WILDAID
Good news! On Tuesday evening, UPS, the world’s largest package delivery company, tweeted that it has banned shark fin shipments following consultation with World Wildlife Fund. UPS had faced mounting criticism by wildlife groups including WildAid after the Costa Rican NGO Pretoma released evidence of UPS shark fin shipments bound for Hong Kong SAR by way of the United States.
American Airlines, which also had transported shark fin from Costa Rica to Hong Kong SAR, announced in April via Twitter that it would no longer carry shark fin.
“UPS has just proved to the world that just because something is legal, it doesn’t necessarily mean that it is either moral, ethical or sustainable,” WildAid Hong Kong SAR campaign chief Alex Hofford said. “We congratulate the United Parcel Service of America for joining over 30 global passenger airlines that have seen fit to ban shark fin from their cargo holds for good reason.”
UPS has banned shark fin shipments following consultation with WWF @World_Wildlife.
— UPS (@UPS) August 19, 2015
Statement from Alex Hofford/WildAid Hong Kong SAR:
“As citizens, we rely on corporations to show leadership in society. UPS has just proved to the world that just because something is legal, it doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s moral, ethical or sustainable. We congratulate the United Parcel Service of America for joining over 30 global passenger airlines that have seen fit to ban shark fin from their cargo holds, and for good reason.
“UPS’ blanket ban on fin shipments will put a very large dent into the trade. It will now be much, much harder to bring shark fin into Hong Kong SAR, and so the traders will now have to resort to more inconvenient ways to bring their dirty product into Hong Kong SAR. This may push the price of shark fin up in the short term, potentially reducing the demand in Hong Kong SAR further for this awful dish known as shark fin soup. Sharks from Costa Rica to Hong Kong SAR should be rejoicing. We now call on DHL and FedEx to clarify their position on shark fin shipments.”
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WildAid is a non-profit organization with a mission to protect wildlife from illegal trade and other imminent threats. While most wildlife conservation groups focus on protecting animals from poaching, WildAid primarily works to reduce global consumption of wildlife products such as elephant ivory, rhino horn and shark fin soup. With an unrivaled portfolio of celebrity ambassadors and a global network of media partners, WildAid leverages more than $308 million in annual pro-bono media support with a simple message: When the Buying Stops, the Killing Can Too.
Journalists on deadline may email communications@wildaid.org
