Global News - August 2007

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US officials act to protect Afghan animals

Fri 24 August 2007 12:00 UK — Asia

Officials from the US are attempting to educate people in Afghanistan about the dangers of the illegal trade of products from endangered animals.

Earlier this month, the US Environmental Protection Agency hosted an event in the country to try to promote awareness of the trade in illegal animal products.

Environmental officers are hoping that such events will help prevent further damage to habitats and endangered species in Afghanistan.

In particular, officials are hoping to curb the trade in illegal furs by reducing the market for them.

Alex Dehgan, a US conservationist operating in Afghanistan, explained: "I think people just don't know. They don't realise that buying one of these skins increases demand for the wildlife and that means someone else is going to go out and hunt more of these animals."

Clay Miller, a representative for the US Environmental Protection Agency assigned to the embassy in Kabul, added that action had been taken to make sure troops serving in the country knew that they would face criminal prosecution if they bought illegal furs or other animal products.

He explained: "Many people just don't know the US laws and the trouble they can get in.

"They have never been exposed to furs before and just figure, 'Hey I'm in Afghanistan, and furs are kind of cheap here'."

Endangered species in Afghanistan include brown bears, leopards, snow leopards, Marco Polo sheep and wolves.

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