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The illegal wildlife trade is one of the biggest global threats to animal protection. Animals are cruelly traded, trapped or killed. They are treated as commodities, exploited for use as exotic pets, in traditional medicine, or for food, fashion or entertainment causing intense suffering on a mass scale.

He also emphasized the importance of protecting common animals such as monkeys, snakes and parrots. "These common animals are the major victims of illegal trading. Many are dying in transit. This is a hidden part of illegal trading which doesn't get enough attention," Baker explained.

"Culture is not an excuse for cruelty"

The annual dog eating festival, which is due to open on June 21 in Yulin, celebrates a local tradition of eating dog meat hotpot and lychees and drinking strong liquor on the summer solstice.

As in previous years, the event has drawn mounting protests from animal welfare groups and pet owners, who have urged the local government to ban the long-standing tradition.

Baker believes that culture is not an excuse for cruelty and he was pleased to see people in China are challenging this cruel tradition. "Traditions and cultures have changed over the years; people's awareness towards animals can lead to these changes."

He took fox-hunting in the UK as an example of how traditions can change for the sake of animals. "Britain is country of animal lovers. But embarrassingly, one of the most symbolic things about Britain is a picture of a man in a red coat chasing after a fox. Now hunting dogs have been banned in fox hunting events; people still can celebrate and have lots of fun without hurting animals," he said.

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