The NGO Education for Nature – Vietnam, supported by the International Rhino Foundation (and others), has issued an open letter calling for stronger action against the wildlife trade in Vietnam.

After the outbreak of the coronavirus (COVID-19) the Chinese wildlife markets and wildlife-farming operations were temporarily shuttered, stifling the legal and grey-market trades. It also exposed the extent of the wildlife farming industry within China where, on 24 February, 2020, the Chinese government halted consumption and trade of wild animals.

With concerns over the origin of the coronavirus, now is an opportunity to shed more light on the wildlife farming and trade in Vietnam and other Southeast Asian nations as well as encourage national governments to improve the enforcement of wildlife conservation and trade laws or even curtail and end domestic trade.

Please read ENV’s Open Letter here.