EU study boost fight against illegal wildlife trade in Mekong region

The European Union has launched an intensive study about the illegal wildlife trade in the Greater Mekong Region and its threat to biodiversity.

The report, entitled “Larger than Tigers”, hopes to encourage the Greater Mekong countries, which include Myanmar, to intensify efforts against the illegal wildlife trade, which is a threat to biodiversity in the region.

According to the report, there are 795 threatened species in the region, of which 123 are endangered due to indiscriminate hunting and trading.

It noted that China and Vietnam are the two largest markets for wildlife products globally, and the Greater Mekong countries are the source, transit routes, and markets for these illicit products.

In Myanmar, hunting for illegal wildlife is pervasive, although it is reported that 70 percent of the country's territory have been declared as protected areas. There are 331 threatened species in Myanmar, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature.

The endangered species include birds, primates, banteng (wild cattle), the Asian elephant, Eld's deer, freshwater turtles, pangolin and tigers, among others.

"The EU is committed to wildlife conservation in Myanmar and across the world. Myanmar's beautiful rainforests and majestic animals are threatened by wildlife crime and environmental degradation," said EU Ambassador Kristian Schmidt.

He added that the EU supports Myanmar's efforts to safeguard its precious natural heritage for future generations, including by immediately stopping all illegal wildlife trade, and he hoped the report “will strengthen everyone's resolve to do so.”

U Saw Htun, country director of the Wildlife Conservation Society, said "the population of keystone species has been decreasing at an alarming rate, and several species could go extinct if there are no effective actions to combat wildlife crime."

Illegal wildlife products include more than 1000 plant and animals species used for traditional medicine, exotic food, ornaments and clothing, and the exotic pet trade.

In Southeast Asia and the Pacific, the illegal wildlife trade is estimated to be worth €17 million (K29.06 billion/US$19.21 million) annually.

The Larger than Tigers report is the product of two years of intensive, collaborative research involving 28 authors and consultation with 382 experts from over 150 organisations in over 25 Asian countries.

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