Overexploitation The researchers analyzed DNA to test eel products, including grilled eel and sushi, sold in restaurants. The results recorded that nearly 50% of the samples were identified as European eels (Anguilla anguilla) on the endangered animal list. This species is threatened by overexploitation due to increased consumer demand from Asia, especially China and Japan. These two countries consider eel a delicacy and aphrodisiac. Critically endangered and endangered eels are being sold in sushi restaurants in Hong Kong. Photo: South China Morning Post. European eels are listed in Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (Cites). The Ordinance for the Protection of Endangered Species of Fauna and Flora requires an export permit and inspection of the species upon arrival in Hong Kong. Of the 80 samples, 36 were confirmed as critically endangered European eels, 29 were American eels, and 5 were Japanese eels. Critically endangered European eel is sold in 45% of the 80 sushi restaurants surveyed in Hong Kong. Photo: South China Morning Post. Gap The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) said the results showed the animals were illegally existing in Hong Kong’s eel supply chain. The organization calls for urgent action to stop the illegal wildlife trade. To this day, Hong Kong remains one of the biggest hubs for the illegal wildlife industry, with a record number of wildlife seizures. In February, HKU published a study showing that thousands of species are legally trafficked through Hong Kong with inadequate traceability. At the heart of the problem lies a vague code system that customs officials around the world use to classify species. “The codes used for the eel trade are too general and only list products that are goods of the Anguilla species. However, those codes do not distinguish between different Anguilla species and their life stages,” said Jovy Chan, wildlife conservation manager at WWF. “Complete, specific and accurate commercial data are important to facilitate the implementation of conservation policies for eel species. In addition to European eels managed by Cites, some parts of Asia, for example the Philippines, Indonesia and Taiwan, have bans on the trade in European eels. Customs codes have a key role to play on issues of legality, traceability and sustainability of eels,” added Ms Jovy. David Baker, staff member of HKU’s Conservation Forensic laboratory and who led the eel study, said the results reflect the vulnerability of the retail market. “Our hope is to partner with WWF. This enhances surveillance at distribution points to prevent illegal seafood products from entering the market,” Mr. Baker said. A fisherman releases a Japanese eel in the Enshu Sea off Hamamatsu, Shizuoka Prefecture. Photo: South China Morning Post. In 2020, HKU published a study showing that nearly half of eel products retailed in supermarkets and convenience stores in Hong Kong are endangered European eels. Based on DNA testing, the study found that nearly half (45%) of retail eel products originate from critically endangered European eel species. Products are only labeled as “eels”. “Consumers have the right to know where their food comes from and whether it is sourced in ethical and sustainable ways. This problem is not limited to eels,” Mr. Baker said.

