Endangered and priority conservation species have better protection from 1st July 2016 In November 2015, the Vietnamese government strengthened both the penal code and procedures relating to wildlife crime. The new code coming into effect from 1st July 2016 means that criminals caught with pangolins will receive heftier punishments. According to the penal code, people involved in hunting or trading of between one and six pangolins will be punished with a fine between $US 25,000 – 100,000 and/or 1 – 5 years in prison. Similarly, those found with between seven and ten pangolins will receive 5-10 years in prison; those with more than 11 pangolins will receive 10-15 years in prison. The new criminal procedure laws also mean government authorities can allow confiscated wildlife to be released before the criminal trial.

SVW has worked with INGOs including GIG, WCS-Vietnam, WWF- Vietnam, FFI-Vietnam, TRAFFIC-Vietnam, PanNature, ENV and other organizations to lobby government officials to make these changes. In an effort to place pressure on the National Assembly, we worked with the media to highlight the need for law reform, with our stories being covered nationally in TV and print and online channels.