BLACK MARKETS OF ANIMAL BODY PARTS AND POACHING OF TIGERS IN ASIA

INTRODUCTION

Illegal wildlife trade and poaching is a common practice across the globe. From elephants and tigers to marine turtles, the exploitation of animals is a common phenomenon. Today, wildlife trafficking is the world’s fifth-largest illicit market behind drugs, counterfeit products, human trafficking and oil smuggling. This illegal trade often generates a hefty income of 5 million to 20 billion dollars annually. Ideally, all wildlife trade is not legally invalid, but when certain species are harvested and bred specifically for their ornamental values and medicinal purpose, the demand and trade for these products escalate unsustainably and negatively which affects the biodiversity and natural resources of the region. With the emergence of the poaching of animals for economic purposes, the lines between legal and illegal trade have blurred.

Some of the major critically threatening wildlife hotspots in the country for the black-market business of wildlife trade are China, Southeast Asia, East Africa, Mexico and Indonesia. The ASEAN countries accounted for 3% of the world’s landmass and 8 per cent of the world population and also account for 25 per cent of the global illegal wildlife trade.[1]China owns the world’s largest wildlife product market. Wildlife is illegally traded, consumed, transhipped, processed, refined and sold in large amounts in this region. Southeast Asia acts as an entryway for China, the largest consumer market for illegal wildlife products and other consumer countries in the continent including Japan.

Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand were believed to be the major routes in the animal smuggling trade. These routes were used to transport exotic pets like snakes and freshwater turtles and are essential supplies in the traditional Chinese medicine market. Hawksbills, Oliver ridleys, leatherbacks and green turtles which are most commonly found in South Asian waters are the most commonly trafficked animals. Often these animals are poached to supply them in the Chinese market where there is a hefty demand for the same.

INDIA AND ITS ANIMAL BLACK-MARKET

India has been considered the centre of the illegal animal trade. Raids by authorities during January 2000 netted 132 claws belonging to tigers, 12 tiger skins, 385 pounds of animal bones, 124 leopard skins and 18,080 claws from thousands of leopards.[2] Animals are often kept in horrid conditions in the markets of Calcutta and the state of Bihar. It was found that in these markets rare Himalayan black bears were kept in tiny cages with little to no space for movement and the birds were often spray painted with vegetable dyes to make them look more attractive.[3] Adults tigers are often poached and killed and after the separation of their body parts, they are transported to different black markets across the globe from the country.

CAUSES

There are a large number of factors that fuel illegal wildlife trade and black-market trade both within the country and globally. Despite stricter regulations and international efforts to curb these illegal activities, the industry is expanding every day and multiple factors play a huge role in its growth. Illegal wildlife trade is a highly profitable business commonly funded by organized criminal groups. According to the estimates of the United Nations, the global illegal wildlife trade is worth $7 billion to $23 billion a year, which makes it one of the most profitable criminal enterprises.[4] Since wildlife crime has been linked to other illegal businesses such as drug, human and arms trafficking, most organized crime groups seize their opportunities to establish globally profitable transit networks. Since the industry is highly profitable for both the poachers and traffickers, its acts as a major cause for the existence of the lucrative trade. Certain endangered wildlife products such as pangolins are extremely valuable for their inherent qualities and with the increased demand which is met by a scarce supply, the price charged is extremely high, making it a profitable business. For example, the price of ivory increased from $2,100 in 2010 to $3,300 per kg in 2020.[5]

Apart from the high profits, the low risk associated with the illegal wildlife trade due to weak law enforcement and corruption of government acts as an incentive for the traffickers and poachers. Fines and penalties, if enforced at some point, are minimal in comparison to the profits obtained from the business. Since organized crime groups have a flexible nature, they can easily adapt to new restrictions, regulations and enforcement measures that can increase their opportunities and maximize their profits. Another factor that drives the black marketing of endangered species is the existence of corruption and bribery among government officials. Corruption stimulates illegal wildlife trade practices as the laws and regulations are undermined by such acts. Another driving factor is the nexus between legal and illegal parties in environmental crime also termed as “dirty-collar crime”. The involvement of legally registered companies in the illegal wildlife trade is a common occurrence. This collaboration often stimulates the illegal setup.

