Wildlife trade endangering Cambodia’s fauna

In many restaurants in Phnom Penh, wild meat is readily available. Walk into one of these, and you’ll be able to order deer, wild pig or even monitor lizards. Some places sell even rarer meat, from endangered animals like the pangolin. Wildlife conservation officials say the practice of serving wild meat in Cambodia is endangering many of its animals, along with other forms of trafficking. Meanwhile, the tiger and rhino who once lived here are no more, and wild elephants are increasingly rare. … The government has three classifications for illegally trafficked animals: endangered, like tiger and bear; rare, like the pangolin; and “medium”; wild pig and deer mouse. Trafficking incurs fines up to three times the market value of the animal to imprisonment of five years and fines of $250,000, depending on the animal. However, Khem Vuthyravong says local authorities have little incentive to make arrests, and, despite the work of his unit, wildlife hunting and trafficking, both profitable and easy, continues. …

 Khoun Theara
http://www.voacambodia.com/content/wildlife-trade-endangering-cambodias-fauna/1943063.html