VietNamNet – The City of Hanoi has set up a hot line (04 9 323 333) to report illegal trade in wild animals and WWF says consumers include businessmen, state officials and the rich and educated.

Residents may call the hotline to report violations to officials of the Hanoi Ranger Department, charged by the City to investigate all cases of illegal trade in wild animals in Hanoi.

It is illegal in Vietnam to sell food made from many wild animals and to trade in them.

According to the World Wildlife Fund (WFF), consumers of protected wild species include businessmen, state officials and the rich and educated. TRAFFIC, a wildlife trade monitoring network, says that Vietnam plays a main role in the illegal trade of wildlife. With abundant natural resources the country provides wild animals to the international market, especially China. Vietnam also consumes wildlife products and has become a transit point for smugglers from neighbouring countries.

Wildlife trade in Vietnam has brought some animals to the brink of extinction, threatening natural resources that support the Vietnamese people.

Eric Coull, chief representative of WWF Mekong, said that overexploitation of wildlife products for both legal and illegal trade is the biggest threat to many species.

Kieu Minh