The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department today (23rd) seized three live endangered animals and one specimen of endangered animals suspected of being illegally possessed at an exhibition, involving a green iguana, a Stryker's monitor lizard, a Money turtle and a specimen of an African grey parrot.
It is understood that the relevant exhibition is the "Hong Kong Pet Festival" which opened at the exhibition yesterday (22nd).
AFCD receives complaint about stall owner failing to produce supporting documents
The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department said that it recently received a complaint that someone was displaying live endangered animals and specimens of endangered animals that were suspected of being illegally possessed at an exhibition.
AFCD officers found a booth displaying live animals and specimens of regulated species. Since the person in charge of the booth failed to produce a valid license or relevant supporting documents, AFCD officers seized the relevant animals and specimens for further investigation.
Pet Festival 2022 opened yesterday.
(File photo/Photo by He Kuangwen)
The organizer of the Hong Kong Pet Festival responded to the inquiry that according to the understanding of the conference, the seized live animals and specimens were brought into the exhibition by the visitors themselves, not exhibited by the exhibitors. and approved by the department.
The Convention prohibits the commercial use of specimens of endangered species
A spokesman for the department pointed out that under the Protection of Endangered Species of Animals and Plants Ordinance (Cap. 586), possession of specimens of species in Appendix I of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora for commercial use is generally prohibited, while possession of specimens in Appendix II Live animals must also have a valid possession permit or be documented as not of wild origin.
The spokesman reiterated that illegal possession of endangered species is a serious offence.
Anyone who commits certain offences under the Ordinance can be fined up to $10 million and imprisoned for 10 years upon conviction. The relevant items will also be confiscated upon conviction.
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