DNEI and Lao Customs Strengthen Wildlife Crime Prevention through Public Awareness Campaign at Major Transport Gateways

27 July, 2016. Vientiane Capital, Lao PDR – The Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Inspection (DNEI), Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, in collaboration with the Lao Customs Department and relevant partners, has installed multilingual wildlife awareness posters and signboards at Wattay International Airport and Lao–China Railway stations in Vientiane Capital, Luangprabang, Bokeo and Oudomxay Provinces to strengthen public awareness and prevent illegal wildlife trade. The awareness materials, presented in Lao, English and Chinese, provide information on protected wildlife species, including elephants, pangolins and bears, while highlighting the legal penalties for illegal wildlife trade. The campaign also promotes official wildlife crime reporting channels and encourages the public and travellers to report suspected wildlife offences through the national wildlife crime hotline.