Illegal animal deals on Internet increasing

[Guest guest]

By Tetsuji Ida

TOKYO — The International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) says endangered

species are widely sold illegally on the Internet and called on governments

and website operators to take strong countermeasures.

In Japan last year, it was revealed that stuffed giant pandas and Tsushima

cats were auctioned online. It was also confirmed that stuffed lions and pet

turtles were sold on the Internet, triggering calls from environmental

organizations to clamp down on the deals.

IFAW conducted an investigation into the online trade in endangered species

from last November to January, and found that in one week in January 146

primates and 5,527 products made from elephants, including tusks, were sold.

A live chimpanzee was sold for $61,000-65,000, and high-grade shawls made of

" shahtoosh, " the wool of the Tibetan antelope on the brink of extinction,

the sale of which is banned in many countries, were on sale.

The report said the deals can be kept fairly anonymous on the Internet.

Sales of stuffed giant pandas on the Internet were also confirmed in Japan

this month.

" We have confirmed increases in animal deals on the Internet and are

watching them, " said an official with the wildlife section of Japan's

Environment Ministry.

" Checks are difficult, but if there are problems, we are asking dealers to

delete their advertisements and make reports to police, " the official said.

Akiko Ishihara, an official with Traffic Japan, a private organization

monitoring wild animal sales, said, " Recently, we rarely see illegal

wildlife deals at shops, and many of them are sold in Net auctions

anonymously. "

" Of course, stronger regulations and a monitoring setup are necessary, but

website operators should also bear a large part of the responsibility, "

Ishihara said.

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October 6, 2005