Wildlife trafficking still high

The initiatives to curb illegal wildlife trade in Bangladesh remains blunted as the records still show high figures of wild animals and bird being seized by law enforcement agencies over the last five years. A total of 37,039 wild animals and birds were seized and rescued by the law enforcement agencies from June 2012 to November 2016, according to the Wildlife Crime Control Unit (WCCU). Of the total seizure, highest 19,359 were reptiles while 16,979 birds. A total of 374 wildlife offenses were recorded in those five years and only 566 offenders, mostly small traffickers, were taken in custody. This is the scenario when Bangladesh along with other countries across the globe is celebrating the UN World Wildlife Day today. Though there is no specific information, Bangladesh remains an important route of global wildlife smuggling because of rising global demands, a top official of the Forest Department told the Dhaka Tribune. Interpol estimates that illegal wildlife trade globally accounts for some $10-20 billion annually. In December 2014, Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) seized 220 wild turtles from Benapole border. In December 2015, Gazipur WCCU seized different species of animals and birds, including common myna, emerald-spotted dove, barn owl, red-breasted parakeet, mongoose, speaked cobra, rat snake, rock python, ornate flying snake and copper-headed trinket snake from illegal traders at Tongi Bazar. Assistant Conservator of Forests Abu Naser Mohsin Hossain told the Dhaka Tribune that a variety of animal body parts, ranging from tiger skins and bones to tusks of African elephants, remains in the seizure list in the last five years globally. Recovery of tiger skins from areas close to the Sunderbans has also been reported in the recent past. In 2012, RAB rescued three tiger cubs from a poacher’s residence in the capital. Bangladesh, Nepal and Bhutan in 2012 launched a project named Strengthening Regional Cooperation for Wildlife Protection (SRCWP) to conserve wildlife and tackle poaching, but the project ended in December last year. International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) country representative in Bangladesh Ishtiaq Uddin Ahmed recommended that to improve the scenario, the government should keep alive the WCCU which was set up under the project. “Our officials in airport and different border points are not that skilled in controlling wildlife trafficking. We need to provide them with more training,” he added.