Thousands of Asean’s endangered species face trafficking, consumption threats

The Javan and Sumatran rhinos are down to their last few dozen, just like the Cat Ba langur of Vietnam, while the soala living in Laos’ Annamite mountains may already be gone for good.

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) told This Week in Asia that there were over 4,300 “critically endangered” or “endangered” species across Southeast Asia.

Tigers, giant catfish, gibbons, pangolins and vultures in the region are among the native species that face urgent threats, according to the IUCN, which maps the world’s most threatened creatures and plants.

Wildlife trafficking remains one of the biggest threats to some of these species.

Earlier this month, authorities in Vientiane seized a batch of African rhino horn, while elephant ivory was listed for sale in Thailand on social media.