Global News - July 2008

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US and China join force to stop poaching

Thu 03 July 2008 14:00 UK — Asia,Other

The US will work more closely with China in a bid to curb the illegal poaching of rare and endangered wild animals.

China Daily has reported that Claudia McMurray, the US assistant secretary of the bureau of oceans and international environmental and scientific affairs, has said that it will take a concerted global effort to stop the gangs that are perpetrating wildlife crime across the globe.

In an interview with the paper, she said: "No one government or private group can combat this sophisticated criminal activity alone and hope to succeed."

"Endangered animals are the new blood diamonds. Wildlife trafficking is closely linked to organised crime. Estimates of the value of this illegal trade range from between $10 million and $20 million a year."

As well as working together to tackle poaching, Ms McMurray said China and the US must work together to try are curb the demand for products from rare animals.

"Some consumers buy these products when they travel abroad, or source them over the internet but they think that what they are buying is perfectly legal," she explained to the paper.

Recently, the US government revealed that it would be working with Iranian officials to try to protect rare cheetahs in the Middle East.

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