Chest patting is a means of communication However, recently a new study has revealed that gorilla clapping behavior is not quite as we know it. Research published in the journal Scientific Reports concluded that gorilla clapping was in fact a means of non-verbal communication that “encoded” their competitiveness instead of boasting of strength. The gorilla clapping itself represents an interesting kind of communication unlike a human. It is not really a voice but an act of inclination to show off visible and audible physical strength. To draw conclusions, the researchers sought to record the sound of the chest beating using photometry. With this method, scientists do not need to get close to the gorilla because the extremely powerful male monkeys pose many dangers in Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda. However, even using photometry, scientists still need to be in the right place and at the right time to catch chest beats from gorillas. The results showed that sounds had lower frequencies in large male mountain gorillas, while younger males had higher frequency sounds. Where low-frequency sounds travel further than high-frequency sounds, which means that larger males can be more formidable competitors. This is useful for males of similar or smaller size who can use the information to decide if it is worthwhile against the competitor or to step back. In previous research conducted by the same group of researchers found that the larger male mountain gorillas not only were socially dominant, they were also more likely to reproduce successfully than the offspring. the male is smaller. With female monkeys, they will also collect information from the male monkey’s chest pounding sound to decide on a worthy mate. “The gorilla’s chest banging is one of the iconic sounds of the animal kingdom, so it’s great that we can prove that gorilla’s body size has been encoded in the displays. This spectacular performance, “said Edward Wright, author of the study from the Planck Institute of Evolutionary Anthropology. Critically endangered species on the Red List Gorilla is a genus of primates belonging to the family of humans, herbivores living in the jungles of Africa, the largest of the extant primates. Gorillas are divided into two species (there can be 4 to 5 more subspecies). The DNA of the gorilla is the same as that of humans 98% -99%. They are very closely related to humans after only 2 species of chimpanzees. This primate has a massive body. Gorillas are 1.7–2 m tall when standing upright and weigh 180–200 kg. These animals usually walk on all fours, although they can stand on two legs. Gorilla lives in the tropical and subtropical forests of Africa. Gorillas move with their knuckles, although they can sometimes stand upright with food or on defense. Wild adult gorillas weigh 135 to 180 kg (298 to 397 lb) while females are usually half as much as 68–113 kg (150–249 lb) males. Adult males are 1.7 to 1.8 m (5.6 to 5.9 ft) tall, with an arm span of 2.3 to 2.6 m (7.5 to 8.5 ft). Females have a shorter arm span. The adult male gorilla is known as the “silver back” due to the silver hair on its back. Occasionally, a silverback greater than 1.8 meters and 230 kg is recorded in the wild. The obese gorilla in captivity 270 kg. Gorillas live in groups under the command of the strongest and most powerful male. It is the male’s duty to lead and protect the whole herd from being attacked by wild animals. The gorilla’s most dangerous enemy is the very ferocious leopard. When threatened, the male will stand upright and pound his stomach with two hands to warn him before fighting. The gorilla is known as a powerful beast with a large appearance, much stronger than a human, powerful and intelligent hands and a gorilla punch that can make everything facing a deformation. . Despite its massive and massive body, Gorilla has an average running speed of about 40 km / h. All species (and subspecies) of the gorilla are listed as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List. Now, more than 100,000 western lowland gorillas are thought to exist in the wild, with 4,000 in zoos; The eastern lowland gorilla has a population of less than 5,000 in the wild and 24 in the zoo. The mountain gorilla is the most endangered species, with an estimated population of 880 remaining in the wild and no species in the zoo.

Beluga sturgeon – a monument to the cold water fisheries There are many types of sturgeon and the world today records about 21 known species, of which the Beluga is the most special one. If sturgeon is a symbol of the cold-water fish industry, Beluga is honored as a monument by its high class, super rare and enormous size. The Beluga is the oldest fish from the dinosaur era (with an estimated 200 million years old) and is one of the oldest extant genus of fish. The International Union for Conservation of Nature has classified Beluga sturgeon conservation status as critically endangered and is on the list in need of strong protection under the Bern Convention. Beluga – “sea monster” fresh water has a long lifespan of up to 150 years. Beluga sturgeon has an average weight of males from 1,100 to 1,600 kg, and females from 700 to 1,200 kg. The largest Beluga ever recorded was 6 m long and weighed 3,200 kg (Berg 1948, Birstein 1993, Freedman 1999). The number of people who have the opportunity to enjoy the Beluga sturgeon in Vietnam is only counted on their fingers because there has never been any place in Vietnam that can raise this fish. In addition to its super giant shape, rareness in the conservation state, Beluga sturgeon is also considered a million dollar fish because of its outstanding nutritional value. Beluga sturgeon is delicious, firm but not hard, soft, but not friable and highly nutritious with many vitamins and minerals that are very good for health, brain and beauty, especially the bigger the fish, the better it will be. the more fresh and delicious the meat. However, nowadays, the number of people who have the opportunity to enjoy this super fish meat in Vietnam is only counted on their fingers because up to now, there is no place in Vietnam that can raise Beluga. In particular, Beluga sturgeon eggs have a very high economic value, up to 10,000 USD / kg, in the top 10 most luxurious dishes on the planet. On average, a large female sturgeon can produce up to 30 kg of eggs, during the breeding season it can reach up to 230,000 to 1 million eggs depending on body size. However, only a few will survive to become an adult sturgeon. Therefore, they are very urgently hunted, leading to the danger of extinction. Revealing the owner of million dollar fish Close-up of Beluga sturgeon at a fish farm in Son La. Beluga is a fish that can only survive in natural conditions in temperate lands. Especially, this fish can only live in a clean environment with circulating water and relatively deep water levels. In polluted environments, Beluga will always suffer from chronic stress resulting in extremely small survival (estimated at 0.1%). Since it is not possible to keep Beluga in a cement or composite tank system, breeding this fish is currently facing many challenges even around the world. Therefore, the discovery of Beluga fish at a fish farm in Son La made many people surprised and excited. Through research, it is known that this business is not the only unit in Vietnam that owns Beluga, but now their total herd of super fish has reached 40,000, with a weight ranging from 15-30 kg. , especially fish weighing up to 80 kg and are present on 5 farms across the country. Public opinion was surprised by the information that a domestic company owns a total of 40,000 Beluga fish. This has a very important significance in preserving the ancient fish on the edge of extinction in the world, identifying Vietnam on the cold water fish agricultural map but also opening up great economic potential of this industry. The breeding and farming of the world’s super-rare fish completely “Made in Vietnam” has great significance, especially in the context that the Vietnamese sturgeon background is at risk of “breaking the game” by the attack of Chinese sturgeon. . Many people search for information about the fish farm for a chance to enjoy the million dollar fish. After the image of Beluga appeared on social media, many people searched for information about the fish farms of this business, wishing to have a chance to enjoy the million dollar fish. However, because it is difficult to propagate and nurture in Vietnam, this enterprise has not yet widely distributed to the market.

