The American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) yesterday launched a program — in partnership with six museums — to raise awareness of wildlife trafficking and reduce demand for illegal animal products in Asia.
One of the key aspects of the “Culture, Conservation” program is to educate consumers and make it clear that buying ivory products endangers animals such as elephants and rhinoceroses, AIT Director Christopher Marut said.
The slaughter of majestic wildlife needs to be stopped, as it not only threatens the species, but also upsets the ecological balance of their native habitats, he said at the launch of the program.
Photo: CNA
“The program builds on the joint efforts by the US and Taiwan to curb wildlife trafficking,” Marut said.
As part of the program, the six institutions — the National Palace Museum, the National Museum of History, the National Museum of Natural Science, the National Taiwan Museum, the National Museum of Prehistory and the National Museum of Marine Biology and Aquarium — have agreed to display their ivory treasures, while at the same time sharing information that would raise public awareness of the hazards of wildlife trafficking, he said.
The initiative has the potential to reach millions of visitors from around the world, Marut said.
The museums possess exquisite historical ivory artifacts, but these are products from another time, Marut said, adding that in today’s world, museums should be the only place where ivory collections are kept.
Marut said that over the past few years, there has been an unprecedented decimation of elephant, rhinoceros and other animal populations as newly affluent consumers — many in Asia — have increased global demand for products made from illegally trafficked elephant tusks and rhinoceros horns.
The private purchasing of new ivory products is a practice that must end, Marut said.
To this end, the museums are displaying posters that remind visitors never to buy ivory products.
The posters carry the slogan “Ivory Collections Only Belong in Museums.”
“On Dec. 20, 2013, the United Nations declared every March 3rd as World Wildlife Day, while calling on people around the world to protect endangered wildlife. To save the elephants and rhinos from extinction, everyone must do their part,” the posters read.
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