Guest guest Posted October 9, 2001 Report Share Posted October 9, 2001 Cambodian wildlife officials recently embarked upon a sting operation which resulted in the rescue of over 1,300 endangered animals from Phnom Penh restaurants. The animals were slated to be killed and served as " exotic meat delicacies. " According to the PlanetArk news article (copy appended below), the Cambodian Ministry of Agriculture intends to shut down all the Phnom Penh restaurants which fail to comply with a ban on serving meat of endangered animals. Please write to the Cambodian Ministers of Agriculture, Environment and Tourism to express your appreciation for their diligent protection of wildlife. Additionally, encourage the Ministers to lobby for more stringent penalties to levy against those who do not comply with wildlife laws. The contact information for each Minister is as follows: H.E. Chan Tong Iv, Current Acting Minister Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry & Fisheries Norodom Blvd., Phnom Penh Kingdom of Cambodia Tel: (855-23) 427 320 Fax : (855-23) 427 320 H.E. Dr. Mok Mareth, Minister of Environment 62 Preah Sihanouk Ave., Phnom Penh Kingdom of Cambodia Tel.: (855-23) 426 814 or (855-23) 427 894 Fax:(855 23) 427 844 H.E. Veng Sereyvuth, Minister of Tourism #3 Monivong Blvd., Phnom Penh Kingdom of Cambodia Tel: (855-23) 213 911 Fax : Tel.: (855-23) 426 107 or (855-23) 426 364 Email: somara dgtourism tourism _____________________________ News article: Bushmeat in Cambodia http://www.planetark.org/dailynewsstory.cfm/newsid/12633/story.htm CAMBODIA: October 3, 2001 PHNOM PENH - Cambodia's wildlife officials said yesterday they rescued over 1,300 endangered animals from the kitchens of restaurants in Phnom Penh. The endangered animals were discovered in a three-month operation against restaurants specialising in rare delicacies, said Sun Hean of the Agriculture Ministry's wildlife protection unit. " We rescued wild boars, porcupines, a sun bear, rare turtles and pangolins, " Sun Hean said. Pangolins are scaly ant-eaters. Some 1,360 wild animals were rescued and 88 kg of animal meat confiscated during sting operations on 137 restaurants, said Eng Peotith, a military police official attached to the ministry. No arrests were made as Cambodian law - which bans trade in wild animals - allows only a small fine for those involved in the business, he said. " The number of restaurants specialising in these animals has increased. Eating rare animals is becoming more popular. " The rescued animals had been sent to a zoo and a national park outside Phnom Penh, Eng said. Phnom Penh Governor Chea Sophara said yesterday he would call the owners of 193 restaurants to a meeting to discuss the mushrooming wild meat trade. Chea Sophara said he would also issue a directive banning endangered meat from restaurant menus. Restaurants would have two months to comply or face closure. " Restaurants that still serve wild food will be shut down in two months, " he said. NEW from GeoCities - quick and easy web site hosting, just $8.95/month. http://geocities./ps/info1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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