Vietnam launches ‘No to Ivory’ campaign for tourists The Star March 11, 2025 See link <https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/other/vietnam-launches-no-to-ivory-campaign-for-tourists/ar-AA1AH1V2> for photo. With focus on tourists, the country wants visitors to know that buying, selling, or owning ivory is against the law and can lead to punishment. The campaign is being run by Vietnam’s CITES Management Authority with help from WWF-Vietnam. They have placed large signs at airports and popular tourist spots in cities like Hanoi, Da Nang, Nha Trang, and Ho Chi Minh City. Social media is also being used to spread the message. WWF-Vietnam’s chief conservation officer, Thibault Ledecq, said that stopping the ivory trade is not just about saving animals but also about protecting culture and ethics. He said the campaign will help people understand how harmful the ivory trade is and why it must stop. Tourists are a big part of the illegal ivory trade in Vietnam as visitors still buy ivory items, thinking it is allowed. Reports say Vietnam has been a major hub for ivory smuggling since 2018. Many of the seized ivory products are sent to other countries, while some are sold in Vietnam, including online. Ivory trade is pushing elephants closer to extinction. The number of African elephants has dropped from 1.3 million in 1979 to 415,000 in 2016. The Asian elephant population is also shrinking, with only around 50,000 left in the wild. Vietnam has been a member of CITES , the global treaty to protect endangered species, since 1994. The country has strengthened its laws over the years, and elephants are given the highest level of protection under Vietnamese law. WWF-Vietnam says tour operators and travel agencies must help educate tourists, so they do not support the ivory trade. The organisation wants everyone to work together to protect wildlife and stop illegal sales. In 2025, CITES will mark 50 years of fighting wildlife crime. Vietnam’s campaign is part of the effort to end ivory trade and protect elephants for the future. https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/other/vietnam-launches-no-to-ivory-campaign-for-tourists/ar-AA1AH1V2