Wildlife Trade

Wildlife trade has reached to alarming level. Interpol says the trade in illegal wildlife products is worth some US$12 billion a year but it seems an understatement.India, as home to some of the most charismatic animals on the planet like Tiger is now a major source market for this trade. Most of the demand for wildlife products comes from outside the country - unfortunately, it is our wildlife heritage that is plundered to supply external demand.

WPSI has established a large network of undercover agents and informers to gather intelligence on the growing illegal trade in endangered species.Despite increased awareness and vigilance, WPSI’s Wildlife crime database shows a continuing increase in wildlife poaching and smuggling. Although some poaching incidents are one-off events, many are part of large organised networks of poachers, traders and smugglers - all controlled by city-based businessmen who are seldom linked directly to the illicit goods.

Illegal wildlife trade is a threat that transcends borders.It involves an array of species-both wild animals and plants that travel illegally from India to markets in other countries.Therefore, without the active co-operation of the neighbouring countries it would be very difficult to curb this trade. TRAFFIC(Trade Record Analysis of Flora and Fauna), world’s largest wildlife trade monitoring network and a joint programme of WWF, the conservation organization and IUCN-the International Union for Conservation of Nature was established in 1976 and since then it has developed a considerable international reputation for helping to identify and address conservation challenges linked to trade in wild animals and plants.

In India, the TRAFFIC carries out research and provides analysis, support and encouragement to efforts aimed at ensuring that the wildlife trade is not a threat to the conservation of nature in India.. TRAFFIC, through its trans-border training programmes aims to bring together agencies of different countries with a view to help them enhance their skills for responding adequately to wildlife crime and trade related issues.The experience of TRAFFIC-India tells us that the trade in wildlife products includes the highly endangered species such as the tiger, rhino, musk deer, bear, elephant, and falcons, besides the commonly found parakeet and other birds.The trade is reportedly next in value only to the narcotics and illegal arms trafficking..The Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 (amended up to 1991) clearly prohibits killing, selling, buying or keeping wild animals in captivity. Despite the Act, the trade continues to flourish.

The key objectives of the ‘Capacity Building’ programme of TRAFFIC India are:

• To enhance awareness in order to mitigate illegal trade and poaching of wildlife.
• To promote improved co-ordination and co-operation in combating wildlife crime.
• To overcome the impediments to effective law enforcement.

Unfortunaely Wildlife trade has pushed several species to the brink of extinction. Tiger is one such precious animal hunted all over its range for its skin, bones and other parts,besides finding use in trophies. In fact, every part of the animal is used in one way or the other. Its bones find their way into traditional oriental medicine, though there is no scientific evidence of their efficacy. Most consumers of tiger parts are from South-East Asia (China, South Korea, Japan and Taiwan). In India, tiger skins have a ready market and sell for anything between Rs. 5,000 to Rs. 10,000 each. To fulfill the demand for tiger bones, even related species are used as substitutes, and these include the leopard, the Snow Leopard and the Golden Cat. The global demand for fur coat from India pushes 20 species of wild mammals into illegal trade, ranging from the Snow Leopard and Cluded Leopard, to the desert cat, jackal, and the wolf.

one of the threatened animals are:

Tiger – There has been a 95% decline in tiger population in the 20 th century. Tigers are killed mainly for their bones, skin, meat and blood. In April 1973 the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) launched the Project Tiger, the most significant initiative for tiger conservation. In 1997 they set up the Tiger Conservation Programme in a renewed attempt to support tiger conservation activities in India and in other Asian tiger range countries.

Tibetan Antelope or Chiru – The killing of the Tibetan antelope, or chiru, to extract its underwool for making Shahtoosh shawls is perhaps the most dastardly of all crimes. It is estimated that about three to four antelopes are slaughtered to make a single shawl, considered to be one of the finest natural fibres in the world.

Chiru is protected under the Schedule 1 of the Wildlife Protection Act, and under the Appendix 1 of CITES hence trade in its wool is banned.

Rhinoceros – Another highly endangered animal, the one-horned rhino, is hunted for its horn. These horns are smuggled to South-East Asia for use in traditional medicine, falsely believed to be useful as an aphrodisiac and for the treatment of blood pressure, paralysis, and brain fever.

Elephants-The poaching of the Asian elephant for ivory has severely depleted its population. Male tuskers are the main quarry of poachers. The killings have adversely affected the animals sex ratio. During 1994-1998, more than 100 cases were reported from the Southern States of India alone.

Live birds-The trade in live birds, however, is one of the most widespread areas, in terms of diversity and species involved. At a conservative estimate, atleast 1.5 lakh birds of heavy 300 species of indigenous wild caught birds are captured and traded. Species such as parakeets, mynah and munia are traded as pets; ducks, storks, waders, partridges, quails and buntings for food; and falcons for sport.

Other wildlife includes himalayan bears,brown bears,leopards,snow leopards,panthers,varieties of deer,various species of pheasants,vast varieties of bird species, etal.