Vietnam outlaws wild animal trade to counter fresh crises

VIETNAM has issued a ban on the import of wild animal species “dead or alive” and pledged to root out the illegal markets trading in wildlife in order to reduce the risk of new pandemics.

A directive issued late on Thursday by Nguyen Xuan Phuc, the prime minister of the south-east Asian country, also prohibits illegal hunting and online sales of animals and wildlife products, with immediate effect.

The decision is a major victory for conservation groups, which have accused the authorities of turning a blind eye to the problem.

It follows an international outcry over the illegal wildlife trade, which has been blamed for causing the coronavirus pandemic that first emerged in Wuhan, in China.

Vietnam is a major destination for illegal wildlife products such as pangolin scales, tiger parts and rhino horn, all of which are believed to have medicinal value.

The smuggled parts of endangered species command high prices despite the lack of scientific evidence about their health benefits.

In February, 14 conservation organisations, including the World Wildlife Fund and Animals Asia Foundation, sent a joint letter urging the government to “identify and close markets and other locations where illegal wildlife is on sale”.

The new directive was widely celebrated yesterday. Hoang Thi Minh Hong, a Wildaid Vietnam representative, hailed it as a major step to “actively address the wildlife trade problem that has had devastating impacts and caused concern for many years, most recently when the Covid-19 pandemic once again provided evidence of wildlife-to-human infectious disease transmission”.

Freeland, the anti-trafficking group, described the move as the most stringent

‘All citizens, especially officials, must not participate in illegal poaching, buying or selling’

control of the wildlife trade since the pandemic broke out. “Vietnam is to be congratulated for recognising that Covid-19 and other pandemics are linked to the wildlife trade,” said Steven Glaster, its chairman.

He added: “This trade must be banned as a matter of international and public health security.”

Sonul Badiani-hamment, external affairs advisor at World Animal Protection, commended Vietnam, adding that conservation groups were urging Boris Johnson, the Prime Minister, to champion a global wildlife trade ban at the G20 meeting of leaders in November.

“We hope that others will be spurred into action following this move by Vietnam to protect wildlife,” she said.