Agriculture Victoria and the Conservation Regulator have partnered with Crime Stoppers Victoria to launch a new campaign urging people to report illegal wildlife trafficking.
Announcing the launch, Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change, Lily D’Ambrosio said the Break the Chain campaign called on Victorians to help stop the trafficking of native and exotic animals in and out of Australia.
“There has been a 59 per cent increase in wildlife-crime related tips to Crime Stoppers Victoria in the past year,” Ms D’Ambrosio said.
“It’s vital the public continues to come forward with information on wildlife crime and remains on high alert for illegal animal trafficking online, or among people they know,” she said.
“Native species like the shingleback skink lizard are in demand overseas with an asking price of up to $10,000 on the black market, while birds like the red-tailed black cockatoo can fetch up to $100,000.”
Ms D’Ambrosio said the Conservation Regulator had investigated cases where people attempted to illegally export reptiles through the post by concealing them in socks and tape.
“Taking native animals from the bush and trafficking them overseas isn’t just illegal − it’s cruel − and many animals don’t survive,” she said.
The Minister said illegally imported animals and their products could also pose a biosecurity risk by introducing new animal and human diseases such as foot and mouth disease or rabies.
“These diseases can devastate primary production and the environment.”
Ms D’Ambrosio said every Victorian could play a role in stopping the cruel business of illegal wildlife trafficking by reporting what they knew to Crime Stoppers Victoria on 1800 333 000 or online at this PS News link.
