22
ND REPORT
We must work together to prevent future pandemics — The newly released World Health Organisation report
pandemic to trade wildlife online and deliver through
on the origins of Covid-19 confirms what we have long
express, IFAW’s government partners joined us in
suspected. Wildlife trade most likely played a role for
mobilising both the online and logistics companies to
the virus to spread from its original wild animal host to
fight illegal wildlife trade.
people.
The harsh sentencing handed down in a court in
The International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) is
Guangdong to a gang of ivory smugglers demonstrates
encouraged to see, finally, world leaders putting politics
China’s zero tolerance stance against wildlife trafficking.
aside to understand the origin of the pandemic.
A newly amended Criminal Law giving more teeth for
China closed the Wuhan Huannan market early on in the epidemic. Realising that most of the samples collected
prosecuting domestic wildlife crime cases, took effect on March 1st.
from the Wuhan market came from an area where wild
IFAW has long conducted behaviour change campaigns
animals were sold, China banned wildlife eating and
to reduce both market supply and consumer demand for
closed all markets selling wild animals, and the farms
wildlife parts and products. We believe that strong laws
supplying these markets with wild animals for food.
combined with vigorous enforcement and meaningful
Since banning wildlife markets, China has also moved to strengthen a series of laws, including the Wildlife Protection Law, the Criminal Law, the Biosafety Law, and
penalties for violators stigmatise wildlife consumption, thus, create an enabling social environment for behaviour change.
the Animal Epidemic Prevention Law. All these legislative
Countering wildlife crime is an issue that is galvanising
moves demonstrate one thing. China considers wildlife
the Chinese society. From the public and the private
crime as a threat to the country’s ecological security as
sector, we have seen overwhelming enthusiasm and
well as public health and safety.
support. Last year, IFAW and Baidu jointly launched the
In February, China revised the addendum to the Wildlife Protection Law. In one fell swoop, China added 517 more species onto the National Protected Species List. For the first time, the 980 species afforded legal protection include not just wild animals that walk, but also those that fly and swim. China’s law enforcers have always considered wildlife crime a serious crime. To ramp up law enforcement in anticipation that criminals may take advantage of the
AI Guardian for Wildlife, using AI technology developed by Baidu to identify images of wildlife parts and products traded online. The online companies have also provided innovative technology enabling IFAW’s demand reduction campaign to reach target audience with precision. To prevent future pandemics, it is imperative that countries around the world work together. By doing that, both wildlife and people will benefit. GRACE GE GABRIEL / IFAW Regional Director, Asia
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