The trade in bear parts from Myanmar: an illustration of the ineffectiveness of enforcement of international wildlife trade regulations |
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Authors: | Chris R Shepherd Vincent Nijman |
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Affiliation: | (1) TRAFFIC Southeast Asia, Unit 9-3A, 3rd Floor, SS23/11, Taman SEA, Petaling Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia;(2) Zoological Museum, University of Amsterdam, P.O. Box 94766, Amsterdam, 1090 GT, The Netherlands |
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Abstract: | We assessed the effectiveness of national and international wildlife trade regulations in Asia by surveying four wildlife
markets in Myanmar for bears and bear parts. Bears are protected in Myanmar and neighbouring countries, and are included in
CITES Appendix I, precluding international trade. Three of the four wildlife markets were situated at the border with neighbouring
countries (China and Thailand) whereas the fourth, situated in Myanmar’s interior, also catered to international markets.
During seven checks (1999–2006) we recorded 1,200 bear parts, representing a minimum of 215 individual bears. Most items were
from Asiatic black bears Ursus thibetanus but also sun bear Helarctos malayanus parts were offered for sale. There were significant temporal and spatial differences in what items were offered for sale.
Prices were low (USD 4–40 per item) and the total monetary value of the items for sale was USD 6,500–9,500 (not including
gall bladders). Carcasses, skulls, canines, paws, claws, whole skins, pieces of skin, gall bladders and derivates, were openly
displayed, with vendors being frank about prices, origin, and potential buyers. Only in the interior were prices quoted in
the local currency; at the other three markets currencies of the neighbouring countries were used. Legal (international) trade
in bears or bear parts from Myanmar is virtually non-existent, and the observed trade in bear parts strongly indicates a serious
lack of enforcement effort. International trade in bear parts from Myanmar is significant, and open, and we conclude that
the enforcement of wildlife trade regulations, at least when they concerns bear species, have by and large failed. |
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Keywords: | CITES Wildlife trade Southeast Asia Ursus thibetanus Helarctos malayanus |
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