Britain's Prince William on Thursday warned that vulnerable species are being killed at a "horrifying" rate, as he addressed a wildlife conference in Vietnam -- a country criticised for failing to curb the illicit animal product trade.
With its growing class of wealthy elites, Vietnam has become a main market for rhino horn and ivory and a key transit route for the smuggling of illegal wildlife products from Africa to other Asian countries, notably China.
William, a conservation champion, urged governments around the world to act to save vulnerable species before it is too late.
"We know that we aren't moving fast enough to keep up with the crisis. Rhinos, elephants, pangolins, lions, they are still being killed in horrifying numbers," he said at the Hanoi Conference on Illegal Wildlife Trade.
"While we've made progress, the truth is we are still falling behind. A betting man would still bet on extinction."
The prince cautioned that poachers and trafficking syndicates are becoming more sophisticated and said appetites for wildlife products such as ivory and rhino horn need to be stamped out.
The global illegal wildlife industry, worth an estimated $20 billion, is driven chiefly by demand in Vietnam and China for decorations or traditional medicines with little or no proven benefit.
Stricter law enforcement in China in recent years has driven many buyers to Vietnam, which conservation groups have said is failing to punish criminals and enforce the law.
- 'Time bomb' -
Pressure on Vietnam has seen much of the trade move to the web, led by China's popular social media platform WeChat.
"Online they're still operating unimpeded, Facebook, WeChat, there's still a tremendous amount of wildlife being offered for sale," said Wildlife Justice Commission director Olivia Swaak-Goldman.
"We are at a time bomb... if we keep going this way we won't have any more of these iconic species."
In an illustration of the challenges, a WJC investigation Nhi Khe village just 20 kilometres (12 miles) south of Hanoi found a major black market for illegal wildlife products such as tiger skins, rhino horns, ivory and pangolins.
Their year-long probe also uncovered hollowed out rhino feet and baby tiger cub wine for sale, mostly for Chinese tourists.
There were no illegal wildlife products to be found in the village Thursday, with one shopowner telling AFP it has become increasingly difficult to find such items.
"There used to be shops selling ivory, now I don't hear of them anymore. If there are, they must be doing it secretly. It's not easy to buy, you need to be introduced by someone who trusts you," said the man, who runs a trinket shop, declining to provide his name.
Vietnam's vice president earlier echoed Prince William's urgent appeal.
"The illegal wildlife trade on a global scale has increased and become more complicated," said Dang Thi Ngoc Thinh.
"This is a global issue and no single industry, sector or country can effectively combat the problem of illegal wildlife trafficking," she added, urging international cooperation to combat the scourge.
More than 40 countries are represented at the two-day meeting, alongside NGOs and conservation groups, the third held since Britain hosted it in 2014 and Botswana last year.
AFP
Thu Nov 17 2016
![Prince William issues dire warning on animal extinction Prince William issues dire warning on animal extinction](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2016-11/81479381618_PrinceWilliam.jpg)
Britain's Prince William speaks at the Conference on illegal wildlife trade in Hanoi, Vietnam November 17, 2016. - REUTERS pic / Kham
![Kemalangan elak kera: 'Sempat ajar isteri dan ibu mengucap' - Pemandu Kemalangan elak kera: 'Sempat ajar isteri dan ibu mengucap' - Pemandu](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-09/41725184580_TBmaut.jpg)
Kemalangan elak kera: 'Sempat ajar isteri dan ibu mengucap' - Pemandu
Mohd Fadzil Othman, 27, kehilangan isteri Siti Norhasliza Kamarudin, 26, dan ibunya Omi Kalsom Man, 69, dalam kemalangan di Simpang Tiga Kuala Bakong, Jalan Malau-Kuala Ketil, pada Sabtu.
Ahmad Zahid sedia disiasat berhubung dakwaan unsur tipu SD
Timbalan Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi sedia disiasat berhubung dakwaan terdapat unsur tipu helah atau memperdaya Yang di-Pertuan Agong ke-16 ketika mengemukakan Akuan Berkanun (SD) bagi pembentukan Kerajaan Perpaduan.
