Vietnam wants to cooperate with international organisations andcountries worldwide to preserve endangered wildlife animals, includingpangolins which are on the brink of extinction due to illegal huntingand trading for meat and scales.
Deputy Minister of theAgriculture and Rural Development Ha Cong Tuan made the statement at thefirst conference of pangolin range States held in the central coastalcity of Da Nang on June 24.
Some 100 delegates including expertsfrom the US and 30 countries in Africa and Asia attended the two-dayevent to evaluate the illegal trade of pangolins worldwide, seek ways tocontrol the situation and build specific action plans to ensurepangolin development.
According to the experts,there are eight species of pangolin: four Asian species (Chinesepangolin, Malayan pangolin, Indian pangolin and Philippine pangolin) andfour African species (tree pangolin, giant ground pangolin, long-tailedpangolin and Temminck’s ground pangolin).
Over the past 10years, one million pangolins have been hunted and trafficked illegallyacross borders. The large-scale illegal trade includes frozen or alivepangolins and pangolin scales.
Pangolins are hunted for food anduse in traditional Asian medicine to treat psoriasis and improve bloodcirculation, said Do Quang Tung, Director of the Vietnam ManagementAuthority of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species(CITES).
He underscored that communication activities onreducing pangolin use will serve as a crucial measure to protect thisanimal from extinction.
Teresa Telecky, Director of Wildlife forHumane Society International, spoke highly of the involvement ofcountries with pangolin to seek solutions to prevent the illegaltrafficking of pangolins, saying the move is an essential component insaving the scaly anteaters.
Meanwhile, Claire Pierangelo, DeputyChief of Mission at the US Embassy in Vietnam said that the US is amongthe leading countries in the international collaboration to protectwildlife animals and plants.
She highlighted that the conference will benefit international communities in an effort to deal with cross-border issues.-VNA
Deputy Minister of theAgriculture and Rural Development Ha Cong Tuan made the statement at thefirst conference of pangolin range States held in the central coastalcity of Da Nang on June 24.
Some 100 delegates including expertsfrom the US and 30 countries in Africa and Asia attended the two-dayevent to evaluate the illegal trade of pangolins worldwide, seek ways tocontrol the situation and build specific action plans to ensurepangolin development.
According to the experts,there are eight species of pangolin: four Asian species (Chinesepangolin, Malayan pangolin, Indian pangolin and Philippine pangolin) andfour African species (tree pangolin, giant ground pangolin, long-tailedpangolin and Temminck’s ground pangolin).
Over the past 10years, one million pangolins have been hunted and trafficked illegallyacross borders. The large-scale illegal trade includes frozen or alivepangolins and pangolin scales.
Pangolins are hunted for food anduse in traditional Asian medicine to treat psoriasis and improve bloodcirculation, said Do Quang Tung, Director of the Vietnam ManagementAuthority of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species(CITES).
He underscored that communication activities onreducing pangolin use will serve as a crucial measure to protect thisanimal from extinction.
Teresa Telecky, Director of Wildlife forHumane Society International, spoke highly of the involvement ofcountries with pangolin to seek solutions to prevent the illegaltrafficking of pangolins, saying the move is an essential component insaving the scaly anteaters.
Meanwhile, Claire Pierangelo, DeputyChief of Mission at the US Embassy in Vietnam said that the US is amongthe leading countries in the international collaboration to protectwildlife animals and plants.
She highlighted that the conference will benefit international communities in an effort to deal with cross-border issues.-VNA
