Isn’t it Time that We Stop the Illegal Trading of Endangered Species?

(Translated by Azaa | Proofread by Mackensie)

It is said that having a marmot’s liver once a month helps heal the broken bones... ”

“Eating marmot kidneys once in two weeks is good for health…”

Advertisements like these are very popular among Mongolians and have become almost like myths. Unfortunately these thoughts don’t seem to be as effective as they are said to be. In the end, only state protected animals are harmed and hunted. There is no doubt that their skin becomes accessories, liver and internal organs become medicines, fats and meats become traditional dishes and they are filling the needs and interests of people who cherish money and meat.

Citizens and NGOs (Non Governmental Organizations) organizing protests, referring to certain officials, using media even suing does not bring precise successes.
“Human rights, development” center’s supporting people’s participation in environmental issues projects manager, lawyer Delgermaa.Ch mentioned that the government worker’s corruption and government policies with no sense of environmental rights and pressures are factors that are difficult to solve.

Mongolia has joined a convention for trading rare and endangered animals and plants in 1996. The purpose of the convention is to make sure that trading above mentioned plants and animals does not harm their existence. About 30 thousand Mongolian species were included in the convention and approximately 5 thousand are animals and 28 thousand are extremely rare plants.
It is interesting to note what kinds of measures are taken and punishments are given to people who have hunted rare species of animals. NPCC environment control agent Badamkhand.J stated in local TV that “It is not certain what kinds of punishments are given to people who broke the law and hunted forbidden animals”. The reason is after arresting poachers the case is taken over by police and after a while the case vanishes. And almost nobody knows what had happened to the poachers.

In 2004 a Vietnamese citizen was arrested by the police while trying to cross the border with bear organs illegally. At the time the case was investigated by detectives but in a while it all went silent. Also, recently Arabian Shahs are meddling around in Mongolia. Almost everyone heard about rich Arabians with white scarves and thick beards are buying extremely rare falcons and “stepping on” Mongolian law. It is a shame that Mongolians are bowing down in front of wealthy foreigners who are underestimating the law of Mongolia.

We can see, in the case of the poachers, that if the law forbids an action it takes place secretly. They sell hunted male gazelles for 45 thousand tugrik (10,000 tugrik= $7.00 or 5 €), females for 52 thousand tugrik, offspring for 68 thousand tugriks. A fox is only 10 thousand tugriks; a wolf is bought for 120 thousand and is sold for 200 thousand. Wolf tongues cost 15 thousand tugriks and the liver costs 10 thousand tugriks. A marmot is sold for 35 thousand tugriks and it goes on. The price increase of animal raw materials is the reason for extinction.

Once increasing in every forest around Mongolia, the khaliun deer, whose population reached 130 thousand in 1970-1980 (Dulamtseren.S “Mongolian animal kingdom” 2nd edition 1989), has decreased 98% in the past 20 years and now the population barely reaches 10 thousand. Therefore, protecting Mongolia’s animal resource has become a vital issue and researchers and scientists are looking for a way to solve it. State protecting animals according to their kinds and species have reached certain levels but scientists believe that protecting them within their own environment is more close to reality.

Presently there are 21.5 million hectares of land belonging to 60 state protected areas. The one we know the best is the Khustai national park. Khustai area was previously used by herders who headed towards the city from the west leaving the land ruined in some places. Cleaning this area after its domestic animal use helped it to become a better environment and in the last 10 years deer, brown gazelle, wild hogs, wild sheep, Mongolian marmots, grey wolves, and yellow foxes are very often seen in the area. Also, white gazelle packs that hadn’t been seen for over 50 years were seen in the area. And now the pack inhabits the area. We must remind you, however, that even though this example shows a light at the end of the tunnel, if the market for meat, fur and animal medicine still openly exists, the number of endangered animals will decrease. If we don’t find the illegal traders and poachers and take measures against them, Mongolia just might become a country with no wild animals.