Illicit wildlife trade is gaining new grounds in south Asian nations as thousands of wildlife species are being smuggled to consumers in China, Japan and Thailand among other nations in the south-east.
Illicit wildlife trade is gaining new grounds in south Asian nations as thousands of wildlife species are being smuggled to consumers in China, Japan and Thailand among other nations in the south-east.
In recent years smuggling of medicinal plants, marine harvests and food products of wild origin among others have been identified as major products that have seen a sharp rise in demand. If experts are to be believed, Bangladesh is emerging as a transit point for illegal wildlife trade.
Most of the wildlife contrabands are being smuggled to Thailand from where it moves to south-east Asian countries and further into Japan and China. Huge consignments of turtles and tortoises were uncovered at Suvarnbhumi airport in Thailand connecting India and Bangladesh links.
According to Hoq Mahbub Morshed, assistant conservator of forests in Bangladesh, in 2010-11, several cases of bird smuggling were reported and three tiger skins were also seized by officials. “Two lots of birds (over 1,000) were being illegally brought into Bangkok. The birds are native to Assam in India," added Morshed who is currently undergoing training at Gujarat Forensic Sciences University in Gandhinagar.
Wildlife experts also said that marine animals like sea horses, shells, medicinal plants or herbs, red sandalwood, exotic pets, spiders among others feature high on the organised syndicate list involved in wildlife trafficking.
"We do not have a definite idea of volume of such trade as a lot of research work is needed into it. Given the rich biodiversity in India and whole of south-east Asia, there are a lot of grey areas that need to be checked," said Samir Sinha, head of Traffic India that has organised a five-day training programme "Strengthening wildlife law enforcement for wildlife protection in South Asia" in Gandhinagar.
Sinha pointed out that rich economies are driving force behind wildlife smuggling. European Union, US and China are the illegal trading hotspots. Demand in south Asia is high as citizens there associate creature consumption with cultural beliefs.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}