POACHING OF TIGERS

Poaching is one of the major causes of threats to the existence of tigers leading to their extinction. Tigers are often poached for their skin, claws and teeth which are then sold for high prices in the black markets. Tiger parts are often used in traditional methods to cure various ailments ranging from arthritis to epilepsy. Decorating houses with tiger skins is an indicator of status and wealth within Asian culture.

Tigers are killed by two common methods: they either fall victim to illegal poaching in the wild or are bred in tiger farms in China and killed in captivity to satisfy the demands of domestic markets. Tiger skins are used as rugs or as a stuffed luxury home décor. Traditional Chinese medicines use tiger bones to make tonics that are said to have unproven health benefits and can cure a wide range of ailments ranging from arthritis to eczema. Despite the legal ban on the poaching of tigers, the continued demand for tiger parts for their medicinal power fuels the poaching and black-market trade.

METHODS TO PROTECT THESE ANIMALS

Implementing strict laws to prohibit illegal trade and poaching of wild animals by each nation can reduce the exploitation and death of these animals. Apart from banning or limiting the trade of particular species, the laws need to be effectively enforced especially in the developing countries such as Thailand and Vietnam where the enforcement is weak due to lack of funds. Most countries lack strict national legislation or appropriate penalties against illegal wildlife trade.

One of the most powerful tools that can be used to reduce the illegal and unsustainable wildlife trade is persuading the consumers to make informed choices which include both the customers purchasing the end product as well as the shopkeepers, suppliers, and manufacturers. If people are made aware of the negative end to their purchases, the consumers would be forced to make informed conscious choices, aware their choices can have a negative impact both on the environment and the economy. Since wildlife products are sought for various purposes such as food, medicine, art, apparel and status- studying consumer motivation is important for developing successful social and behavioural change campaigns. For example, a 2019 campaign called “Beautiful Without Ivory” featuring five celebrity influencers made in Thailand decreased both the demand and social acceptability of ivory consumption amongst Thai consumers by a huge margin.[6]

Ensuring that a well-functioning criminal justice system is established to effectively investigate and persecute wildlife crimes is an efficient method for curbing illegal wildlife trade. This would ensure that when an animal is illegally taken, the suspected criminal is immediately apprehended. Strengthening the existing laws and creation of new laws by governments to prohibit poaching and the black market of animals is a necessary step. Strengthening of laws can often result in harsher penalties which can deter poachers from hunting exotic animals. In the case of India, the Wildlife Protection Act regulates the hunting of animals and restricts the illegal trade and commerce in wild animals or animal articles and miscellaneous matters.[7]

CONCLUSION

The practice of poaching and the illegal wildlife trade has existed since ancient times and has been driven forwards by the continuous demands of consumers. While there has been a global demand for parts of exotic animals, South East Asian countries stood first in list due to its excessive consumer demands for such animal parts. From being expensive items used for décor to highly demanded medicinal products, the animal parts are poached and sold in the black market for highly lucrative prices. The consumer demand for these products has created havoc in the economy and caused terrible repercussions for the environment. Therefore, it’s high time the government brought forth effective laws and strict regulations to curb the exploitation of these endangered animals. Apart from laws, creating awareness among the public also plays a huge role in facilitating the protection of these species and curbing illegal practices.

[1] Lin, J. (2005), TACKLING SOUTHEAST ASIA’S ILLEGAL WILDLIFE TRADE, http://www.cities.org/eng/disc/ (Accessed on 27 April 2023) [2] Illegal Animal Trade in Asia, https://factsanddetails.com/asian/cat68/sub435/item2508.html (Accessed on 27 April 2023) [3] John Putman, National Geographic, edition- September, 1976 (Accessed on 27 April 2023) [4] Causes of Illegal Wildlife Trade and Poaching, https://financialcrimeacademy.org/causes-of-illegal-wildlife-trade-and-poaching/, (Accessed on 27 April 2023) [5] Worrying signs for Elephant Conservation: Data Shows 2020 Rise in Black-Market Ivory Prices, https://www.savetheelephants.org/about-elephants-2-3-2/elephant-news-post/, (Accessed on 27 April 2023) [6] Combating Wildlife Trafficking, https://www.usaid.gov/biodiversity/wildlife-trafficking, (Accessed on 28 April 2023) [7] Illegal Trafficking and Poaching Laws in India, https://www.legalserviceindia.com/legal/article-1410-illegal-trafficking-and-poaching-laws-in , (Accessed on 28 April 2023)

By,

Anna Rose

II BA LLB

ILS LAW COLLEGE, PUNE