Citation Detail: Wang Zhijun, Wu Delin, Chen Huojie. 1996. Preliminary Survey on Transfrontier Wildlife Trade in Yunnan. in: Conserving China's Biodiversity (II) (PETER Johan Schei, WANG Sung and XIE Yan eds.). China Environmental Science Press. Beijing.188-196p.

Preliminary Survey on Transfrontier Wildlife Trade in Yunnan

Wang Zhijun, Wu Delin, Chen Huojie
(Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanic Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences)

★INTRODUCTION★STUDY AREA AND METHODS★DISCUSSION★SUGGESTIONS

ABSTRACT
Yunnan province is in southwest China, bordering Burma, Vietnam, and Laos. One of the main threats to wildlife protection in Yunnan at present is the trade of both live animals and their products across the border. This transfrontier wildlife trade is a serious problem in Yunnan. The border ports of Ruili, Wanding, Longchuan, Daluo, Mohan and Hekou were investigated. Our investigation found that trade is very easily accomplished between the borders of Yunnan and neighboring countries; the border is very porous. Even though there are laws to protect the wildlife, live wildlife and their products are still traded across the borders. Local people bring wildlife through a river or a hill to China; they are not checked and quarantined by customs inspection posts. Wildlife has long been utilized by people for food, medicine, pets and raw material. We surveyed the markets, wildlife collecting stations of Yunnan Forestry Agency, restaurants, drugstores and pet trade markets in each border port. The live wildlife and their products that were imported to Yunnan from neighboring countries were identified. The species of wildlife were recorded. We found 134 species of wildlife for sale in the border areas. These included 54 species of birds belonging to 11 orders, 17 families and 2 subfamilies; 33 species of mammals belonging to 6 orders and 16 families; and 47 species of reptiles belonging to 3 orders and 14 families. Beside local consumption, the wildlife from Burma, Vietman and Laos were destined to be transported to several provinces within China by different ways. The control of the transfrontier wildlife trade in Yunnan through international cooperation is urgently needed. The customs and port management institutions, especially the Yunnan Forestry Agency, should invest considerable effort to control illegal trade of wildlife effectively. It is very important to train officers and managers at these posts, and increased attention should be given to public education. There are many problems with the wildlife collecting stations and the wildlife collecting center of the Yunnan Forestry Agency, and these should be assessed and criticized in an ecologically sensitive way.

INTRODUCTION

Yunnan Province is located in southwest China and borders Burma, Vietnam, and Laos. One of main threats to wildlife protection in Yunnan at present is wildlife trade of both live animals and their products across the borders. Our study attempted to determine the whole situation of wildlife trade across these borders and to monitor the international wildlife trade in Yunnan. We propose strategies and actions for the conservation of biodiversity based on our study. These actions are important for southwestern China and the neighboring countries, as well as all of China and the world.

STUDY AREA AND METHODS

Our study was carried out at the border regions of Ruili, Wanding, Longchuan, Daluo in western Yunnan near Burma, Hekou in southern Yunnan near Vietman, and Mohan in southern Yunnan near Laos. The investigation was conducted from May to October 1998. Our work was not carried out openly. We posed clandestinely as traders and expressed to be interested in buying the wildlife. In spite of these efforts, however, we still got into much trouble with this survey, especially picture taking. Nevertheless, we were able to accomplish most of our goals. We developed an understanding of the situation concerning wildlife trade across the borders, as well as the current status of the wildlife trade market in Yunnan. This study was developed using the following methods:

We made a cycle survey to the ports of Ruili, Wanding, Longchuan, Daluo, Mohan and Hekou to get information about trade in mammals, birds and reptiles.

Wildlife species and their products that were imported to Yunnan from neighboring countries were identified in the markets, wildlife collecting stations, restaurants, drugstores and pet trade markets.

We paid more attention to the trade of endangered and rare wildlife, as well as their products.

The routes and countries of the wildlife trade were surveyed.

The reasons and factors influencing the wildlife trade in Yunnan were investigated.

The ways of management, people's knowledge, awareness and action in the wildlife trade in Yunnan were analyzed.

We provide a scientific assessment of the management of the international wildlife trade in Yunnan. Some suggestions are provided for biodiversity conservation and sustainable development.

RESULTS
The status of wildlife and their transfrontier trade

Yunnan province is noted for its biodiversity. It contains 794 species of birds representing 283 genera, 69 families, 4 subfamilies, and covers 65% of the birds in China. Mammal species are also abundant in Yunnan with 250 species, making up over 50% of mammals found in China. Reptiles and amphibians are similarly species-rich in Yunnan. Yunnan's great biodiversity is attributed to the region's location, its geologic and climatic history, and its habitat diversity. Wildlife conservation in Yunnan is very important. Nearly 100 nature reserves and nature centers have been established in Yunnan, covering 5% of the total area of the province. The wildlife protection cause is developing in Yunnan. However, one of the main threats to wildlife protection in Yunnan at present is the trade both in live animals and their products across the borders of the neighboring countries. Yunnan, the biologically rich province is facing great pressures from the transfrontier trade, so investigation into the transfrontier wildlife trade was urgently needed.

