At least three nations were found wanting in their efforts to stop the thriving black market for illegal trading of animals, according to a study by the World Wildlife Fund.
The wildlife conservative group stated that countries including Vietnam, Thailand and China have failed in their efforts to stop the increase in the number of elephant and rhinoceros deaths.
While elephants are poached for their ivory (touted as a priced possession), rhinos are killed for their horns that are believed to be used to cure diseases like cancer. WWF scrutinized 23 countries to find out whether these countries have worked in compliance with the treaty to control the illegal trading of mainly three animals, tiger, rhino and elephant.
The environment group points out that these animals are more popular among human population in Asian countries for their ivory and horns and command high prices from humans. The demand for rhino horns in Vietnam has soared which has led to the massive poaching of the animals in South Africa.
WWF used a scorecard to show just well or poorly these countries fared in their efforts. While countries like India and Nepal shown green signs indicating their progression in their work to enforce actions against killing these animals, several African and Asian countries like Egypt, Cameron, Mozambique, Myanmar and Thailand have been given red marks pointing out that these nations have failed in enforcing key policies for elephant protection.
China has effectively imposed policies to control illegal trading of tigers and rhinos but has failed in the protection of elephants. The report also noted that Vietnam has poorly performed in all aspects of complying and protecting the endangered rhinos and the other animals.
"It is time for Vietnam to face the fact that its illegal consumption of rhino horn is driving the widespread poaching of endangered rhinos in Africa," WWF's global species program manager, Elizabeth McLellan told the Associated Press.
Several countries have been termed as "wildlife trade hotspots," because the illegal wildlife trading has reached a dangerous level. China's international borders, trade hubs in East/Southern Africa and Southeast Asia, some parts in Indonesia, New Guinea and the Solomon Islands are some of the notable places where illegal trading is alarmingly at a higher level.
The group noted that although there are several countries have laws against black market, strict enforcement is the need of the hour to prevent losing the endangered animals
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