Fw: Canada among eight countries implicated in illegal trade in bear bile products

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" WSPACOMM " <wspa

" Animal Rights Canada " <ar-canada

Monday, 28 October, 2002 21:11

Canada among eight countries implicated in illegal trade in bear

bile products

 

 

For Immediate Release Monday, October 28th, 2002

 

Canada among eight countries implicated in illegal trade in bear bile

products

 

Canada is being implicated in a mostly illegal international trade in

bear parts worth as much as US $100 million, according to The Bear Bile

Business, a new report from the World Society for the Protection of

Animals (WSPA). Bear bile products from China and gall bladders, some

from Canadian bears, continue to find their way to world markets in

contravention of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered

Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).

 

The reports findings will be presented to CITES delegates at an upcoming

meeting in Santiago, Chile where the 12th Conference of the Parties

(COP) to CITES convenes this Sunday. At issue, a proposal put forward by

the CITES Secretariat in Geneva (COP 12 Doc 31) which would abandon

measures put in place to reduce the illegal trade in bear parts and a

second proposal (COP 12 Doc 55.1) that WSPA fears will pave the way to

legitimizing China's notorious bear bile farms.

 

WSPA's report is the result of a three year investigation into hundreds

of shops and companies in eight countries. Illegal bear products were

most readily available in the U.S. (91%), Malaysia (78%), Japan (77%),

and Singapore (74%), closely followed by Canada (67%), Indonesia (62%),

Australia (49%) and Taiwan (30%). Canadian cities included in the report

were Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver.

 

- 30 -

 

Editor's Notes:

 

.. This is an abridged version. Read the full news release at

www.wspa.ca/press.html

.. Download the report at www.wspa.ca/thebearbilebusiness.html

.. Broadcast quality footage will be available on Satellite October 28th

between 1:00 pm and 1:30 pm EST at the following coordinates: ANIK

E2, C-Band, Transponder 6B Audio 6.2 and 6.8

 

For photos, interviews and/or further information, contact:

 

Patrick Tohill 416 369 0044 work #

Communications Manager communications

WSPA Canada

 

 

Regards

 

Patrick Tohill

Communications Manager

communications

The World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA)

90 Eglinton Ave East, Suite 960

Toronto, ON M4P 2Y3

In Canada 1-800-363-WSPA (9772)

International and local calls 416-369-0044

Fax 416-369-0044

 

WSPA has been at the forefront of animal protection and wildlife

conservation for more than 20 years. Recognized by the United Nations,

WSPA (pronounced wis-pa) is the world's largest network of animal

protection organizations representing more than 400 member societies in

91 countries.

 

Through direct field work, campaigning, legislative work, humane

education and training programmes, WSPA strives to raise the standards

of animal welfare around the world.

 

WSPA Canada is one of 12 regional offices around the world.

 

Visit WSPA Canada's website at http://www.wspa.ca

 

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