Mekong - U.S. Partnership
Since April 2013, Education for Nature-Vietnam (ENV), a partner of the USAID-funded Asia’s Regional Response to Endangered Species Trafficking (ARREST) Program, has surveyed 550 business establishments in Hanoi and found more than 80 violations of wildlife protection laws. During August 19-23, ENV surveyed an additional 233 businesses and found 13 offenses. Most violations were identified in restaurants offering wildlife on their menus, a common problem throughout Vietnam. Many restaurants surveyed offered endangered and protected wildlife including pangolins, cobras, and various bear products including bear bile wine and bear paw wine. All violations are reported to ENV’s Wildlife Crime Unit for further investigation, and logged into the Unit’s Wildlife Crime tracking system for future monitoring. Minor offenders receive warning letters, while more serious crimes are reported to local police for handling the violations.
Related Website: http://freeland.org
Source: USAID/RDMA Regional Environment Office Weekly Update
