DEC allows export of protected wildlife to China
From a Special Correspondent
We seem to be selling pretty much everything else to China, our timber, our minerals, our futures - so why not our protected and endangered animals as well?
This is clearly the view of the Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC) who recently approved the export of a dozen of our ‘flagship’ protected species, by the PNG Gardener to China.
The approved export list includes Raggiana Birds of Paradise (our National animal), the endangered Tenkile Tree Kangaroo and the Leatherback Turtle. In total 134 examples of these and 11 other species are currently being collected around the country and stored at the 6 Mile ‘Zoo’ before they are shipped off to Beijing.
The species being exported are on the CITES list – so hunting them and there trade is illegal, both locally and internationally. But DEC and the Chinese aim to circumvent these laws by using the zoo-to-zoo loophole in the CITES legislation.
Good that DEC are up to their usual standards. Keep it up boys!
What is the primary role of the Department of Environment and Conservation? Is it to conserve our prestine environment and its flora and fauna or to trade endangered and reserved national species to China of all places. Better think once more. Consider the threat it will pose to one of the many industry of this beautiful country of ours, the Tourism Industry. Set you priorities right DEC.
I have mixed feelings about this exercise. On one hand it is good as the exposure gives status to our wildlife and could increase protection given to those species, on the other hand, why was it a covert operation – if it is a legal exercise??
My goodness. What have we come to? How further down can PNG sink to for the price of a few dollars more in our bank accounts?
Exposure or not, don’t take my protected species out of my country. PERIOD!
Let videos and the countless communication medium available out there to tell people about our rare native species.
Of all the countries in the world, how dare we export to China. These people eat these beautiful animals. They don’t bloody look after them.
Exporting an ENDANGERED species? That Tenkile tree kangaroo’s total population in the world is supposed to be only about 100 or so. Obviously someone is getting kickbacks at DEC. Wouldn’t be surprising cuz Wari Iamo is the historic master of kickbacks in giving out DEC contracts to outsiders.