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.
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Seahorses -
Smuggled from India to Sri Lanka through sea for transit
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Rose wood bust
by customs while transiting from Sri Lanka |
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Rhino Horned
Lizard - Endemic to Sri Lanka and popular in the illicit
wildlife trade. Can be found for sale online in Europe |
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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." |