Education for Nature –Vietnam working to reduce ivory demand

Hanoi (VNA) – The Education for Nature –Vietnam (ENV) has released a film challenging the traditional belief that ivory is a symbol of luxury and good fortune.

The film tells about a glamorous woman who is famous and well-liked by the public. As she attended a party, the host presented her with an ivory gift, which she subsequently flaunts on the social media. Instead of bringing her more popularity, her reputation is tarnished by her promotion of the killing of endangered elephants.

“Tackling the ivory trade in Vietnam is not just the responsibility of law enforcement, but also the public,” said Nguyen Phuong Dung, Director of Communications at the ENV.

“We must place a great portion of the responsibility on consumers. Without buyers, there would be no incentive for hunters and traders to kill elephants and ship their tusks to Vietnam. Retailers of ivory products and consumers alike must put a stop to the shameful act of killing elephants for their tusks.” 

Dung urged the public to stand up in the fight to protect elephants. “Do not stand on the sidelines! Instead, take action by reporting ivory crimes and urging family, friends, and business associates not to buy ivory. Challenge the misguided belief that wearing ivory will make someone look good and be lucky – after all, how lucky is the dead elephant killed for its ivory tusks?”

The film comes in tandem with ENV’s Elephant-friendly Business Campaign to combat the sale of ivory products in the Central Highlands province of Dak Lak, the ivory hotspot of Vietnam.

This included site visits to tourism establishments, encouraging owners to sign pledges not to sell wildlife products, as well as a ‘tourism workshop’ to raise awareness of the issue.

The ENV has worked closely with the Department of Communications in the province on this campaign and sharing the message with the public, including through a text message sent to their 2.17 million subscribers, urging them not to consume ivory and buttons on their website and community phone app to call the ENV Wildlife Crime Hotline.

A new ENV volunteer group was also established in Buon Ma Thuot city, Dak Lak province, in July 2022. Since that time, they have hosted six public awareness events urging people not to buy ivory products and collecting wildlife protection pledges.

Awareness panels have also been placed at 13 government offices and 14 tourist sites in the province./.