A clarion call for stronger action on wildlife trade

by Maneshka Borham

It only takes a simple search online, to find various types of endemic species of Sri Lanka, to purchase. From various types of spiders, to snakes and lizards as well as star tortoises, rare species are available for purchase at the click of a mouse. A shocking and alarming situation for environmentalists and conservationists, the racket has been going on with valuable species being smuggled out of the country to be sold as pets or prized possessions of collectors.

Environmentalists and wildlife experts claim that the rampant illicit wildlife trade within the country has caused the rapid depletion of Sri Lanka's wildlife resources, while also gradually turning Sri Lanka into a transit hub for international illicit wildlife trade.

Despite major busts in recent times, by various government agencies, according to them the main obstacle in combating and curbing the illicit trade is getting the government genuinely interested in eradicating the poaching and smuggling of wildlife.

"No government past or present has taken a bona fide interest in curbing the illicit trade of wildlife in Sri Lanka," charges former Director General, Sri Lanka Customs, Samantha Gunasekara. An environmentalist himself, Gunasekara says, the illicit trade of wildlife cannot be stopped if the government does not take positive and honest steps to combat it.

The illicit wildlife trade has become a major issue in Sri Lanka due to the country's geographical location and rich biodiversity.

This according to experts, has made it a key player in the local, regional and international illicit wildlife trade in recent times.

Seahorses - Smuggled from India to Sri Lanka through sea for transit

Rose wood bust by customs while transiting from Sri Lanka

Rhino Horned Lizard - Endemic to Sri Lanka and popular in the illicit wildlife trade. Can be found for sale online in Europe

Ivory nabbed during transit before destruction in Sri Lanka

"The annual illicit trade is around US$ 150 - 268 Billion worldwide" Gunasekara claims. However, the real figures are much higher than that documented, he says.

Conservation International, an environmental activist group has identified Sri Lanka as one of the 25 leading and threatened biodiversity hotspots around the world. According to Gunasekara, Sri Lanka is among the top eight biodiversity hotspots due to the large number of endemic species found in the island.

Threatened

"While we have a large number of endemic species, many of them are threatened as most are concentrated in the southwestern part of the country where human population and activity are high" Gunasekara said.

With the country being rich in biodiversity, illegal traders may take the pick of the crop.

A species that had no demand 20 years ago, Sri Lanka today is number one exporter of Manta Rays. "There is a high demand for the item in the Far East, especially, in Hong Kong where it is considered a delicacy" says Gunasekara adding that there are no regulations in the country to protect the species. The Manta Ray is a protected species in international waters under the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals and Sri Lanka being a signatory to the Convention should be looking into the protection of the species.

According to Dinal Samarasinghe, Research and Project Officer of Environmental Foundation Limited, star tortoises and black tortoises too are popular commodities in the illicit trade.

"They are sold as pets," he said, adding that Lizards and Butterflies endemic to Sri Lanka too can be easily found for purchase online, particularly in Europe.

A report compiled by Sandra Altherr in 2014 found that many rare species of Sri Lankan reptiles such as the Rhino horn lizard, Pygmy Lizard, Black Cheeked lizard and the hump snout lizard are being openly traded online in Europe causing grave concern among conservationists and environmentalists locally and internationally, as many of these species are vulnerable to extinction. The demand for edible birds' nests, seashells, various types of fish and plants such as walla patta too remain high in the list.

Gunasekara claims, the country is now becoming a major transit point in the region for seahorses, sandalwood, red sanders, rosewood and ivory. "However, through detections and busts the trade has dwindled," he said.

Nonetheless, syndicates that run international illicit wildlife trade rings continue to use Sri Lankan waters to smuggle their goods, while avoiding Sri Lankan ports due to heightened monitoring by the authorities, he said.

While internationally and regionally the mentioned species are in demand, the trade of elephants locally, has become one of the most serious, in recent times.

According to Gunasekara the value of an elephant calf soared with the rise of the local trade. "Just 10 years ago an elephant calf cost one million rupees, but by last year it increased to Rs.30 million due to the local trade," he said.

Wildlife poaching and smuggling is carried out for bush meat, while killing animals to obtain parts based on mythical beliefs too is common in the country.

Samarasinghe says, recently a leopard which was found killed in Yala Block 3 had no teeth as they had been collected by the poacher. "There is a belief that it gives power to those who possess them," he said.

Wildlife is smuggled out through various methods. Surprisingly, the customs have in the past made detections of sandalwood leaving the island through diplomatic cargo, while some use devious methods such as false bottoms in luggage, mixing the rare specimens among common species or changing the appearance of the smuggled wildlife.

"Wallapatta for example is almost non-existent today due to unregulated collection and trade," says Gunasekara adding that such actions could drive the whole species to a brink of extinction while also causing the loss of aesthetic beauty of the country and an ecological imbalance.

"We lose so much of foreign exchange and revenue through the illegal trade," he pointed out saying that it has been found that revenue from trade can even be trailed to criminal and terror organizations. Sri Lanka has been combating wildlife trade through traditional methods of detection and raids but as pointed out by the Chairman of the Industrial Technology Institute Niroshan Perera advanced technology such as the SMART conservation software, real time virtual watch rooms to combat illegal fishing, Wildscan application for species identification, Wildleaks a whistleblower website are all being used to combat the trade the world over, though they are not used in Sri Lanka, at present.

"We use the technology available with the help of ITI to identify wildlife being smuggled," Gunasekara said. He thinks combating the illegal trade should happen at the grassroots level.

According to Gunasekara, "the main issue is the incorrect policies of the governments." It is seen in the existing government mechanism, where,"the policy is made by one agency, while implementation remains with yet another agency" he says. "There is just no cohesiveness in the plan" Gunasekara claims.

Environmentalist Supun Lahiru Prakash of the Biodiversity Conservation and Research Circle (BCRC) agrees.

"Two months have elapsed since the committee report on the wrongdoings of the Wildlife Department officers and involvement in the illicit trade of elephants, which has been handed over to the Minister of Sustainable Development and Environment" he says, adding that the silence on the matter is questionable. According to Gunasekara poor public participation due to lack of awareness and education in protecting wildlife also contributes to poaching and smuggling taking place freely.

While the situation is one of concern, no official from the Department of Wildlife was available for comment. With the former Director General of the Department of Wildlife Dr. Sumith Pilapitiya tendering his resignation in June no new appointment has been made yet.

Recommendations

Gunasekara recommends that proper and realistic policies should be implemented while rulers should have a genuine political will to make a real and lasting change. "We must address the gaps in the national legislation now," he says.

According to Gunasekara legal validation should also be given to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) which aims to ensure that international trade in specimens of wild animals and plants does not threaten their survival.

"We have been signatory to this convention for over three decades but we have not done anything yet to comply with it," he laments.

While public education and awareness is needed, Gunasekara mentions that encouraging national pride and thinking is of utmost importance. "We must instil this in people and move them away from the currently existing indifference," he notes.

"The thought that these depleting resources belong to all of us could make a world of difference in combating the illicit trade of Sri Lankan wildlife."