Infectious disease risk to 20% of imported suspended animals at waterside International NGO Survey June 11 14:50
An international NGO surveyed animals that had been suspended from imports by customs over the past 12 years, and found that nearly 20% were monkeys and bats whose imports were banned by the Infectious Diseases Control Law because of the risk of transmitting infectious diseases. I understand.
At WWF Japan, which monitors wildlife trade, Japanese customs are responsible for importing water at the waterfront during the 12 years up to 2018, based on the "Washington Convention" that regulates the international trade of endangered wildlife. I investigated the suspended records.
As a result, imports were suspended at 1161 with reptiles at 71%, followed by mammals at 19% and birds at 6%.
Of these, 185 monkeys and 10 bats are prohibited from import under the Infectious Diseases Control Law because of the possibility of transmitting infectious diseases to humans. Accounted for 17%.
Many of these animals seemed to have been found in the wild in Southeast Asia and Africa, and were often trying to bring them in via Southeast Asian countries.
WWF Japan's Yoko Asakawa Program Officer said, “The detection is just the tip of the iceberg, and the smuggling of animals at risk of infectious diseases could have a huge impact on society. Regulations have been put in place to prevent illegal wildlife trade in Japan. We need to rethink our way."