International Cooperation And Legal Mechanisms To Combat Wildlife Black Market Activities

As a result of their increasing focus to unlawful global wildlife trafficking, authorities have confiscated a higher number of live animals, emphasising the need of safely handling these species. The majority of wildlife seizures take place in Southeast Asia, and most of the trade is driven by worldwide demand for live animals. The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) establishes rules for the "disposal" of live specimens, however each Party must carry out the requirements through national laws and regulations. After unlawfully marketed wildlife has been confiscated, the phrase "disposal" refers to the process of handling it. Concealed live animals can be euthanized (killed), repatriated and released, or kept in captivity. This study looks into the challenges of properly caring for and disposing of confiscated live animals in Southeast Asia, which accounts for roughly a quarter of the global multibillion-dollar illegal wildlife trade. 18 professionals from the fields of conservation, wildlife crime, and confiscated live animal management were interviewed. The issues of properly caring for and disposing of captured live animals in Southeast Asia, which accounts for about a quarter of the global multibillion-dollar illicit wildlife trade, are investigated in this research.”

There are eight constraints to the proper care and disposal of captured wildlife.:

(1) Political commitment

(2) policy making

(3) funding

(4) capacity

(5) expertise

(6) Ill-treatment

(7) falsifications

The Conventions & Law

“The Convention on International Commerce in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) provides a legal framework for signatory countries to control wildlife trade in a uniform manner. CITES implementation in national legislation, on the other hand, differs widely across signatories. As a result, commerce in a particular species can be legal in one country but forbidden under CITES — or prohibited under national law but allowed under CITES. As a result, there is no universally acknowledged definition of illegal wildlife trading in the international community, and interpretations of the extent differ.”

“The illegal wildlife trade has grown at unprecedented rates, resulting in a global disaster. As a result of the enhanced rules, regulations, enforcement, and interception, a coordinated international campaign to stop the illegal wildlife trade has been launched. Wildlife seizures are now a well-known method of undermining illegal marketplaces all around the world. As a result of these changes, the quantity of live wild animals seized by government authorities has increased, emphasising the importance of compassionately and responsibly managing and 'disposing' of these animals. The management of unlawfully trafficked and confiscated live animals is referred to as 'disposal' in technical terms. Alternative words are being examined, but to be consistent with existing internationally recognised language and recommendations, this study employs the term” "disposal."

“The Convention on International Commerce in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna (CITES) is a global agreement aimed at ensuring that international wildlife trade does not jeopardise the existence of endangered species. The Parties drafted Resolution 17.8, 'Guidelines for the Disposal of Confiscated Live Specimens of Species Included in the Appendices,' to give disposal recommendations. The three approved disposal choices for living specimens in this resolution are release into the wild, incarceration, and euthanasia.

Legislation, cultural customs, and economic factors all impact how captured animals are handled. When deciding how to dispose of confiscated live specimens, parties should seek advice from their own Scientific Authority. The final outcome must meet three criteria, according to CITES:

1. to increase the conservation value of the specimens without harming their health or behaviour

wild or captive populations of the species' repertoire, or conservation status; 2. to prevent future occurrences

Species trafficking that is unlawful or irregular.

2. to prevent future illicit or unauthorised wildlife trade; and

3. Whether the animals are maintained in captivity or freed, a compassionate solution must be found. euthanized or released into the wild.

It's worth mentioning that many species that aren't on the CITES list are traded both worldwide and locally. For example, CITES governs just around 8% of the total number of reptile species. According to a study released in 2020, 35 percent of the 10,272 legally classified reptile species are trafficked as pets, with 90 percent of species captured in the wild, largely in Asian hotspots. Seventy-five percent of commercially traded reptile species are exempt from international trade rules, making confiscation more difficult. This opens the door to exploitation of vulnerable species that are nonetheless lawfully traded locally or globally without documentation to substantiate trade impacts on the species. Authorities are responsible for properly disposing of confiscated live animals, but data on outcomes is sparse. This makes it difficult to adequately track and assess managerial results. In order to resolve this, CITES looked into how parties handled live specimen disposal in 2016. According to the study, over 86 percent of confiscated live animals were kept in captivity. Many of these facilities, on the other hand, are not adequately managed at a defined capacity, allowing for exploitation and appalling conditions.”

“In the absence of effective legislation, well-defined enforcement techniques, and full records of unlawful trade operations, it's difficult to judge a state's commitment to regulating the illicit wildlife trade or preventing animal welfare violations. Despite the potential for confiscation to recover unlawfully trafficked live animals and rebuild endangered natural populations, effective management of seized live animals is still a neglected aspect of global anti-trafficking efforts.

Laws Regulating Wildlife Trading In India

The following Acts have an important bearing on the enforcement of wildlife in India:”

• The Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972
• The Indian Forest Act, 1927
• The Forest Conservation Act,1980
• The Biological Diversity Act, 2002
• The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960
• The Criminal Procedure Code, 1974
• The Indian Penal Code, 1860
• The Arms Act, 1959

India, the world’s seventh-largest country, is home to four of the world’s 36 biodiversity hotspots, making it one of the world’s most biodiverse regions. As a result, animal conservation and welfare in the country have taken on a significant position in recent years, from Bengal Tigers to Great Indian Rhinoceros. According to the Indian Constitution, animals must be protected and there are various animal welfare laws in India, including the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1960 and the Wildlife Protection Act 1972, as well as state-level laws prohibiting cow slaughter and protecting cattle.

Article 51A(g) of the Indian Constitution makes it a duty of every citizen to protect the natural environment and wildlife. Moreover, Article 48A provides a Directive Principle of State Policy to protect and improve the wildlife of the country.

The legislature and the judiciary have cooperated to safeguard wildlife and have issued judgments that highlight the importance of wildlife.”

Views are personal.