The pangolin is the only animal, also the only mammal to have a protective keratinous layer on the skin. As solitary creatures, their diet consists mainly of ants and termites, and they use their long tongue to capture prey.

Mammals have long been threatened by poaching for their flesh and scales, intended for use in traditional Chinese medicine. As of January 2020, eight pangolin species have been listed as Critically Endangered, Endangered, or Endangered on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species. Today, pangolin is still the most trafficked mammal in the world.

Hills of sea turtle prey

Named for its curved, sharp beak with a prominent tomium, this sea turtle lives in the ocean, but mostly inhabits shallow lagoons and coral reefs.

Although distributed around the world, tortoise sea turtles are critically endangered. For many decades, its shell has been the source of raw materials used for decorative purposes. Illegal fishing activities have contributed to the alarming decline of this species.

Gorilla

Native to Malaysia and Indonesia, orangutans are one of the most intelligent primates, also the largest tree-dwelling animal of the great ape.

Human activities have dramatically reduced the number and range of orangutans. It’s no surprise that all three species of orangutans – Bornean, Sumatra and Tapanuli – are critically endangered according to the IUCN Red List.

Rhino

The name rhino is derived from the Greek word “hinokerōs”, meaning “with horns in the nose”. Often abbreviated as rhino, two of the remaining species are native to Africa and three are in southern Asia.

Poachers often cut the carcasses of this species, mammals also slaughtered thousands for their horns, bought and sold on the black market, and used by some cultures as jewelry. intellectual or traditional medicine. The IUCN Red List identifies the Black, Javanese and Sumatran rhinos as Critically Endangered.

Saiga’s gazelle

Found only in one region of Russia and 3 regions of Kazakhstan, the saigas form very large swarms of herbivores on the peninsula, savannas and meadows. Their outstanding feature is the pair of nostrils that expand close together, facing downwards.

The horns of the male antelope are used in traditional Chinese medicine, and this need has wiped out the species in China. According to the Convention on Migratory Wilds, the decline of the saiga is one of the fastest recent population collapses of large mammals. Currently, this animal is still critically endangered.

Tigers

The tiger is the largest extant cat and one of the most popular and recognized animals in the world. It is the national animal of India, Bangladesh, Malaysia and Korea.

