Most Hongkongers back tighter rules for trade in unique animals, study by conservation groups exhibits

Most Hong Kong people polled in a survey have backed a ban on the trade in some unique species and tighter rules governing the sale of other animals.

About 80 for each cent of individuals requested claimed there need to be a blanket ban on the importation of exotic animals these types of as yellow-crested cockatoos, environmentally friendly iguanas, hognose snakes and alligator snapping turtles.

WWF-Hong Kong mentioned the data gathered from the study carried out with the ADM Funds Basis showed the town imported 5.2 million exotic animals involving 2015 and 2021 from a lot more than 90 nations, but “only a number of hundred thousand” had been lawfully exported in excess of the identical time period.

“It is crystal clear that each and every household in Hong Kong does not have two birds or parrots or iguanas or songbirds or geckos, which raises the query, exactly where are they?” Sam Inglis, a wildlife programme manager at the foundation, mentioned.

Sung Yik-hei, an adjunct assistant science professor at Lingnan College, warned: “Of the tens of millions of exotic animals imported into the city, approximately 50 percent are from species struggling with extinction in the wild.”

He included that Hong Kong was “the final remaining stronghold” for the trade in several species, which ended up in threat of extinction “within a make any difference of years”.

Seventy-8 for every cent of survey respondents claimed there was a have to have to tighten rules governing the trade of animals in Hong Kong.

Inglis added that exotic pet possession experienced not been examined totally by the federal government considering that 2005, regardless of the seizure of quite a few animals more than the very last decade as traffickers tried to smuggle exotic creatures in and out of the metropolis.

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But an modification to tighten up the principles on the unlawful import, export and re-export of unusual and endangered species was designed to the Organised and Serious Crimes Ordinance in 2021.

The changes gave authorities powers to crack down on the kingpins of animal trafficking by freezing assets and introduced harsher penalties for lawbreakers.

“The challenge to date is that we have not always seen these powers remaining invoked in any wildlife criminal offense offences,” Inglis claimed. “Without sending a apparent sign to the syndicated organisations that are poaching from our community ecosystems and laundering income in relation to wildlife crimes, we’re only going to see this get even worse.”

“Society has grow to be much more cognisant of these difficulties … these are placing figures that the govt can think about if they come to a decision to modify the laws on the unique pet trade,” she mentioned.

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Andersson added there have been many explanations Hong Kong was a centre for the global trade in exotic species.

“Hong Kong is component of a international trade network, possessing usually been a port of entry into China … also now with its absolutely free port status, it is one particular of the busiest ports in the environment,” she explained.

Andersson claimed that numerous exotic animals arrived from spots this kind of as Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand and Malaysia, and traditionally were bought to satisfy demand in Western nations.

“But also now, with the rising buying power of folks in Asia in, for instance, China, Singapore and Hong Kong, they are staying traded in the area as perfectly,” she reported.

The on the net survey executed by the two teams polled 2,957 people today among June 24 and July 4.

The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department has been contacted for remark.