Vietnam a Threat to Asian Elephant
Vietnam is emerging as a conduit for smugglers of wildlife products
While the Government turns a blind eye to the whole event with its erratic monitoring and antediluvian laws, wheeler-dealers are plundering the forests with impunity. TRAFFIC, the international organization that monitors the wildlife trade has come down heavily on Vietnam for its lax and lackadaisical ways. The report"Assessment of the illegal ivory trade in Vietnam" is a scathing indictment.
It is estimated that around 4,000 tonnes of illegal wildlife products pass through Vietnam every year. Vietnam just does not have the wherewithal to support this volume of wildlife products. Vietnam has only 150 elephants left in its wildlife reserves. Forests of Vietnam are in disarray as a result of decades of war, rapid economic growth and spiraling population growth.
Laos, the next-door neighbour of Vietnam has extensive forests. An estimated 1,000 elephants live in the wild there. The canker of poaching is spreading to these forests to feed the demand from Vietnam. Other areas in SE Asia are also not safe. Increasing demand for ivory is fueling a fresh wave of poaching there.
How the Smugglers operate
The wildlife laws in Vietnam are archaic. Even though trade in ivory was officially banned in Vietnam 16 years ago the law is riddled with loopholes. Shops are allowed to sell tusks obtained before the cutoff year. Smugglers are having a field day, showing a small quantity as old stock and selling fresh ivory under its guise.
Apart from selling ivory directly to buyers or through middlemen, the latest ploy employed by smugglers is use of interment. TRAFFIC reports Tusks are selling for up to USD1500/kg and cut pieces selling for up to USD1863/kg
Where does the Ivory Go?
Operators in China, Hong Kong and Japan are the major buyers. According to a recent report when it comes to African Ivory US is also a big clandestine market. Ivory is smuggled in for use in expensive pistol butts. The rich and famous buy these expensive products. Even though it is difficult to bring ivory into the United States, it is easy to sell it at high prices.
In December 2008 Federal agents tracked eight shipments, including one worth an estimated $165,000. Individual consumers also bring in ivory often as souvenirs. Middle East countries are another hot destination. eBay recently stopped the sale of ivory through its portal, alarmed by the volume of ivory put on sale.
What We Could Do to Stop the Nefarious Ivory Trade
Traffic has recently asked the Vietnamese government to improve monitoring of illegal ivory products, and plug the legal loopholes that allow the ivory trade to flourish. Do not buy ivory products. Pass on information regarding clandestine trade to the authorities if it comes to your notice. This small step will give a shot in the arm for the conservation of Asian and African Elephants.
The 2004 report by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) states that over 4,000 elephants were illegally killed each year in the African Range States. Once the products leave its shores it is very difficult for the host country to track and trace wildlife products. Recent advances in DNA forensics hold lot of hope. But this is yet to catch up on a big scale.
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