HÀ NỘI – The illegal hunting and trade of wild animals have become a complex global business with tens of thousands of animals confiscated by authorities in Việt Nam alone. Although the Vietnamese Government has been working hard with domestic and international conservation organisations to curb the problem, illegal hunting and trade continue to devastate the region’s wild animals and biodiversity. Việt Nam is home to many species which are threatened with extinction with 407 animals in the Red Book of Việt Nam classed as rare to endangered, and seven others listed among the 100 most endangered species in the world – mostly due to hunting. Take the green sea turtle as an example. Known in Việt Nam as ‘vích’, the creature used to be common with dozens of thousands of turtles laying their eggs on the beaches every year prior to the 80s, but now the number of individuals is barely past 500. Yet the species is still faring better than the famous đồi mồi of the same family, which has been hunted down for its shells to make decorative items to the extent there are less than 10 animals left. Dr Vương Tiến Mạnh, an official at the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora Việt Nam (Cites Việt Nam), said the issue stemmed from both traditional and emerging threats. “In the past, when the economy was yet to develop, people consumed wild animals such as crabs, frogs, shellfish or even snakes as a way to supplement protein…. [Read full story]
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