By Quyen Vu | Project Leader
The relentless slaughter of African elephants for their tusks continues to fuel the illegal ivory trade, pushing this magnificent species closer to extinction. ENV is deeply committed to ending this crisis and protecting endangered wildlife from exploitation remains one of our primary missions.
With the support of generous donors like you, we mobilize the public to report wildlife crimes, support law enforcement, and work to strengthen wildlife protection laws. Your contributions are essential to our progress.
In the first half of 2024, our Wildlife Crime Unit recorded over 1,500 new wildlife crime cases, totaling more than 4,700 individual violations. Among these, 120 cases were related to ivory, primarily involving online crimes.
In June, as part of our mission to combat the exploitation of African elephants for ivory in Vietnam, ENV developed and distributed over 3,500 copies of the Guidelines for Addressing Ivory-related Violations. This resource provides clear, actionable guidance for enforcing wildlife protection laws against ivory-related crimes. It was distributed to 981 provincial and district agencies, including Forest Protection Departments, Police, Market Surveillance, Customs, and Border Guards, covering all 63 provinces and cities in Vietnam.
One notable success, made possible by a report to the ENV Wildlife Crime Hotline, involved a fine imposed on an individual illegally advertising wildlife products on social media. First reported to ENV in July 2021 for promoting tiger claws, bear claws, and ivory bracelets, the seller was fined VND 7,500,000 by the Tra Vinh Provincial Economics Police after continuing their activities under new profiles.
On the prosecution front, five individuals were sentenced to over 40 years in prison for illegally transporting 54.26 kg of ivory bracelets and chopsticks, along with 22.63 kg of rhino horn, in Hanoi (Case ref. 27715/ENV).
In another landmark case, Hai Phong Customs and City Police seized 615 kg of ivory at Hai Phong port in February 2023. Recently, the Hai Phong City People’s Court sentenced the container recipient to 10 years in prison, marking the first successful prosecution of illegal wildlife transport at Hai Phong port (Case ref. 26064/ENV).
Communication and Public Awareness
Our Communications Team has been working tirelessly to raise awareness and mobilize support against ivory crime in Vietnam’s primary ivory trade hotspots.
In Buon Ma Thuot, a significant center of Vietnam’s ivory trade, ENV’s local outpost has successfully recruited and trained new volunteers. This passionate group is now equipped with skills in wildlife crime prevention and species identification, ready to make a positive impact in their communities.
As we celebrate our progress, we remain aware of the challenges ahead and the need for ongoing collective action. Your steadfast support is making a tangible difference in this critical fight, and we are incredibly grateful for your involvement in our mission to end the ivory trade in Vietnam.
Thank you for standing with us. Together, we can protect elephants from the threat of extinction.
Until next time,
The ENV Team
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