Authorities in Northern Laos seize and destroy about 200 kg of wildlife parts.

[ASEAN NOW]

 

Authorities in northern Laos confiscated and burned more than 200 kg of animal parts that were on the open market.

 

In a ceremony performed on Tuesday, officers from the Luang Namtha Forest Inspection Division collected and burnt nearly 200 kg of animal parts.

 

According to KPL, the animal corpses and parts were collected from markets around the region.

 

Boar, muntjac, civet, cobras, and other animals and parts were discovered for sale in the province, with a total worth of almost LAK 12 million.

 

Market merchants were given a warning after the animal parts were confiscated and destroyed on Tuesday.

 

 

Despite an order issued by the Prime Minister of Laos in 2018 on the management and inspection of forbidden wild fauna and flora, poaching and wildlife trafficking remain a concern in the country.

 

Animals and animal parts have been publicly advertised by certain sellers on social media platforms, with a substantial trade reported to take place on Tencent's WeChat.

 

Others, ostensibly uninformed of the rules, continue to upload videos on Facebook and TikTok depicting themselves preparing and consuming endangered animals.

 

Despite indications that wildlife trafficking in Southeast Asia has reduced as a result of pandemic restrictions and decreasing demand for wildlife items, experts think dealers are hoarding animal parts in expectation of increased demand once restrictions are lifted.

 

Credit Source: The Laotian Times

 

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[RJRS1301]

Perhaps some education with the sellers, and other options given to earn an income, caught a second time, then confiscate their stand, or means of selling the goods, and encourage them to nominate their suppliers and sources.