John Baron MP highlights wildlife crime and IFAW Parliamentary exhibition

MP supports International Fund for Animal Welfare [IFAW] campaign

John Baron MP visited an IFAW exhibition in Parliament highlighting the threat to the world’s wildlife from illegal trade. IFAW released a shocking report last week revealing that thousands of endangered species are bought and sold on the Internet, many advertised without any form of supporting documentation. ‘Wanted – Dead or Alive, Exposing Online Wildlife Trade’ reveals that, in early 2014, an intense six-week investigation found a total of 33,006 examples of endangered wildlife and wildlife parts and products for sale via 280 online marketplaces across 16 countries.

John said:

“We need to do much more to combat wildlife crime, particularly on the internet. Stronger legislation and enforcement of that legislation is needed to protect thousands of endangered species. I am raising this issue with the Government.”

Philip Mansbridge, UK Director of IFAW, said:

“Governments need to introduce stronger legislation that specifically targets online wildlife crime and must encourage and support their enforcement agencies in making sure wildlife cybercriminals are apprehended and prosecuted. We would like to thank John Baron for his support in highlighting this cruel trade to his parliamentary colleagues.”