Off the wire
• Property transactions up 13 pct in Riga in July  • Spain suffers hottest July on record  • Chinese FM warns Japan not to "grapple with" China  • Roundup: Singapore stocks end up 0.17 pct  • Key U.S. Hispanic lawmaker endorses Clinton  • British FTSE 100 closes slightly lower on Thursday  • 166 killed as heavy rains lash parts of Pakistan  • Spotlight: Chinese FM calls for closer cooperation among ASEAN, China, Japan, S. Korea  • Spanish stock market falls 0.23 pct, closes at 11,253 points  • French stock market index down 0.09 pct on Thursday  
You are here: 　 Home

UAE on offensive against illegal ivory trade

Xinhua, August 7, 2015 Adjust font size:

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) launched recently a campaign to fight illegal ivory trade at Abu Dhabi international airport, state news agency WAM reported on Thursday.

Aisha Al-Abdouli, a senior official with the ministry of the environment and water, which launched the ten-day campaign, said the move aims "to educate travelers about the legal requirements on ivory trade, adding that the action comes within the framework of the national strategy to raise awareness and environmental education."

Border police at the UAE airports in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, considered key hubs connecting the developed countries in the west with the emerging markets in the east, regularly spot ivory smugglers who use the country as their travel routes.

The campaign coincides with the increasing number of seizures and confiscation of live animals, plants, ivory, leather products, sandalwood and others, said the WAM report.

It also aims to ensure the state's bio-security and protection from diseases and pests, as well as commitment and fulfillment of international agreements. Earlier this year, the UAE smashed over 10 tons of raw and crafted ivory.

The UAE signed the convention on international trade in endangered species of wild fauna and flora (CITES) in 1989 based on a federal decree on Nov. 19, 1989. CITES was established in 1973 and launched on July 1, 1975. Endit