Halting the trade in wildlife

OUR local media often display images of seizures of pangolin, ivory, rhino horn, tiger parts and testudines with headlines hailing the success of wildlife operations conducted by the Malaysian authorities. While these pictures depict the success of law enforcement against wildlife trafficking, it can be alarming due to the sheer quantity of wildlife products seized not only in Malaysia but also those en route to or re-exported from Malaysia.

Wildlife trafficking is thought to be the third most valuable illicit commerce in the world after drugs and weapons. Discussions on combating wildlife trafficking have focused mainly on elephants, rhinos and tigers in Africa and Asia.

Often forgotten, however, is the fact that wildlife trafficking occurs across all continents and threatens a wide range of imperilled species, including exotic birds, sea turtles, corals, caimans, iguanas, pangolins, and the list goes on.

Illegal wildlife products are moved through countries and across borders and sold both openly and covertly. Much of the trade goes on undetected and thus it is difficult to ascertain the enormous quantity of illicit wildlife shipped and sold internationally.

In some cases, wildlife is hidden and passes through checks unknown to Customs and border officials, or is accompanied by false documentation. Customs officials could also turn a blind eye, give tip-offs or help to conceal illegal wildlife in exchange for bribes or other benefits.

The passage of illegal wildlife through checkpoints and borders may reflect a lack of capacity, training, or a low priority for preventing wildlife crime. Globalisation has also increased opportunities for concealed transactions, especially where law enforcement and agencies charged with protecting wildlife are under-resourced and poorly supervised.

In many countries, agencies responsible for combating wildlife crime, including addressing corruption in this area, lack the capacity and resources to do so. This may be due to a lack of priority for wildlife crime, a general lack of resources or infrastructure, or vested interest among decision makers in maintaining corrupt institutions which allow them to enrich themselves illegally.

There is also the perception that the problem is essentially victimless, and as a result governments tend not to give high priority to the issue of wildlife crime, including wildlife related corruption.

The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), a global body, is tasked with regulating international wildlife trade. But it is ineffective as it has no enforcement powers, meaning that the slaughter of endangered species and their sale for profits continue unabated.

Transport and logistics is not only the backbone of a modern economy but also a key enabler for trafficking wild animals and wildlife products. Therefore, the transportation and logistics sectors play a critical role in identifying and eliminating risks along the supply chain.

In the case of Malaysia, it has one of the best infrastructures in the region, making it easy for smugglers to transport their goods. Reports of seizures at sea and airports are common espe- cially in the area of Johor, Kuala Lumpur International Airport and Penang International Airport. Malaysia has a big smuggling problem and is among the top 10 smuggling hubs in the region together with the Philippines, Indonesia, Singapore and Vietnam. In addition, there is a new trend of trading through the Internet where buyers are both Malaysians and foreigners.

The question now is whether the legislation in our country is adequate to protect endangered species and to combat illegal wildlife trading. Does the law provide adequate sentences against illegal wildlife traders? What approach is taken by the judiciary in combating illegal wildlife trade? The main issue is with sentencing, which usually means a small fine to the offender or a day spent in jail because the judge or magistrate does not understand the seriousness of the crime.

The authorities need to fight tooth and nail to address wildlife crime in the region through information-sharing as well as joint efforts across government agencies and other relevant agencies and institutions.

Strengthening the enforcement of wildlife law and fighting wildlife crime must be given national, regional and global priority. Support from organisations like the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), Interpol, World Customs Organisation and CITES is crucial to the success of such efforts. S.M. MOHAMED IDRIS President Sahabat Alam Malaysia