Myanmar burns wildlife parts

US$1.3mil in products from rare species set aflame in public

NAYPYIDAW: Elephant skins, clouded leopard remains and tiger bones were among a US$1.3mil (RM5.4mil) haul of illegal wildlife incinerated in Myanmar’s first ever public event of its kind against the illicit trade.

Trafficking and selling endangered animals is rampant across Myanmar, especially in border areas which serve as a key hub in the US$20bil (RM83bil) a year global wildlife trade.

Much of the demand is fuelled by a long-held belief in neighbouring China that rare animals have medicinal value.

Elephant parts – including chunks of skin – are the most lucrative for poachers in Myanmar.

Yesterday’s ceremony in the capital Naypyidaw saw 850kg of seized contraband set ablaze, including elephant ivory, tiger bone and skin, antelope antlers and pangolin scales.

“Rare wildlife including Myanmar’s elephants, tigers, bears and pangolins are the natural herit- age of our country,” Nyi Nyi Kyaw, director general of the Forest Department, said in a statement.

He noted an alarming increase in elephant poaching by gangs who have moved from southern Myanmar into the northern and western regions of Rakhine – a migratory path for wild elephants to Bangladesh.

Myanmar faces an uphill battle against poachers who rake in cash from its long unregulated wildlife trade, a business which thrives in the lawless eastern periphery and border regions.

Sapai Min of WWF Myanmar said the government is making “good progress in the struggle against wildlife crime”, and pointed to the increase of rangers patrolling poaching hotspots.

But critics say the government has shown a lack of political will to tackle a sophisticated network of criminals who are thought to be armed and funded by powerful “kingpins” in China. —