Education for Nature –Vietnam working to reduce ivory demand
The Education for Nature –Vietnam (ENV) has released a film challenging the traditional belief that ivory is a symbol of luxury and good fortune.
Tackling the ivory trade in Vietnam is not just the responsibility of law enforcement, but also the public. (Photo: VNA)
Hanoi (VNA) – The Education for Nature –Vietnam(ENV) has released a film challenging the traditional belief that ivory is asymbol of luxury and good fortune.
The film tells about a glamorous woman who is famousand well-liked by the public. As she attended a party, the host presented herwith an ivory gift, which she subsequently flaunts on the social media. Insteadof bringing her more popularity, her reputation is tarnished by her promotionof the killing of endangered elephants.
“Tackling the ivory trade in Vietnam is not just theresponsibility of law enforcement, but also the public,” said Nguyen PhuongDung, Director of Communications at the ENV.
“We must place a great portion of the responsibilityon consumers. Without buyers, there would be no incentive for hunters andtraders to kill elephants and ship their tusks to Vietnam. Retailers of ivoryproducts and consumers alike must put a stop to the shameful act of killingelephants for their tusks.”
Dung urged the public to stand up in the fight toprotect elephants. “Do not stand on the sidelines! Instead, take action by reporting ivorycrimes and urging family, friends, and business associates not to buy ivory.Challenge the misguided belief that wearing ivory will make someone look goodand be lucky – after all, how lucky is the dead elephant killed for its ivorytusks?”
The film comes in tandem with ENV’s Elephant-friendlyBusiness Campaign to combat the sale of ivory products in the Central Highlandsprovince of Dak Lak, the ivory hotspot of Vietnam.
This included site visits to tourism establishments,encouraging owners to sign pledges not to sell wildlife products, as well as a‘tourism workshop’ to raise awareness of the issue.
The ENV has worked closely with the Department of Communicationsin the province on this campaign and sharing the message with the public,including through a text message sent to their 2.17 million subscribers, urgingthem not to consume ivory and buttons on their website and community phone appto call the ENV Wildlife Crime Hotline.
A new ENV volunteer group was also established inBuon Ma Thuot city, Dak Lak province, in July 2022. Since that time, they havehosted six public awareness events urging people not to buy ivory products andcollecting wildlife protection pledges.
Awareness panels have also been placedat 13 government offices and 14 tourist sites in the province./.
VNA
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Tackling the ivory trade in Vietnam is not just the responsibility of law enforcement, but also the public. (Photo: VNA)