摘要: |
My knowledge of illegal wildlife trade was largely confined to ivory trafficking and the effect on rhinoceros and elephant populations. After interviewing experts for my feature, the huge number of other affected species became clear. So did the disproportionate role that China plays in driving demand for obscure medicinal ingredients and culinary delicacies. As key bottlenecks for containers stuffed with illicit products, ports need to be vigilant to detect their presence. Finally, shipping stood in the spotlight. Often complaining about the lack of attention it gets, when the Ever Given ship ran aground in the Suez Canal in Egypt in March, the maritime world that is normally hidden away briefly took center stage. But, just as trade resumed once the ship was refloated, media attention flowed elsewhere and we returned to our usual spot behind the curtains. |