Tuesday, March 5, 2024

Pakistan's Zoo-turned Wildlife Rescue Center

IWMB ranger Anees Hussein greeting Baboo at the Margalla Wildlife Rescue Center.

Zoos have provided people a chance to view wild animals for centuries. For many, it is a form of convenience without having to step out of their comfort zone and travel to faraway lands, where the animals they come to see roam free. Although zoos allow visitors to witness wild animals in awe, they have been subjected to controversy over the years. Not only do they deprive the animals of their freedom, but some have gained notoriety for the mistreatment of the animals. One of these controversial facilities was Pakistan's Islamabad Zoo. Formerly known as Marghazar Zoo, it opened in 1978 and was initially a refuge for chinkaras (Indian gazelles) and leopards living in the neighboring Margalla Hills before it started bringing in more animals and attracting visitors. From 2008 to 2010, the zoo underwent an extensive upgrade as a recreational area and wildlife sanctuary. This extension not only included animal enclosures, but also educational and research facilities.
 
Remains of Islamabad Zoo: A disused ferris wheel and a food stall amongst overgrown vegetation

However, despite making beneficial developments, Islamabad Zoo came into negative spotlight in September 2016 when an Asian elephant named Kaavan became mentally ill as a result of being chain-bound for the past twenty years. Originally from Sri Lanka, Kaavan's life at the zoo began in the mid-1980s and in 1990, he received a female elephant named Saheli as his mate. Unfortunately, tragedy struck when Saheli died in 2012 due to an injury in one of her legs. Saheli's death, combined with being kept in horrendous conditions, took a heavy toll on Kaavan's mental health as he exhibited signs of distress such as continuous head-bobbing. Rather than take proper steps to help Kaavan, the zoo staff kept him chained subjecting him to a great deal of negligence. Kaavan's neglect generated international attention and prompted a freedom campaign led by singer Cher. At the same time, Islamabad Zoo came under scrutiny regarding the health and well-being of its animals. Investigations revealed that like Kaavan, many other animals were subjected to neglect by the staff - some of which resulted in death. For example, in July 2017, four lion cubs died after being given high intake of Welmingnch milk instead of lioness milk. Later that year, an ostrich died as a result of staff negligence. In August 2018, a wolf mauled six deer at the zoo's extension. Observers criticized the zoo for providing the animals with inadequate or bad quality food, placing and locking them in small cages, and their poor health.
 
Teddy, one of seven Asian black bears at the center.

Islamabad Zoo's legacy ultimately came to an end in 2020 when the High Court ordered the zoo to be closed, following both local and international protests against the treatment of its animals. As a result, many animals, including Kaavan, were relocated to sanctuaries outside of Pakistan. That same year, the court ordered the zoo's grounds to be allocated to the Islamabad Wildlife Management Board (IWMB), a government organization in charge of conserving the wildlife of Margalla Hills National Park. In response to everyday reports of injured and trafficked wildlife, IWMB slowly began to use the former zoo's grounds as a rehabilitation center for rescued animals, in partnership with local animal rights groups and a non-profit conservation organization, Second Chance Wildlife. The center, known as Margalla Wildlife Rescue Center, had rescued more than 380 animals since 2020. These included Asian black bears, Indian pangolins, rhesus macaques, several species of birds, and a three-month-old Bengal tiger. In addition to receiving reports of injured animals, the center also conducts raids to rescue animals when hearing about criminal activities. Some of the animals were saved from poachers, while others, such as the bears, were used for entertainment purposes like "dancing" and fighting. One of the former residents at the center was a named Baboo, who was found in a critical condition. According to IWMB ranger Anees Hussein, he had several bone fractures and been suffering malnutrition following early separation from his mother. Over the 14 months after Baboo's rescue, a small team of the center's staff and volunteers nursed him back to health. Yet as he grew, it became clear that the center could not provide Baboo with more space and company of other tigers. On February 14, after a long fundraising and administrative procedure, Baboo was successfully relocated to South Africa's Isindile Big Cat and Predator Sanctuary.
 
Center staff and volunteers bidding farewell to Baboo at Islamabad International Airport's cargo wing.

