Press Information Bureau release on wildlife trade

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Link: http://pib.nic.in/release/release.asp?relid=42395

 

*Press Information Bureau

Press release*

Monday, September 08, 2008

*Ministry of Environment and Forests*

 

*Backgrounder*

 

The illegal trade in wildlife is a global issue. From animal parts like

tiger bones and musk glands to live reptiles, birds and ivory, poachers and

smugglers illegally poach and traffic a variety of wild plants and animal

species. The two major categories of traded items are live specimens of

wildlife species and products derived from wildlife species. The wildlife

products mostly traded illegally from the country are musk, ivory, rhino

horns, tiger and leopard skins, pet trade and feather for decoration;

turtles for meat and soups and Tibetan antelope for shawls.

 

About 250 native species are trapped in India and traded mainly for pet,

food, zoo, medicine, black magic falconry and taxidermy. Millions of birds

are caged for trade of which two thirds die during capture or during

transportation.

 

India is signatory to several international Convention concerning wild-life

matters such as The Convention on international trade in Endangered Species

of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) ,Convention of Conservation of Migratory

Species etc. Few legal provisions have been made in the country for

conservation of the birds are Indian Forest Act,1927,Forest (Conservation)

Act and Wildlife Protection Act,1972.

 

*.Important animals from India involved in the wildlife trade are:*

 

*TIGER *– The problem of tiger poaching has come into the limelight because

of a number of seizures of tiger skins, bones and other body parts, which

took high demand for tiger parts, which are used in oriental medicine in

countries like China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Thailand etc.

 

*ELEPHANT *– Carving of ivory is a traditional cottage industry in South

India. the spurt in prices of ivory has been mainly responsible for killing

of elephants in India. It is alleged that poachers do not hesitate to shoot

even young elephants down to 5 years of age, which carry tusks of about 2.5

kg. a piece only. This type of systematic and sustained poaching of tuskers

appeared to affect even the genetic potential and sex ration of the species.

 

 

* TIBETAN ANTELOPE OR CHIRU *– The famous Shahtoosh shawls are woven from

the under wool of this animal which has to be killed in order to derive the

wool. This animal is migratory and was once found in large numbers in

summers in the northeastern corner of Ladakh. Their numbers have now come

down to a few hundreds, though they are still found in large numbers in the

Tibetan Plateau.

 

* LIVE BIRDS *– Around 250 native species are trapped in India and traded

mainly for the following purpose: pet, food, zoo, medicine, black magic

falconry and taxidermy. Millions of birds are caged for trade of which two

thirds die during capture or during transportation.

 

* RHINOCEROS *– This animal is now on the endangered list mainly due to the

trade in rhino horn. The horn fetches about 200,000 to 300,000 rupees in

India and much more in the international market. Its meat and bones are also

used for medicinal purpose in China, Korea, Taiwan and Japan. Rhino

population in India faces threat of poaching because of the mythical

properties attributed to its horn and its astronomical prices in the

international market. As the economic incentive is provided by the prices of

Rhino horn, large number of Rhinos are killed every year inspite of serious

efforts on the part of the Assam Government of safeguard against poaching of

these species.

 

*