Vietnam hands over rhino horn DNA samples to South Africa
The Vietnam CITES Management Authority and the Institute of Ecology and Biological Resources handed over 56 rhino horn DNA samples to the South African Embassy in Vietnam on June 1.
Hanoi (VNA) - The Vietnam CITES Management Authority and the Institute of Ecologyand Biological Resources handed over 56 rhino horn DNA samples to the SouthAfrican Embassy in Vietnam on June 1.
This is the fifth time Vietnam has handed over such samplesto South Africa, which were seized by local authorities in illegal wildlifetrafficking cases.
Pham Van Dien, deputy head of the Vietnam Administration of Forestry (VNFOREST), said the sample handover is part of Vietnam’s responsible implementation of the Convention on International Trade inEndangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), including ResolutionConf.9.14 (Rev. CoP15) on the Conservation of and trade in African and Asianrhinoceroses.
It also shows the close cooperation between Vietnamand South Africa in fighting illegal wildlife trafficking, he said.
South African Ambassador to Vietnam MK Lekgoro said the handing over of the rhinohorn samples to the CITES Management Authority of South Africa is a practicalmanifestation of the joint commitment of the two countries to fighting wildlifetrafficking and also contributes to protecting the animal.
The rhino horn DNA samples, which are from illegalimporting and trafficking cases, are expected to support authorised agencies in determining theirorigin and identifying those responsible.
Vietnam has uncovered many wildlife trafficking cases inrecent years, including two in 2020. On December 22, authorities at the Tan SonNhat International Airport in HCM City seized 93 kg of rhino horn, while authoritiesat the Van Don International Airport in Quang Ninh province confiscated 7.8 kg onDecember 12./.
The customs at the Tan Son Nhat International Airport in Ho Chi Minh City said on March 6 that it has discovered 12 pieces of rhino horn weighing a total 6.2 kg in the luggage of a passenger arriving on a flight from Doha (Qatar).
The People's Procuracy of Hanoi on September 6 approved a decision to prosecute a man in connection with the largest ever rhino horn smuggling ring in Vietnam, with a total volume of up to 126.5 kg.
Animal protection organisation Humane Society International has launched an emotional commercial for air travellers of Vietnam Airlines in the hope of reducing demand for rhino horn in Vietnam which will help to ultimately end the poaching of rhinos in Africa.
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Illustrative image (Source: VNA) 
