her doughy face.

[gvstn]

4. I don't understand what you do with illicit ivory?

Who buys it and for what purpose? I see ivory in someones possessions and it is just a turnoff. It doesn't matter how old it is, unless it is a great work of art then I think it should be disposed of or hidden in the closet.

[yardwork]

7. There's a huge market for ivory in China.

There's also a big market for parts of tigers, rhinos, and other endangered animals, used in traditional Chinese medicine. When you think about the population of China, you see how big a market this is.

[BlueJazz]

5. I would put her in prison, by herself, and treat her humanely.