Listed in the IUCN Red List as Endangered, tigers have been trafficked for hair and body parts for centuries. Many people in China and other parts of Asia believe that different parts of the tiger have medicinal properties, including pain relievers and aphrodisiacs. This falsehood has caused the black market to thrive for many years, and the number of tigers has dropped worryingly.

Elephant

These gentle giants are the largest land animals available, and are scattered throughout Africa, sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia and Southeast Asia.

One of the biggest threats to elephant populations is the ivory trade, since they are poached for their tusks. It is estimated that 30,000 elephants are killed each year by poachers. IUCN lists African Elephants as Endangered and Asian Elephants as Endangered.

Sumatran gazelle

This little-known antelope is native to mountainous forests on the Thai-Malay peninsula and on the Indonesian island of Sumatra. Despite its near inaccessible altitude habitat, this timid and elusive creature is frequently caught in the sights of poachers’ rifles, shot for their flesh and parts. The body is said to have their medicinal properties. The IUCN has rated the Sumatran markhor as Endangered.

Hong Hoang has a hat

As a large and impressive member of the cormorant family, the cormorant is named after its helmet-like structure, accounting for about 11% of its 3 kg body weight. This bird is native to Peninsular Malaysia, Sumatra, Borneo, Thailand and Myanmar.

The cephalopod was included on the IUCN Red List Near Threatened Critically in 2015. According to data published by TRAFFIC, Wildlife Trade Monitoring Network, 2,170 animals were confiscated in just three years in China and Indonesia alone.

Gaur

Gaur, also known as the Indian bison, is native to South and Southeast Asia, mainly confined to evergreen or semi-evergreen and semi-evergreen deciduous forests. Gaur is hunted mercilessly by poachers for the purpose of meat, sold at high prices to satisfy international markets, gaurs are also slaughtered to trade in booty. This animal has been listed as Endangered in the IUCN Red List since 1986.

Macaws

Macaws are some of the most vivid wildlife on Earth native to Central and South America, and are also found in Mexico, most of which are associated with forests, especially rainforests.

Their ability to mimic voices and possess great intelligence has made parrots highly regarded as pets. This has led to a worrying increase in poaching to the point that some species face extinction. In fact, most parakeets are threatened in the wild, a fact underscored by the rapid rate of deforestation around the world.

Snow leopard

A large-looking cat that calls the mountains of Central and South Asia home, the snow leopard is perfectly adapted to live in the cold. Unfortunately, the beautiful snow leopard’s fur is extremely appealing to poachers, who are involved in the illegal trade of animal skin and body parts. Snow leopards are listed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List because the global population is now estimated to be less than 10,000 adults and is expected to decline by about 10% by 2040.

Shark

There are more than 500 species of sharks swimming in the world’s oceans. Famous species such as the tiger shark, the blue shark, the great white shark, the mako shark, the banging shark and the hammerhead shark are the ultimate predators.

However, sharks must fear humans more than humans are afraid of sharks. In fact, many shark populations are threatened by human activities, with some being hunted for their fins (used in soups). According to Oceana, 73 million terrifying sharks end the global fin trade each year, traded for food.

Birds of prey

Birds of prey, also known as raptors, include eagles, hawks, kites, hawks, owls and falconry. Among the animal kingdom’s top predators, these birds are also some of the most powerful and agile wildlife in the world.

But because of their speed and agility, some species become prey for poachers due to their exceptional hunting ability. The International Association for falconry and bird conservation identifies poaching of rare species, such as the extent of the Bonelli eagle plunder crisis (pictured) in Southern Europe by criminal organizations, as The reason may cause many species to become locally extinct.

Abalone

Abalone is a species of sea snail with the number of species recognized worldwide ranging from 30 to 130. Abalone meat is considered by many to be a desirable food, and is eaten raw or cooked. by many cultures. In the photo is an example with a living sponge on its shell.

According to TRAFFIC, South African abalone is the most exported species in aquaculture anywhere in the world. 95% of South Africa’s abalone is exported to Hong Kong, where it is consumed as a delicacy or re-exported.

According to Stars Insider