China's General Administration of Customs (GAC) has won one of
six 2004 Clark R. Bavin Wildlife Law Enforcement Awards for its
work in curbing the illicit trade in tiger and leopard skins.
The awards were presented during the ongoing Convention on
International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) conference in
Bangkok by the Species Survival Network, a global coalition of
nearly 80 wildlife conservation organizations.
In October last year, GAC officers operating a temporary
roadblock at Lhasa, capital of the Tibet
Autonomous Region, stopped a vehicle that had entered China
from India. They confiscated 31 tiger skins, 581 leopard skins and
778 otter skins.
It was the largest single seizure of big-cat skins in Asia to
date. The three Chinese in the truck were arrested and the case is
being prosecuted.
Officers from Lhasa Customs Anti-smuggling Bureau continued
their investigation to learn more about the smuggling operation.
Their efforts were critical in determining that the skins came from
India and their inquiry has led to greater understanding of how the
trade works.
But officials who are fighting this battle say that it is a
tough one.
Fan Zhiyong, director of China's fauna division of CITES
Management Authority, said that China's growing affluence is a
driver of growth in the market for wildlife as food, medicine and
personal accessories.
For example, the millions of turtles consumed every year in
China has brought nearly all types of mainland Southeast Asian
turtles close to extinction.
But China is working to raise public awareness of the importance
of wildlife protection to save its and other regions' species from
extinction, Fan pointed out. "Now it is not as easy to find
wildlife products in the Chinese market as it was several years
ago," he said.
CITES Secretary-General Willem Wijnstekers agreed that China has
strengthened its crackdowns on illegal wildlife trade.
Other winners of the Bavin award this year include Kenya,
Cambodia and Thailand.
(China.org.cn October 10, 2004)