VIENTIANE (Laotian Times): Lao authorities have seized more than 60 kilogrammes of suspected illegal wildlife products in Luang Prabang and intercepted 294 live animals in a separate operation in Champasak, as the country steps up efforts to combat wildlife trafficking.
Throughtout the week, the Lao Wildlife Enforcement Network inspected a property in Luang Prabang suspected of illegally trading protected wildlife products.
During the operation, authorities confiscated a large quantity of items believed to be derived from endangered species, including 968 ivory-like objects weighing 21.57 kilograms, 112 suspected animal gallbladders weighing 14.88 kilograms, nine bags of pangolin scale-like materials weighing 10.63 kilograms, and 559 rhino horn-like items weighing 10.07 kilograms.
Officers also seized 79 boxes of suspected elephant skin powder, eight boxes of suspected bear gallbladder products, two hornbill head-like items, 700 tubes of herbal medicine suspected to contain wildlife ingredients, and nine machines allegedly used to process wildlife products.
Authorities are currently investigating the case, state media reported.
In a separate operation announced on 17 June, environmental inspection authorities in Champasak intercepted 294 live wild animals at the Vang Tao International Checkpoint in Phonthong District.
Officials said the animals were being transported on an international passenger bus travelling between Pakse and Bangkok. The species are not native to Laos and are believed to have been trafficked across the border.
The seized animals included 144 turtles, 99 pythons, 24 green snakes, one of which was found dead, three gold-ringed cat snakes, and 24 lizards.
Authorities said the case violated laws governing the import, export, transit, and transportation of wildlife. Investigations are ongoing.
