U.S. Supports Vietnam’s Fight Against Wildlife Trafficking

The U.S. Embassy in Vietnam and Vietnam’s Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development have launched a program to combat wildlife trafficking to follow global efforts to save wild animals, mostly rhinos. The program called Operation Game Change is part of activities carried out on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of Vietnam-U.S. relations, attracting the participation of non-governmental organizations (NGO), celebrities and students from Vietnam, the U.S, and South Africa. Funded by the U.S. Department of State, the program, which will work as an alliance of government and non-governmental agencies, is aimed to reduce the consumption and sales of endangered species in Vietnam. This is one of component of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID)-funded Asia’s Regional Respond to Endangered Species Trafficking (ARREST) Program, focusing on prevention of rhino horn poaching as Vietnam is one of markets consuming the high volume of rhino horns. Ted Osius, the U.S. ambassador to Vietnam, said at the launching ceremony in Hanoi on Mar 3 that wildlife trafficking is pushing many species to extinction, especially African rhinos and the governments need more actions to cope with the situation. Demand for rhino horn, primarily in China and South-east Asia, is putting severe pressure on rhino numbers in Africa. Last year a record 1,004 rhinos were illegally poached in South Africa. Vietnam was a key market for the trade of rhino horns, which prompted the awareness campaign to try to deter people from buying and consuming it. But demand for rhino horns in Vietnam fell 38% over the past year thanks to international support in driving down the trafficking of this product for mislead purposes, Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) said. Under Vietnamese law, anyone found guilty of wildlife smuggling may face a prison sentence of up to seven years. (Thoi Bao Tai Chinh – Financial Times Mar 6 p7, vietnam.usembassy.gov Mar 3)