Yahoo Auctions In Japan Bans Sale Of Endangered Species

Japan’s largest internet auction site will ban individuals from offering rare or endangered species, along with many other species that could potentially disrupt the ecosystem, Fumi Yada, and Yu Kotsubo reported for Asahi Shimbun.

Photo Insert: Yafuoku's (Yahoo Japan Corp.’s Yahoo Auctions) prohibition will begin from Sept. 29 and cover about 4,000 species, including the “ookuwagata” (Japanese stag beetle) and killifish, which are currently not banned by law for sale.

Yafuoku's (Yahoo Japan Corp.’s Yahoo Auctions) prohibition will begin from Sept. 29 and cover about 4,000 species, including the “ookuwagata” (Japanese stag beetle) and killifish, which are currently not banned by law for sale.

“I expect (the Yahoo move) will lead to discussions about whether the easy trade of wild animals should be allowed at all,” said Jun Nishihiro of the Center for Climate Change Adaption under the National Institute for Environmental Studies, who is knowledgeable about preserving biodiversity.

Other species classified as endangered, vulnerable or near threatened under the Environment Ministry’s Red List will also be banned. Yahoo officials said decisions will also be made on individual species that are rare in certain areas, as well as species that are placed on the auction site after being found to have been inappropriately captured.

While similar restrictions will be placed on companies registered on the Yahoo! Auction store, those companies will be able to provide specimens they artificially bred, even if the species is endangered.

Company officials said the aim of the move was to preserve biodiversity while at the same time protecting companies capable of conducting responsible business transactions.

There are already laws prohibiting the sale of animals over the internet. For example, the Law on Welfare and Management of Animals states sales of mammals, birds, and reptiles can only be done face-to-face so staff can explain how to care for the animals.

There are similar provisions in the law related to designated invasive alien species. Not all endangered species are protected by the law, however. Although there are 5,298 species in the latest Red Book classified as endangered, vulnerable, or near threatened, less than 1,000 species are protected under the endangered species conservation law.

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