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Illegal Wildlife Trade in India An Overview - Samir Sinha
Illegal Wildlife Trade in India An Overview - Samir Sinha
Illegal Wildlife Trade in India An Overview - Samir Sinha
Discussion Notes
*
These
are
shared
for
discussion only and may not be
shared as representing any official
views of TRAFFIC or WWF India
9. Illegal wildlife trade today is a lucrative trade as it offers high gain with
low detection probability. Less conviction and other gaps.
10.The illegal wildlife trade in India thrives as India is a mega diverse
country with rich biodiversity offering much to the illicit traders across
the country. A small window to the wildlife wealth is provided below:
397 Mammals
(9%)
1232 Birds
(14%)
460 reptiles
(8%)
240 Amphibians
(5%)
2546 Fish
(12%)
17500 Flowering plants
(7%)
14500 Fungi
(21%)
*** (Figures in percentages reflect approx. percentage of global no. of
species)
11.Over the years, global crime in wildlife has escalated and become
much more organised. Shrinkage of habitats and the trans-border
demand for wildlife derivatives has resulted in regression of many
species. Illegal wildlife trade presents a serious threat to the survival
and conservation of many endangered species. On the other hand,
many of which were known to have abounded earlier, are now a
minuscule lot. The demand of animal parts and products has multiplied
manifolds over the years.
Tigers are hunted illegally for claws, bones, skins, whiskers, and
virtually every part of their body which are used in TCM
o China has a large number of tigers in captivity in tiger farms
o There is pressure on Chinese Govt to lift domestic ban on use of
tiger products sourced from tiger farms
o Lifting of ban on trade in tiger parts would be deleterious to the
tiger conservation globally.
o CITES continues to keep the ban trade in tiger parts in force.
Leopards are killed / trapped for claws, bones, skins, whiskers, any
many other body parts used in the TCM
Rhino are poached for horns and skin also now in some parts
Elephants continue to be killed for their ivory. Several techniques
including poisoned arrows are used for killing elephants
Otter skin trade is also prevalent in large volumes. The otter skin is
used as trimming for coats and other garments
Musk Deer hunted for Musk pod
Chiru hunted for wool for Shahtoosh shawls
Bear bile used in TCM
Mongoose for hair for fine paint brushes
Snakes skins for belts and leather purses
Sea Turtles shells
Butterflies as curios
Arrowana fish traded for their value in Feng shui
12.Live elephant trade across states in India is also of concern. Live
Elephants are reportedly being moved across International borders, to
(ii)
(iii)
(iv)
(v)
NEPAL 2nd September 2005, The Royal Nepal Army seized five tiger
skins, 36 leopard skins, 238 otter skins and 113 kilograms of tiger
and leopard bones in the Rasuwa district of Nepal, bordering the
Tibetan Autonomous Region. The goods were coming from Delhi
and supposed to be sent to Tibet. On 10th August 2007 One Tiger
skin & 2 Leopard skins seized in Nepal. The ten foot long tiger skin,
which was soft and supple, was wrapped in sheets of the Times of
India.
(vi)
20 Convicted for Lion Poaching in Gujarat October 28, 2008
Twenty people have been sentenced to three years imprisonment
and fined for poaching endangered lions in the Gir Forest and
trading in their parts. The Court of P.K. Makuana, Ist class
magistrate, in Junagadh handed down the jail sentences and in
addition ordered each defendant to pay a fine of Rs 10,000..
(vii) Tiger Found In Man's Freezer - Monday, 14 June 2010, Coventry UK
A tiger, several turtles, a monkey and the remains of a chimpanzee
have been discovered in a household freezer. Investigators also
uncovered the skulls of a baby seal and penguin alongside lemurs,
sparrowhawks, buzzards and owls during the raid
(viii) 28th August, 2010, Bangkok. A two-month-old tiger cub was
discovered hidden with stuffed tiger toys in the baggage of a
women heading to Iran from Thailand.
21.Timber trade especially species like Red Sanders from India to
Southeast Asia and Nepal is very rampant.
22.The Internet has emerged as a modern 21st century tool for illegal
wildlife trade.
By September 2009, over 1.73 billion people globally around a
quarter of the world population had access to the Internet, an
increase of almost 380 % between 2000 and 2009
The Internet provides quick and extensive information to a vast
and interconnected audience, many of which can be anonymous or
use fake identities, with much of the exchange focused on
commerce.
From July 2005 to February 2006, TRAFFIC found 4,291 unique
advertisements offered by almost 2,000 sellers for CITES-listed
species on the Chinese-language Internet, including auction
websites and chat rooms in the thematic websites
According to a report from the Internet Crime Complaint Center
(IC3) of the United States, non-delivery and auction fraud have
been the top two reported cyber crimes since 2005 (Anon. 2008).
In 2004, TRAFFIC advised eBay to stop all trade in ivory on their
websites because of the difficulties in distinguishing legal from
fraudulent ivory
In June 2007, eBay announced a ban on the international trade of
elephant ivory on all its sites worldwide.
In 2008, TRAFFIC worked with the Chinese CITES MA to train
relevant authorities and website managers in China in order to
deter illegal trade in CITES-listed species on the Internet.
23.Transnational criminal organisations involved in arms, narcotics and
human trafficking are increasingly likely to be involved in the illegal
wildlife trade. This suggests a link between the illegal trade in wildlife
products and terrorism. Major implications that the illegal wildlife
trade could bear on security and its erosive effect on state institutions
24.Some Recent International Trends in Organised Wildlife Crime include:
Involvement of Diplomats
Convergence of Smuggling interests- Barter of products
Involvement of Insurgents
BIOPIRACY-Involvement of scientists
Tourists as potential customers
Demand expected to rise with economic growth
25.For gaining better understanding of illegal wildlife trade it is required
to:
Identify vulnerable areas/species
Study the motivation of such informants so that you can handle them
better
Establishing a Criminal Profile Directory
Maintain records of persons with a history of poaching and/or
wildlife trade in their locality
Include details about physical appearance, identification
marks/signs, employment, family, normal place of residence, key
associates, criminal history, convictions if any, pending cases
etc.
Photographs?
Analyse link of old crime to new offenders and old offenders to
new crime
Mock Drills
Training
Monitoring by Senior Officials?
Follow up of Court Cases
Updating threat perceptions
Periodic review by independent/ anonymous evaluators
29.Some of the recent efforts that have been taken up by TRAFFIC in the
region to strengthen the wildlife enforcement network include:
Establishment of the South Asia Wildlife Enforcement Network
(SAWEN) Facilitating the Govts. Of India and Nepal to sign a MoU on
wildlife enforcement issues.
Similar efforts are on for Bhutan too.
TRAFFIC has come out with several reports and publications on
wildlife trade issues. These can be accessed at www.traffic.org
TRAFFIC India core areas include:
a. Undertake in-depth research and use this knowledge to
help decision makers at all levels to understand the scope,
dynamics and impacts of wildlife trade, so that they can apply
appropriate management measures.
For example, TRAFFIC
Indias recent study into the Peacock tail feather trade, illegal
owl trade and illegal Leopard trade aims to inform the key
decision makers about the prevailing trade trends and
dynamics, effects of trade on species and provide an early
warning.
b.