I dont often actually ask you to share something, but this is one image I would really love to see reaching millions of people. Wildlife crime is now the most urgent threat to three of the world’s best-loved species—elephants, rhinos and tigers. The global value of illegal wildlife trade is between $7.8 and $10 billion per year. I AM NOT MEDICINE At least one rhino is killed every day due to the mistaken belief that rhino horn can cure diseases. The main market is now in Vietnam where there is a newly emerged belief that rhino horn cures cancer. Rhino horn is also used in other traditional Asian medicine to treat a variety of ailments including fever and various blood disorders. It is also used by wealthy Asian as a cure for hangovers. I AM NOT A TRINKET Tens of thousands of elephants are killed every year for their ivory tusks. In 1989, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) banned the international trade in ivory. However, there are still some thriving but unregulated domestic ivory markets in a number of countries, which fuel an illegal international trade. I AM NOT A RUG Every part of the tiger—from whisker to tail—is traded in illegal wildlife markets. Poaching is the most immediate threat to wild tigers. In relentless demand, their parts are used for traditional medicine, folk remedies, and increasingly as a status symbol among wealthy Asians. All information and text from the World Wildlife Fund. Find out more here: bit.ly/WH4SMk
Posted on: Sun, 09 Mar 2014 01:20:34 +0000
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