Question NW240 to the Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment

Bryant, Mr D W to ask the Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment

(1) In light of the fact that the (a) United States (US) Treasury Department and (b) National Treasury recently agreed to form a task force to step up efforts to halt illegal trade in wildlife, with China allegedly identified as the popular destination of the illegal trade, what steps will she take to assist the US Treasury Department and the National Treasury in their efforts to curb the alleged Chinese illegal trade in wildlife; (2) whether her department is working with the SA Police Service and Interpol to identify the alleged Chinese smuggling syndicates involved; if not, why not; if not, what success has been achieved; (3) which (a) species are deemed to be most at risk from illegal trafficking and (b) provinces are the animals mainly being trafficked from?