Saturday November 17, 2012

US to help Asian nations curb wildlife trafficking

KLUANG: The United States will play a pivotal role in ensuring Asian countries stopped wildlife trafficking, Datuk Paul W. Jones said.

The US ambassador said wildlife trafficking was a serious issue as it involved the national security of the countries concerned.

US President Barack Obama, along with State Secretary Hillary Clinton, would raise the issue at the East Asia Summit in Cambodia next week, he said.

“Wildlife trafficking must be stopped through global efforts and it will be highlighted at the summit,” he said at the Wildlife and Forestry Law Enforcement Workshop here yesterday.

“Just as criminals engage in illegal wildlife trade could easily work across borders, so too must enforcement agencies work together globally,” he said.

At the event, Jones presented a grant of US$58,992 (RM176,976) from the United States Fish and Wildlife Service to the Johor Wildlife Conservation Project.

The grant is to fund activities related to the conservation of tigers.

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