(Photo: Wikimedia Commons/Renato Augusto Martins)
A man traveling from Hong Kong to China was caught attempting to smuggle dozens of live snakes by placing them in his pants.
Illegal Wild Trade Caught
A man was apprehended trying to sneak more than a hundred live snakes of different sizes into China in his pants. According to China's customs agency, the officers found that the passenger's pants pockets were taped shut and contained six canvas drawstring bags during the examination.
Upon opening each bag, it was discovered to contain live snakes of all sizes, shapes, and colors. The smuggling effort resulted in the capture of numerous non-native species of snakes.
According to authorities, the individual attempted to import the snakes from Hong Kong to Shenzhen, a city bordering China. Despite being strange, the incidence points to a bigger issue, especially in China, which is one of the main hubs for illegal wildlife trafficking.
The illicit trading of international wildlife has evolved into a low-risk, high-return enterprise. The demand for wildlife items is highest in China, and it is unsustainable and harmful. The problem of wildlife trafficking is exacerbated by the demand for wildlife in traditional Chinese medicine, as investments and status symbols, by high profitability for providing parties, by intricate and corrupt trafficking networks, and by weak government regulations and enforcement.
China is widely recognized as one of the world's largest markets for trafficked wildlife products. The country's demand is largely driven by a desire for wildlife in traditional Chinese medicine, as status symbols, and as investments.
The trafficking chain of illegal wildlife trade (IWT) is a complex structure that often includes many key players in high places to help facilitate continued trade. Corruption is involved in every stage.
ALSO READ: Illegal Trade of Global Wildlife Threatens 4,000 Species, Poses Untold Harm to Nature
Implications of Wildlife Trafficking
Many factors threaten wildlife and plant species, including pollution, deforestation, habitat destruction, and climate change. However, the illegal wildlife trade significantly contributes to poaching, harvesting, and the significant depletion of already endangered or at-risk species.
The trade of wildlife, animal parts, and plants significantly affects human livelihoods, biodiversity, governance, and the species involved. Thus, the protection of fish, forests, and wildlife must be part of an extensive strategy to achieve poverty eradication, food security, and sustainable development, including the preservation and long-term utilization of biological diversity, economic growth, social well-being, and sustainable livelihoods due to the varied and significant implications of wildlife trafficking.
Wildlife trafficking has the potential to wipe out entire species and reduce their numbers locally or perhaps globally. Any poaching or harvesting of endangered species to supply the illegal trade puts the species at risk of extinction.
The fact that hunters and collectors frequently go for the fittest members of the breeding population due to the desire for more extensive and elaborate specimens exacerbates the issue even more and has detrimental effects on future generations. Furthermore, many endangered species are weak and must be handled carefully and expertly. However, the methods used to catch, transport, and house many animals and plants can result in harm, death, or attrition, leading to additional losses, particularly when live animals or plants are trafficked.
Aside from reducing biodiversity, illicit wildlife trafficking spreads zoonotic illnesses and finances extremist organizations. Targeted consumer efforts that inform and inspire change about the issues related to illegal wildlife trafficking are one method of lowering demand.
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