KPDN laksana intervensi sekat penyelewengan minyak masak bersubsidi
KPDN mengingatkan semua pihak yang terlibat dalam rantaian pembekalan dan pengedaran minyak masak bersubsidi polibeg 1 kilogram agar lebih bertanggungjawab dalam memastikan subsidi ini benar-benar sampai kepada golongan sasar.
Op Tiris 3.0: 496 ditahan, RM80.11 juta barangan dirampas
Kementerian Perdagangan Dalam Negeri dan Kos Sara Hidup (KPDN) menahan 496 individu dan merampas barang kawalan dan bersubsidi bernilai RM80.11 juta dalam Op Tiris 3.0 yang dijalankan antara 1 Jan hingga 28 Ogos lepas.
KPWKM teliti keperluan pinda Akta Antigangguan Seksual
KPWKM sedang meneliti keperluan untuk meminda Akta Antigangguan Seksual susulan kes yang melibatkan seorang kakitangan bank yang digantung tugas selepas mengadu mengenai kes gangguan seksual yang dilakukan pegawai atasannya.
![Loga Bala sah Presiden MyPPP baharu Loga Bala sah Presiden MyPPP baharu](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-09/61725184161_TBLOGABALA.jpg)
Loga Bala sah Presiden MyPPP baharu
Pemilihan Loga Bala yang sebelum ini memangku jawatan presiden itu disokong sebulat suara perwakilan Mesyuarat Agung Tahunan (AGM) ke-71 parti itu.
![Melaka giat promosi TMM 2024 dalam tempoh empat bulan terakhir Melaka giat promosi TMM 2024 dalam tempoh empat bulan terakhir](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-09/51725184383_TBABDULRAZAKMERDEKA.jpg)
Melaka giat promosi TMM 2024 dalam tempoh empat bulan terakhir
Usaha itu bagi memastikan pelancong ke Melaka mencapai sasaran 15 hingga 18 juta orang sepanjang tahun ini.
![Aisyah Hijanah fail cerai terhadap Alif Teega Aisyah Hijanah fail cerai terhadap Alif Teega](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-09/71725181728_TBAlifTega.jpg)
Aisyah Hijanah fail cerai terhadap Alif Teega
Aisyah Hijanah Azhari memfailkan tuntutan cerai di Mahkamah Rendah Syariah Daerah Gombak Timur baru-baru ini.
![Lelaki dipercayai lemas lori dipandu terjatuh laut Lelaki dipercayai lemas lori dipandu terjatuh laut](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-09/81725181645_TBlemasjpg.jpg)
Lelaki dipercayai lemas lori dipandu terjatuh laut
Seorang lelaki dipercayai lemas setelah lori dipandunya terjatuh ke dalam laut dalam kejadian dekat Pelabuhan Barat di sini pada Ahad.
![Paralimpik: Acara triatlon ditangguh, kualiti air Sungai Seine menurun Paralimpik: Acara triatlon ditangguh, kualiti air Sungai Seine menurun](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-09/71725182567_SeineRiverParis.jpg)
Paralimpik: Acara triatlon ditangguh, kualiti air Sungai Seine menurun
Satu kenyataan daripada Triatlon Dunia mengesahkan penangguhan itu selepas pertemuan dengan wakil Paris 2024 dan pihak berkuasa Perancis pada Ahad.
![Raja Charles III utus ucapan Selamat Hari Kebangsaan kepada Agong, rakyat Malaysia Raja Charles III utus ucapan Selamat Hari Kebangsaan kepada Agong, rakyat Malaysia](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-08/81725084769_RajaCharlesMalays.jpg)
Raja Charles III utus ucapan Selamat Hari Kebangsaan kepada Agong, rakyat Malaysia
Raja Charles III dan Permaisuri Camilla mengutuskan ucapan Selamat Hari Kebangsaan kepada Yang Di-Pertuan Agong, Sultan Ibrahim dan seluruh rakyat Malaysia sempena sambutan Hari Kebangsaan, hari ini.
