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Friday, March 29, 2024

Crackdown vs. illegal wildlife trade stays–DENR

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Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu on Friday said that the Philippines will not tolerate illegal wildlife trade.

He said that the government has not changed its stance on wildlife protection, and would not ease its crackdown against illegal trafficking and trade of wildlife species.

“The Philippines is taking illegal wildlife trade seriously. We want to send a clear signal that the country does not tolerate illegal wildlife crime, trafficking, and trade that is driving endangered species to the brink of extinction,” he said.

With a value of $23 billion annually, illegal wildlife trade is the fourth most lucrative global crime after illegal drugs, human trafficking, and illicit arms trade, he noted.

According to Cimatu, the Philippines has been labeled as a consumer, source, and transit point for illegal trade of wildlife and their by-products, threatening endemic species populations, economic development, and biodiversity.

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He said the government would not waver in its commitment to end illegal wildlife trade.

“We are not going to stop. The fight against illegal wildlife trade is worth fighting,” he added.

The Philippine Operations Group on Ivory and Illegal Wildlife Trade, or Task Force POGI, seized over P50 million worth of live exotic animals reportedly smuggled from Indonesia in an operation last April 8 in Mati City, Davao Oriental.

Earlier, the Bureau of Customs also intercepted over 700 live venomous tarantulas, with a combined estimated value of P310,000, at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.

In June 2013, DENR led the destruction of at least five tons of smuggled elephant tusks using a road roller, making the Philippines the first country in Asia to conduct physical destruction of the massive ivory stockpile in support of global efforts to stamp out illegal wildlife trade. 

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