Haribon's campaign against illegal wildlife trade can be traced back at least as early as 1989, when it conducted the Public Awareness Campaign on Wildlife Trade and Issues in the Philippines, a project that ran until 1991.
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| A sulphur-crested cockatoo illegally smuggled from Indonesia. |
With the still growing rate of species becoming vulnerable to illegal trade, Haribon is once again stepping up its anti-illegal wildlife trade campaign by spreading awareness on wildlife trade laws, highlighting the alarming status of species endangerment, and encouraging the public to refrain from supporting the illegal trade and reporting cases of violations.
Laws and regulations govern the wildlife trade, from international agreements like the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna (CITES), to the more recently enacted Wildlife Conservation Act of the Philippines. A list of wildlife species commonly targeted for illegal trade is also provided. Finally, specific guidelines are offered for the guidance of prospective buyers of wildlife species and products.
Haribon hopes that by spreading this information, the public will be more aware of the issue of illegal wildlife trade and be encouraged to help combat the problem. Ultimately, wildlife is better appreciated in the wild.
