Muse, 20 March

The Forest Department under the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Conservation and the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) jointly organized a workshop on reducing illegal trading of wildlife at the hall of the Muse-Namhkan Merchant Association in Muse, Northern Shan State on 18 and 19 March.

“About 50 % of illegal smuggling of the wildlife is used via Mandalay-Muse trading route. Endangered creatures such as pangolins, snakes, turtles and other extinct animals are smuggled from Myanmar into China through this road. The main purpose of this meeting is to keep in touch with line departments which are assigned at this route in order to protect and control illegal trading of wildlife,” said U Aung Kyaw, a representative from the WCS.

Mongla Region in Eastern Shan State, Kyaikhtiyo Area in Mon State and Muse in Northern Shan State are most affected by wildlife poaching and trafficking in Myanmar. The government should take concrete steps against illegal wild life trade as some endangered species are facing the threat of extinction. Some endangered species may become extinct in the near future as poaching and illegal trading of wildlife in Myanmar has been increasing.

In addition, the number of wildlife in Myanmar has been dropping severely. In an attempt to curb smuggling endangered species in Myanmar, the WCS has been organizing awareness campaigns in cooperation with concerned governmental departments.—Van Ro Thang (IPRD)
Translated by Kyaw Htike Soe