It’s time to call for safe wildlife practices

Re Over 1,500 turtles found inside luggage in Philippines, March 5 How many other animals have they failed to save? The threat of shortterm prison sentences and negligible fines won’t permanently stop the operations of a multibillion-dollar organized criminal industry.

Wildlife conservation preserves biodiversity and invaluable ecosystem services, yet most governments only deem conservation imperative when it’s too late. Is it so wild to consider the implementation of a zero-tolerance policy for illegal trade? As Canadians, we can pressure our government to improve and enforce their regulations on wildlife trade while also ensuring that our everyday actions conform to safe wildlife practices. Or we can just continue to “tweet” about saving the turtles and call it a day. Emma Czernuszka, Etobicoke