§ Mr. GummerTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development what direct assistance is given to customs officers in(a) South American and (b) West African countries to prevent the illegal trade in bushmeat. [75925]
§ Clare ShortDFID is not giving direct assistance to customs officers in South America or West Africa to prevent the illegal trade in bushmeat. DEFRA and HMCE ensure that importation to the UK complies with CITES controls on endangered species. DEFRA is carrying out an awareness-raising campaign in these regions aimed at reducing the illegal trade of meat into the UK. My Department's primary role is to support poverty reduction, which we see as key to ensuring the sustainable management of natural resources, including wildlife, in poor countries.
§ Mr. GummerTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many endangered wild animal species are classified as bushmeat. [75924]
§ Clare ShortThere is no formal classification of which endangered species constitute bushmeat within the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species. However, a recent review of commercially valuable bushmeat species in Africa (CITES Document 11.44) concluded that of forty-two primary species caught and traded, eight species are "endangered" (i.e. listed on CITES Appendix 1) and one species (elephant) has some "endangered" populations. The 8 "endangered" species are Leopard, Chimpanzee, Bonobo, Gorilla, Mandrill, Drill, Diana guenon/monkey and Jentink's duiker.
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