Remarks by Ambassador Michael W. Michalak

When the Buying Stops, the Killing Can Too
By Michael W. Michalak
U.S. Ambassador to Vietnam

June 05, 2008

Wildlife trafficking – the illegal trade in wildlife and wildlife products – is a crime that affects us all.  This soaring black market trade is worth an estimated at between $10- $20 billion a year and is often linked to organized crime featuring the same villains and smuggling routes employed in trafficking arms, drugs, and even people.

Most of us probably feel comforted by the fact that we, at least, are not involved in such a sordid industry.  Yet each of us may be contributing to illegal wildlife trafficking without realizing it, by purchasing goods or consuming foods that are a result of illegal trade.  For example, here in Vietnam, many enjoy eating the meat of animals that are actually protected such as civets, as well as some types of turtles, and snakes.  Traditional medicines are still made from tiger bones or bear bile.  In Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City markets, tourists purchase souvenirs made from illegally harvested ivory, tortoise shells, feathers, fur, bones or skins of endangered species.  The sale of these products puts many species at risk of extinction and encourages continued criminal activity.

Unfortunately, the illegal trafficking in endangered species is growing and contributes significantly to the loss of our most precious wildlife.  Poachers and smugglers have contributed to a severe decline in the worldwide tiger population, almost 95% of which has occurred in the past 25 years.  I read with great sadness about the recent discovery of the carcasses of two tigers in a Hanoi residence, apparently slaughtered to make tiger bone glue. 

In addition to causing loss of wildlife and encouraging international criminal activity, wildlife trafficking contributes to global health problems.  Diseases familiar to all of us in Vietnam, such as avian influenza, severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and tuberculosis, along with other deadly infections, including the Ebola virus, can cross species lines and jump from animals to humans.

In response, the United States, in cooperation with several other governments and organizations, created the Coalition Against Wildlife Trafficking (CAWT).  Through CAWT, we seek to end wildlife trafficking by curbing both the buying and selling of illegal wildlife and wildlife products.  To enhance anti-trafficking law enforcement, CAWT and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations established a new regional wildlife enforcement network – ASEAN-WEN.  In its short existence, ASEAN-WEN has already succeeded in rescuing and returning live animals to their native countries and disrupted networks of wildlife trafficking.  In Vietnam, ASEAN-WEN and various U.S. agencies work with the Forest Protection Department, the Environmental Police Department, and provincial officials to upgrade Vietnam’s capacity to protect its wildlife through training and increased inter-agency cooperation.

Though the problems remain great, I am pleased to note that increased collaboration has yielded some positive results and I applaud the efforts of the Government of Vietnam to address this problem.  In 2007, Vietnam seized more than 66 tons of smuggled wild animals.  In a two week period earlier this year, Vietnamese authorities confiscated 23 million tons of endangered pangolin.  In April, researchers from a Vietnamese NGO reported the discovery of a giant Swinhoe's soft-shell turtle, an animal thought to be extinct in the wild, in a northern Vietnamese lake.

Yet, we all need to do more.  Even with increased enforcement, the wildlife trade continues to flourish in Vietnam and elsewhere.  As part of a global effort, we need to reduce Vietnamese consumption of endangered wildlife and prevent exports of endangered species to other destination countries in Asia and around the world.  We need to educate ourselves about the need to protect wildlife and learn how we can take action to support this goal.  And most importantly, we need to avoid buying any products that are the result of this bloody trade.

To help publicize the plight of endangered species, the United States has enlisted the help of actor Harrison Ford, star of the Indiana Jones movies, who donated his time to film three public service announcements urging consumers to stop buying illegal wildlife and wildlife products.  These ads will be aired worldwide to increase awareness of the severity of wildlife trafficking.  To watch this public service announcement online, please visit our Embassy website: Vietnam.USEmbassy.Gov.  These announcements challenge us to join together to stop the illegal wildlife trade by choosing not to buy products made from illegal wildlife trafficking.  Please join me and other around the world in combating this terrible trade.  Remember, when the buying stops, the killing can too.

"When the Buying Stops, the Killing Can Too" - Public Service Announcement by Harrison Ford. ^new

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