The ports of Ruili, Wanding, Longchuan, Daluo, Mohan and Hekou were identified as survey areas. Our investigation determined that the exchange trade is very easily accomplished between the borders of Yunnan and neighboring countries. Even though there are laws to protect wildlife, live wildlife and their products are still traded across the borders. Local people bring wildlife up rivers or over hills into China. They are not checked or quarantined by customs and inspection posts. Wildlife have long been utilized by people for food, medicine, pets and raw material. We surveyed the markets, wildlife collecting stations and centers of the Yunnan Forestry Agency, restaurants, drugstores and pet trade markets in each port. The live wildlife and their products that were imported to Yunnan from neighboring countries were identified. The species of the wildlife were recorded. We found 134 species of wildlife for sale in the border areas. There were 54 species of birds belonging to 11 orders, 17 families and 2 subfamilies; 33 species of mammals belonging to 6 orders and 16 families; and 47 species of reptiles belonging to 3 orders and 14 families (Table 1). We found both legal and illegal trade of various biological resources. In addition to local consumption, wildlife from Burma, Vietman and Laos are most likely destined to be transported to several provinces of China by different ways.

The transfrontier wildlife trade In Yunnan has been going on for a long time, and it has never been systematically monitored. There are many local restaurants and markets selling wildlife and their products. During the survey period, the Yunnan Forestry Agency adopted a new policy to set up wildlife collecting stations and centers to deal with the transfrontier wildlife trade. However, there remains a trend for commercialization, and many problems are evident with the wildlife collecting stations and collecting centers of the Yunnan Forestry Agency. The ports of Ruili, Wanding, Longchuan have operated the stations to collect live animals from Burma. Especially in Ruili station, they can take over or purchase the wildlife. Then the wildlife will be allocated and transferred to be resold to other places. The transfrontier wildlife trade involves large animals and small animals. There are Asian Elephant (Elephas maximus), Malaysian Bear (Helarctos malayanus), Black Bear (Selenarctos thibetannus), Leopard (Panthera pardus), Hoolock Gibbon (Hylobates hoolock), Slow Loris (Nycticebus caucany), Leaf Monkey (Presbytis sp.), Rhesus Macaque (Macaca mulatta), Otter (Lutra sp.), Sambar (Cervus unicolor), Indian Muntjak (Muntiacus muntijak), Pangolin (Manis sp.), Large Indian Civet (Viverra zibetha), Small Indian Civet (Viverricula indica), Masked Palm Civet (Paguma larvata), Tortoise (Testudo elongata), Cobra (Naja naja), Giant Lizard (Varanus salvator), Green Peafowl (Pavo muticus), Grey Peacock Pheasant (Polyplectron bicalcaratum), Golden Eagle (Aquila chrysaetos), Griffon Vulture (Gyps fulvus), Copper Pheasant (Chrysolphus amherstiae), Red Jungle Fowl (Gallus gallus), Cape Barn Owl (Tyto capensis), Malabar Pied Hornbill (Anthracoceros coronatus), Bar-headed Goose (Anser indicus), derby's Parakeet (Psittacula derbiana), Red-breasted Parakeet (Psittacula alexandri), Grackle (Gracula religiosa), Golden-crested Myna (Ampeliceps coronatus), etc.. In Daluo wildlife from Burma are put in bamboo cages. Some are hidden in sacks near markets or restaurants before being sold. In Mohan wildlife from Laos usually are hidden in sacks. Most wildlife are not sold in the market, but are transported to other places. On 21 February 1998, customs at the Guangzhou airport seized 13 boxes containing 9 live pangolins, 18 dead pangolins and 82 bear's paws. According to the investigation, the wildlife and products are not sold in markets at Daluo and Mohan, Xishuangbanna. Instead, they are collected and directly transported to Guangzhou by smugglers.

Wildlife from Vietnam are sold in Hekou. Most of the animals are visible on stands in the markets. There are many stands to sell the wildlife that are put in several plastic basins, iron cages, bamboo cages and sacks. The plastic basins are filled with tortoises and soft-shelled turtles, the iron cages and bamboo cages contain snakes, mammals and lizards, and the sacks contain tortoises, snakes, lizards and mammals.

Public awareness of transfrontier wildlife trade is a big problem in Hekou. Local governors and ordinary people all think that wildlife trade is good for the local economy, especially as the transfrontier wildlife trade attracts more and more tourists to see and taste wild animals. Wildlife are commonly eaten at restaurants where wildlife dish names are listed on the menu. Most restaurants sell wildlife dishes, even if the names are not on their menus. Customers can book in advance select wildlife dishes in restaurants.