![Berita antarabangsa pilihan sepanjang hari ini Berita antarabangsa pilihan sepanjang hari ini](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-03/71709993909_TBBERITAx.jpg)
Berita antarabangsa pilihan sepanjang hari ini
Antara pelbagai berita luar negara yang disiarkan di Astro AWANI, berikut adalah yang paling menjadi tumpuan sepanjang hari ini.
![Sheikh Hasina akan tinggal di India sehingga peroleh suaka di Britain - Laporan Sheikh Hasina akan tinggal di India sehingga peroleh suaka di Britain - Laporan](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/81721695161_SheikhHasina.jpg)
Sheikh Hasina akan tinggal di India sehingga peroleh suaka di Britain - Laporan
Sheikh Hasina yang melarikan diri dari negaranya dijangka tinggal di India sehingga Britain memberinya suaka.
![India dan Britain lancar inisiatif keselamatan teknologi India dan Britain lancar inisiatif keselamatan teknologi](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/71721878547_DAVIDLAMMY.jpg)
India dan Britain lancar inisiatif keselamatan teknologi
Ia merangkumi bidang seperti telekomunikasi, kecerdasan buatan, kuantum, kesihatan dan bioteknologi, bahan termaju dan semikonduktor.
![Rishi Sunak akui kekalahan, ucap tahniah kepada Keir Starmer Rishi Sunak akui kekalahan, ucap tahniah kepada Keir Starmer](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/81720156983_RishiSunak.jpg)
Rishi Sunak akui kekalahan, ucap tahniah kepada Keir Starmer
Perdana Menteri Britain, Rishi Sunak, mengakui berdepan kekalahan dalam pilihan raya Britain dan menyatakan bahawa Parti Buruh pembangkang telah menang pada Jumaat.
![Berita antarabangsa pilihan sepanjang hari ini Berita antarabangsa pilihan sepanjang hari ini](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-03/71709993909_TBBERITAx.jpg)
Berita antarabangsa pilihan sepanjang hari ini
Antara pelbagai berita luar negara yang disiarkan di Astro AWANI, berikut adalah antara yang paling menjadi tumpuan sepanjang hari ini.
![Charles bangga keberanian Kate dedah rawatan kanser Charles bangga keberanian Kate dedah rawatan kanser](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-03/71711145796_KingCharles.jpg)
Charles bangga keberanian Kate dedah rawatan kanser
Charles sangat bangga dengan Kate dan telah terus berhubung rapat dengan menantu kesayangannya itu selama beberapa minggu kebelakangan ini.
![Kate Middleton sahkan hidap kanser Kate Middleton sahkan hidap kanser](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-03/51711145339_PrincessofWales.jpg)
Kate Middleton sahkan hidap kanser
Isteri pewaris takhta Putera William itu menyifatkan penemuan kanser itu sebagai "satu kejutan besar".
![Raja Charles III terharu terima ribuan kad, titip ucapan dan doa Raja Charles III terharu terima ribuan kad, titip ucapan dan doa](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-02/41708738320_BritainsKingCharl.jpg)
Raja Charles III terharu terima ribuan kad, titip ucapan dan doa
Istana Buckingham mengeluarkan gambar baginda yang kelihatan terhibur dan terharu membaca nota yang ditulis pada kad-kad ucapan.
![Britain, Finland pula tangguh biaya UNRWA susulan dakwaan Israel Britain, Finland pula tangguh biaya UNRWA susulan dakwaan Israel](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-01/81704782823_Palestinians.jpg)
Britain, Finland pula tangguh biaya UNRWA susulan dakwaan Israel
Britain dan Finland telah menyertai negara-negara lain dalam menangguhkan pembiayaan kepada UNRWA.