Mekong - U.S. Partnership
Education for Nature-Vietnam (ENV), a partner of the USAID-funded Asia’s Regional Response to Endangered Species Trafficking (ARREST) program, continued their public outreach program with wildlife trade exhibits at universities in Vietnam. Hundreds of students visited the exhibits at Sai Gon University and Ho Chi Minh City University of the Food Industry held on December 1 and 2, 2013.
As part of ENV’s ongoing awareness campaign, seminars were held at the universities including video clips of bears held in captivity for bile extraction and rhinos being slaughtered for their horns causing emotional reactions from the students. A group of students also participated in the event performing a skit sending a clear message to their peers to refrain from consuming wildlife products.
With Vietnam recognized as a leading consumer of endangered species, fueling poaching as far away as Africa, creating awareness amongst the youth and changing their perception towards illicit wildlife products is crucial to saving animals such as the rhinoceros from extinction.
Source: USAID/RDMA Regional Environment Office Weekly Update
