Web-based wildlife trade on the rise

Internet chatrooms have become the latest hotspot for clandestine trade in exotic wildlife with the black market generating $50 billion to $150 billion every year globally, nature conservationists say

ONLINE CODE NAMES FOR ANIMALS RANGE FROM ‘LATOO’ FOR TURTLES TO ‘SCOOTER’ FOR SNAKES

Internet chatrooms have become the latest hotspot for underground trade in wildlife, nature conservationists have said.

Certain websites allow buyers and sellers to communicate, view images of exotic and indigenous animals, decide a price and even complete the transaction through net banking before the consignment is dispatched. The activities on these forums are very difficult to track, said law enforcers.

Online code names range from ‘Latoo’ for turtles, ‘scooter’ for snakes and ‘double engine’ for larger species of higher value.

“The single-most important factor fuelling wildlife trade on the Internet is anonymity. Most sellers use fake names and addresses, and change their email identities frequently,” said Jose Louies, head of enforcement assistance and law, Wildlife Trust of India (WTI).

While a price cannot be put on the extent of the vast illegal wildlife trade in India, Louies said globally this black market generates $50 billion to $150 billion annually.

Trade of any native Indian species is illegal and falls under the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972. However, a species protected under Indian laws may not be protected internationally, which is responsible for the nexus.

“Trade of a host of different exotic and indigenous species has increased by 100% since the 80s and 90s with India being the primary source and one of the major destinations,” said BC Choudhury, wildlife scientist and former professor, Wildlife Institute of India (WII).

In the last two months, the customs department in Mumbai confiscated close to 400 turtles being smuggled abroad from Mumbai airport. Similarly, close to 47 kg pangolin scales were seized by Madhya Pradesh forest officials in May. In 2013, customs at the Kolkata airport seized 10,043 exotic turtles heading to Singapore.

Currently, WTI is investigating two websites — blackwaterreptiles.com and tortoisesupply.com. “The websites have no address of its operating location, all transactions are done in US dollars. Most of the websites are based abroad and are freely sold since these species are not protected under India’s wildlife laws,” a WTI official told HT on conditions of anonymity.