The Javan and Sumatran rhinos are down to their last few dozen, just like the Cat Ba langur of Vietnam, while the soala living in Laos’ Annamite mountains may already be gone for good.Southeast Asia’s remarkable biodiversity is under threat due to the encroachment of cities and farms, deforestation, warming seas and the trafficking of rare wildlife for food, traditional medicines, and as pets.The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) told This Week in Asia that there were over 4,300 “critically endangered” or “endangered” species across Southeast Asia.Tigers, giant catfish, gibbons, pangolins and vultures in the region are among the native species that face urgent threats, according to the IUCN, which maps the world’s most threatened creatures and plants.Wildlife trafficking remains one of the biggest threats to some of these species.Earlier this month, authorities in Vientiane seized a batch of African rhino horn, while elephant ivory was listed for sale in Thailand on social media.
Thousands of Asean’s endangered species face trafficking, consumption threats
Tigers, giant catfish, gibbons, pangolins and vultures are among over 4,300 ‘critically endangered’ or ‘endangered’ species in the region.
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