Under a new 2021 bill passed by The
Legislative Council of Hong, illegal trade offenses can now be investigated and
charged under the Organized and Serious Crimes Ordinances ( OSCO).
Will the enhanced ability to charge and
prosecute actually combat illegal wildlife trade? The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) says they formerly “welcome the legislation.” Still, it isn’t
clear if the new bill will make a difference.
Jovy Chan, Manager, Wildlife
Conservation, WWF-Hong Kong, said “The volume of illegal wildlife trade in Hong
Kong remains high. However, internationally significant cases have not been
pursued by Hong Kong prosecutors owing to the insufficiency of evidence.”
Hong Kong’s record pangolin seizure of 8.3 tons seized, along with 2.1 tons of ivory in 2019 remains unprosecuted because of the lack of evidence. Within the three years between 2018 and 2020, local enforcement authorities seized over 929 tons of wildlife valued at over HK $358 million.
Pangolins are believed to be the world's most
trafficked mammal, accounting for as much as 20% of all illegal wildlife trade
“Hong Kong is a major transit hub
for the illegal wildlife trade. Traffickers exploit the Hong Kong Ports for
continuous trade of the world’s most endangered species of wild fauna and
flora. The volume of trade is on the rise, contributing to the global extinction
crisis," added Chan.
The WWF reported in 2020 a
two-thirds decline in wildlife populations on average since 1970. Since declines
are not consistent across all species, biodiversity suffers. Protecting illegal
trade could make a difference in protecting traded species.
When consumers find illegal wildlife
products for sale, they can use the WWF online reporting tool at endwildlifetraffickingonline.org.
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