The management policy of transfrontier wildlife trade in Yunnan has taken some steps to control illegal trade of wildlife. Selling of wildlife food in restaurants is prohibited by the Yunnan government. However, the large scale of catching and killing activities for wildlife trade is difficult to control in border places of Yunnan and neighboring countries. Wildlife are frequently consumed in restaurants. For example, from the 25 June to 10 July 1998, forestry policemen of Dehong Prefecture made a sudden check-up. They seized Masked Palm Civets, Tortoises, Cobras, Giant Lizards, Pangolins, Bamboo Rats, Hill Partridges, Common Pheasants, Silver Pheasants and Copper Pheasants, etc., in 40 restaurants.

In the process of wildlife trade, the live wildlife transported to Yunnan and other places of China have resulted in instances of exotic introductions. But, it is a potential danger to the ecosystem if exotic species flow into natural habitats. They have the potential to destroy native ecosystems and bring parasites and epidemics to China. However, the wildlife collecting stations of Yunnan Forestry Agency have been making such mistakes. Every year they release some exotic wildlife to natural habitats in China. For instance, the Ruili wildlife collecting station has released Hoolock Gibbon, Slow Loris and Otter to forest regions of Nanjingli, and has released Assamese Macaque, Slow Loris, Rhesus Macaque, Python, Cobra, Giant Lizard, Hornbill, Parakeet, etc., to the Zaduohe Nature Reserve. All of these wildlife species come from Burma.

DISCUSSION

Even though there are worthy efforts of government, scientists, managers and people to protect biodiversity in Yunnan, the frequency of transfrontier wildlife trade still seriously threatens biodiversity in the region. The problems facing natural habitats and wildlife exist not only in China, but also in neighboring countries. People are increasingly selling wildlife and their products to China. The trade in live wildlife species and their products across the borders is the result of catching and killing wildlife resources, which in turn seriously impacts the environment and biodiversity. Populations of some species such as elephant and peafowl will be directly influenced. The wildlife traded from neighboring countries to Yunnan further presents the problem of introduction of exotic species. These exotic species may bring parasites and epidemics to Yunnan, thus endangering China's native species. They may also destroy native ecosystems and cause ecological problems.

There are many problems with the wildlife collecting stations and the wildlife collecting centers of the Hunan Forestry Agency, which have fostered commercialization and increased the chances of introduction of exotic species, thus threatening an ecological crisis in China. At the same time, a policy of wildlife trade permits has been extended to companies and individuals who conduct wildlife trade across the borders. The traders with permits deal with many kinds of transfrontier wildlife trade across these borders, which makes illegal trade easy. When we asked some illegal traders for protected endangered and rare wildlife species, they said that there is no problem to finding ways to transport these to designated destinations. Most wildlife from neighboring countries are destined to be transported to other places, and only a small part is sold locally. The wildlife trade permits serve to legitimize illegal trade and encourage illegal wildlife trade across the borders.

SUGGESTIONS

China, as the first megadiversity nation and most powerful developing country to sign and ratify the Convention on Biological Diversity, should continue to make a good demonstration in all relevant aspects, as well as to deal properly with the transfrontier wildlife trade. The control of transfrontier wildlife trade in Yunnan through international cooperation is urgently needed.

There are many problems with the wildlife collecting stations and the wildlife collecting centers of the Yunnan Forestry Agency, which should be assessed and criticized in an ecologically sensitive way. Releasing exotic wildlife to Yunnan native habitats must be prohibited. The policy of wildlife trade permits has legitimized illegal wildlife trade, and this practice should be abolished. These permits encourage the illegal wildlife trade and make it difficult to control the wildlife transfrontier trade in Yunnan. The Yunnan Forestry Agency needs to find a new way to manage wildlife trade in the border area, and to control illegal trade.

It is very important to train border post officers and managers. The customs and port management institutions, especially the Yunnan Forestry Agency, should put great effort into effectively controlling illegal trade of wildlife, and this should include public education. Public awareness of wildlife conservation needs to be enhanced. We should let people know how important it is to control the illegal trade. When they understand this they will protect wildlife by themselves, which will further the cause of conservation. Education will give people conservation knowledge, which in turn gives reason to actions. This activity is a base of for conservation.

To effectively protect biodiversity and promote sustainable development, we should do our best. It will require a coordinated approach involving many aspects, especially international cooperation. Solutions to the problem of transfrontier wildlife trade are urgently needed in Yunnan, and they must have the support of a widespread popular movement. The problem solutions should reach everyone from school children to senior government leaders in order to spread greater awareness.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Professor Wang Sung of The Biodiversity Working Group of the China Council for International Cooperation on Environment and Development supported this study. Our director Professor Xu Zaifu paid great attention to the study and helped us to clarify the ideas presented here. Professor Andrew T. Smith kindly provided editorial assistance.

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TABLE 1. Species involved in the wildlife trade crossing international ports into Yunnan Province, People's Republic of China.

( 3 Orders, 14 Families, 47 Species)

( 6 Orders, 16 Families, 33 Species )