(BANGKOK, November 26, 2009) - More than 7,785 live animals were rescued by Southeast Asian Authorities from illegal trade in 35 major wildlife law enforcement actions across the region between July 1 and September 30, 2009, according to reports received by the ASEAN Wildlife Enforcement Network (ASEAN-WEN) Program Coordination Unit. This number surpasses the 5,296 animals reported rescued during the previous quarter.

“Some of the protected species, such as the hundreds of critically endangered Hawksbill turtles rescued in Vietnam, could be released back into natural habitat immediately, others will require care and rehabilitation,” said Dr. Chumphon Sukkaseam, Senior Officer of the Program Coordination Unit.

During the three-month period, authorities arrested 23 suspects in connection with major seizures of protected wildlife and recovered more than 1,622 dead animals, animal parts and derivatives, including several large shipments of ivory reported to be of African origin. “Continuing seizures of African ivory in ASEAN exposes a concerning trend in illegal transcontinental wildlife trade, which requires increasing cooperation between ASEAN and African nations, including the Lusaka Agreement Task Force, to suppress”, said Dr. Chumphon.

On August 21, 2009, Thai Customs announced the seizure of 812kg of elephant ivory at Suvarnabhumi International Airport in Bangkok. On the same day, Vietnam Customs reported the seizure of approximately 2 tons of elephant ivory at Hai Phong Port, following a 200kg elephant ivory seizure at the same port on July 29, 2009. In the previous two quarters, ASEAN-WEN has reported multi-million dollar ivory seizures in the Philippines and Vietnam, totaling 9.7 metric tons - also believed to be of African origin.

More detail on recent major and model illegal wildlife trade interdictions by Southeast Asian law enforcement authorities,  is available in the ASEAN-WEN Action Update (Jul-Sept 2009). ASEAN-WEN is supported by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).