Education for Nature-Vietnam has launched a new website that will help people identify rare wild animals being targeted by the illegal animal trade.

Education for Nature-Vietnam has launched a new website that will help people identify rare wild animals being targeted by the illegal animal trade.

The 40 species of wild animals include the elongated tortoise (Indotestudo elongata), bengal monitor (Varanus bengalensis), king cobra (Ophiophagus hannah) and large Indian civet (Viverra zibetha).

Director Tran Viet Hung said, "Up to hundreds of wild animals were illegally hunted or being raised as pets for use in traditional medicine everyday."

According to Hung, the global wildlife trade was estimated to be worth billions of dollars each year.

It is second only to the value of the illegal drug trade, he said.

The website will also help to guide the efforts of more than 3,800 volunteers trying to protect animals in 32 provinces and cities nation-wide. Visit the website atthiennhien.org or call the free hotline on 1800 1522.