Vietnam is still considered a “hot spot” for wildlife trade and consumption globally, even though the authorities have taken stricter control and directive measures.

On June 18, the Center for People and Nature (PanNature) released the report, “There is yet a way out – Wildlife trafficking before and during the pandemic in Vietnam.” The results of a quick survey in 20 provinces and cities show that, in the two years of 2019 – 2020, the wildlife trade in Vietnam has not improved much so far.

The survey focused on hot spots and venues trading ivory, tigers, turtles, and wild birds in 20 provinces and cities across the country. Up to 27/31 of the survey points recorded the illegal trade of ivory products. Some markets in the Mekong Delta are still active with trading of turtles, birds, and other wildlife animals, including rare and precious species.

Many measures have been proposed to the functional sectors to prevent and limit the risk of disease outbreaks that have an animal origin, such as closing places of illegal wildlife trade, tightening the management on wildlife captivity for commercial purposes, and combining research and assessment to compile a list of species that are allowed to be bred by households.

In addition, with the variation of wildlife trade activities on the Internet, the report also proposes measures such as controlling advertising activities and selling illegal wildlife products on the mass media and e-commerce platform, encouraging press agencies and non-governmental organizations to boost communication activities propagating against wildlife trade and bushmeat.

According to Lao Dong newspaper