Endangered Species in Peril in Laos' Golden Triangle

Located near Thailand's northern border and close to Myanmar in northwestern LAOS of the Indochina peninsula, the 3000-hectare (11.6-square-mile) Golden Triangle Special Economic Zone experienced over $80 million in investments from private Chinese developers and the Lao government. The region is economically booming, while endangered species in the area are left to suffer from anthropogenic development and illegal poaching activities, according to the International Business Times and the London-based Environmental Investigation Agency. Endangered species such as pangolins, tigers, and elephants are being smuggled in and out. While being bred in captivity - sometimes in claustrophobic, small cages - the species are being killed for food and "medicinal" qualities. Unauthorized local and international trade of endangered species is prohibited, yet the EIA reports this is occurring in the Golden Triangle SEZ.

Environmental Investigation Agency source (EIA's full report in PDF file format): http://eia-international.org/wp-content/uploads/EIA-Sin-City-FINAL-med-res.pdf

International Business Times source: http://www.ibtimes.com/golden-triangle-haven-peddlers-endangered-species-meat-body-parts-report-1852092