The CITES Authority of Vietnam has rejected a World Wide Fund for Naturereport that rates Vietnam as the worst performer in wild animalprotection, saying it is not objective or thorough.
Thereport criticised Vietnam for its failure to combat trade in rhino andtiger body parts, and gave it two red scores – one each for the rhinoand tiger – in the fund's Wildlife Crime Scorecard, which rated 23African and Asian nations known for high levels of poaching andtrafficking in ivory, rhino horns, and tiger parts.
Thescorecard hands out green, yellow, and red scores for tigers, rhinos,and elephants to indicate recent progress in complying with CITEScommitments.
Do Quang Tung, director of the CITESAuthority of Vietnam, is quoted by Sai Gon Giai Phong (Liberated SaiGon) newspaper as saying the report could hamper Vietnam's efforts andprestige in combating the illegal trade of wild animals.
The country has recently made great efforts to crack down on the smuggling in of wild animals from other countries, he said.
In the last six months five trafficking gangs are busted, and tigerbodies seized from three of them and 30kg of rhino horns from the othertwo, he said.
The country is doing quite well in complying with CITES conventions and in conservation of wild animals in general, he said.
"The WWF report only mentions rhino, tiger, and elephant. It is done bycollecting unofficial information from non-governmental organisations,the media, and individuals, and without any consultation with legalcompliance agencies."
He said the country allows tigerbreeding only for non-commercial purposes and pointing out that tigersin an eco-tourism park in Nghe An had delivered cubs.
The CITES Authority of Vietnam has pledged to take action to win recognition for the country's efforts to protect wildlife.
CITES, or the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Speciesof Wild Fauna and Flora, is created in 1960s and has 176 signatories.-VNA
Thereport criticised Vietnam for its failure to combat trade in rhino andtiger body parts, and gave it two red scores – one each for the rhinoand tiger – in the fund's Wildlife Crime Scorecard, which rated 23African and Asian nations known for high levels of poaching andtrafficking in ivory, rhino horns, and tiger parts.
Thescorecard hands out green, yellow, and red scores for tigers, rhinos,and elephants to indicate recent progress in complying with CITEScommitments.
Do Quang Tung, director of the CITESAuthority of Vietnam, is quoted by Sai Gon Giai Phong (Liberated SaiGon) newspaper as saying the report could hamper Vietnam's efforts andprestige in combating the illegal trade of wild animals.
The country has recently made great efforts to crack down on the smuggling in of wild animals from other countries, he said.
In the last six months five trafficking gangs are busted, and tigerbodies seized from three of them and 30kg of rhino horns from the othertwo, he said.
The country is doing quite well in complying with CITES conventions and in conservation of wild animals in general, he said.
"The WWF report only mentions rhino, tiger, and elephant. It is done bycollecting unofficial information from non-governmental organisations,the media, and individuals, and without any consultation with legalcompliance agencies."
He said the country allows tigerbreeding only for non-commercial purposes and pointing out that tigersin an eco-tourism park in Nghe An had delivered cubs.
The CITES Authority of Vietnam has pledged to take action to win recognition for the country's efforts to protect wildlife.
CITES, or the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Speciesof Wild Fauna and Flora, is created in 1960s and has 176 signatories.-VNA
