Find real masterminds behind wildlife smuggling, says group

PETALING JAYA: Intensive investigations should be conducted on apprehended smugglers of wildlife and exotic animals to sniff out the masterminds behind such activities.

Traffic, a wildlife trade monitoring network, said the arrest of smugglers, who are often just middlemen, has little impact on disrupting the operation of a well-oiled and well-funded criminal syndicate behind the illegal wildlife and exotic animal trade.

The non-governmental organisation’s South-East Asia director Kanitha Krishnasamy said investigating the smugglers is key as they could be part of a larger cross-border smuggling ring that is behind sourcing, transporting and selling wildlife.

She said the transport and logistics sector also has a key role to play in the matter as wildlife is moved across borders using its facilities.

“Live animals are typically trafficked in using the fastest methods to avoid or reduce mortality rates. So this means flights and even postal services are commonly used.

“Airport authorities should ensure more rigorous screening of luggage, while staff based at airports should be encouraged to look out for suspicious baggage containing wildlife through training, capacity building, and the provision of the right tools,” Kanitha said.

She added that the market for exotic pets has existed for a long time, and India faces the same issue as other countries around the world despite having strict laws against the illegal trade of protected species.

Traffic reported that in 140 anti-wildlife trafficking seizures at 18 Indian airports between 2011 and 2020, over 70,000 native and exotic wild animals, including their body parts weighing about four tonnes, were uncovered.

The highest number of native species seized by Indian authorities was the Indian star tortoise and the black pond turtle, while the highest number of non-native species seized was the red-eared slider turtle and the Chinese pond turtle.

The Department of Wildlife and National Parks Peninsular Malaysia (Perhilitan) said illegal breeding of exotic pets and wildlife in the country remains contained and is not as widespread as it is thought to be.

Perhilitan director-general Datuk Abdul Kadir Abu Hashim said between July 2022 and July this year, the department had found only three cases of illegal captive breeding of wildlife.

He said for the same period, a total of 123 exotic animals worth RM900,000 were seized by Perhilitan.

The Star reached out to Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd two weeks ago for comment on the security at luggage screening points following three incidents of exotic pets evading detection at KL International Airport this year but has yet to receive a reply.