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Outrage over possible export of wild-caught animals to China
“To imagine dozens of individual mountain gorillas, okapis, bonobos being caught from the wild and destined for a lifetime in captivity is outrageous.”

Letter appears to request endangered species from Africa 

Wildlife groups are urging the Chinese authorities not to allow imports of wild-caught endangered animals from Central Africa.

The plea comes after the details of a letter came to light, referencing a request from a Chinese company asking for wild animals to be exported to two zoos in China.

According to the Born Free Foundation, the letter refers to a request for 12 mountain gorillas, 16 bonobos, 16 chimpanzees, eight African manatees and 20 okapi, to be sent from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), to Taiyuan and Anji Zhonghan zoos.

Born Free says the letter was a response to Mr Liu Min Heng, CEO of Tianjing Junheng International Trade Corporation Ltd; from DRC’s environment minister, Dr Amy Ambatobe Nyongolo. It proposes to send a team from the DRC’s Institut Congolais pour la Conservation de la Nature to inspect the zoos’ premises in China.

Will Travers OBE, who is co-founder and president of Born Free, said: “There is nothing to suggest that this is not an authentic communication and I am sure that our sense of profound shock and outrage will be shared by conservation experts and NGOs, as well as the international community and the public at large.

“To imagine dozens of individual mountain gorillas, okapis, bonobos being caught from the wild and destined for a lifetime in captivity is outrageous.”

Should the proposals go ahead, Mr Travers warned that capturing these animals from the wild will put lives at risk. In addition, it is feared that the zoos in question will not be able to meet the complex needs of the animals - assuming they survive capture and transport.

There are also concerns that the animals may be used in “demeaning and degrading public performances”.

Born Free and 15 other civil society groups have written to CITES authorities, requesting them to intervene on this issue as a matter of urgency.

A petition on Change.org is also urging the Congolese Government not to allow the export of wild animals to China.

Image © Ian Redmond

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Defra shares new Sanitary and Phytosanitary guidance

News Story 1
 Defra has published guidance for the vet sector ahead of a proposed UK-EU Sanitary and Phytosanitary agreement.

The agreement, which will change the movement and trade of animals and related products, could see reductions in checks, paperwork and certification. As well as describing regulatory developments, the advice highlights the importance of animal ID, registration and traceability in disease control and other compliance arrangements.

The guidance can be found here. More detail is expected as negotiations progress. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
New form for online veterinary medicines retailers

The Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) has produced a new online form for retailers wishing to sell veterinary medicines on the internet.

The form replace the previous Word version and is part of the VMD's ongoing commitment to digitise its processes. Anyone retailing prescription medicines online, including POM-V, POM-VPS and NFA-VPS categories, is lawfully required to register with the VMD before trading.

The change only applies to new applicants. Retailers already listed on the VMD's Register of Online Retailers or registered under the Accredited Internet Retailer Scheme (AIRS) do not need to do anything.