The IWMB is planning to establish a sanctuary that can forever house animals that cannot be released into the wild. However, there is an ongoing challenge of fundraising as the center depends on heavily on public donations to meet the increasing cost of maintaining the facilities and taking care of the animals. According to Second Chance Wildlife co-founder Leah Boyer, the center is "operating on a subsistence budget from one week to the next." The team hopes to continue expanding the center's capacity to rehabilitate wildlife, including big cats. For example, leopards are native to the area and incidences of human-leopard conflict are not uncommon. However, the center's mission is not supported by everyone. The Capital Development Authority (CDA), which had earlier managed the zoo, continuously tried to reclaim the grounds and parts of Margalla Hills National Park to reopen the old zoo. Nevertheless, it did not dispute the High Court's judgment and is not likely to win.

Conservation activists protesting against CDA's attempt to reclaim the old zoo.

I find it really amazing how a former zoo is being converted into a wildlife rescue center, especially when that zoo gained notoriety for the treatment of animals. Islamabad Zoo was a prime example of a zoological facility that imposed mistreatment and cruelty to its animals through sheer negligence by the staff that ultimately ends in death. Kaavan, who had been subjected to such mistreatment, was relocated to Cambodia where he now lives a better life following the zoo's closing. Although he is far from the pain and suffering he endured in Pakistan, he is truly a poster child of why zoos in general should focus on proper care and well-being of animals. I don't deny that zoos are far from the wide open spaces that provide wild animals unlimited room to move freely, but I strongly believe that zoo enclosures should be large enough for the animals to stretch their legs. They should also be filled with foliage to mimic various animals' respective native habitats and the animals should be provided with enrichment objects to encourage their wild survival instincts. The staff should be highly dedicated and have proper resources to care for the animals. Most importantly, zoos should provide visitors opportunities in an effort to educate, inspire, and enlighten on the importance of wildlife and conservation. Furthermore, they should support conservation by establishing special facilities to rehabilitate animals that are victims of some type of environmental or wildlife crime. Unfortunately, not many zoos adhere to such standards and there are still many such places all over the world that need to be improvised like in the case of Islamabad Zoo. Also, the Margalla Wildlife Rescue Center has been relying on public donations for fundraising. I strongly urge the government of Pakistan to provide funding to maintain the center's facilities and care of its animals. In addition, there are other zoos in the country where animals are suffering and measurements need to be implemented to establish more such rehabilitation centers and sanctuaries so that the animals don't have to be sent abroad.     

Sunday, March 3, 2024

Botswana's Elephants Victimized by Political Fighting

A pair of elephants at a watering hole

Botswana is renowned for having the largest elephant population in Africa. According to experts, statistics indicate that the country's elephant population numbers approximately 130,000 which is considered, at this moment, stable. However, in recent months, Botswana's elephants have been suffering immensely in recent months due to ivory poaching. In the past three months, at least 60 elephants have been killed in Botswana's northern region, including Chobe National Park, one of the world's best wildlife destinations. The poachers are specifically targeting the few remaining "big tusker" elephants which have already been hunted to near-extinction. The animals' tusks are being smuggled out of Botswana by organized, heavily-armed, and sophisticated gangs from Zambia who are working for syndicates in and around Lusaka. In Zambia, the tusks are cut into small pieces before being packaged and transported through other African countries and then sent to Asia. Conservation sources asserted that the Botswanan government's wildlife department had been sluggish to react and had not responded "adequately." No arrests had been made so far. Experts further added that aerial surveys of elephant herds in Botswana revealed high volumes of carcasses, which would cause alarm if discovered in other countries. In addition, the total number of elephants killed is higher than 60 due to other carcasses not being found yet.

An elephant family

It is extremely disheartening to hear about elephants being constantly slaughtered left and right by poaching gangs. But what really adds to the frustration is the slow response by Botswana's government as pointed out by Keith Lindsay, a veteran elephant biologist and conservation advisor, and Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA) executive director Mary Rice. They have indicated that poaching gangs have been taking advantage of the sluggish governance and enforcement Botswana's spacious wilderness areas for many years. Ms. Rice further added that the country's government deployed restricted wildlife patrols in response and cautioned that most of Tanzania's elephant population elephant population was decimated a decade ago when authorities failed to act against the poachers. The political connection between the plight of Botswana's elephants and the country's role dates back to the end of the presidency of former president Ian Khama, whose second term of office ended in 2018. At the time, hunting was banned in the country but resumed when following the election of Mr. Khama's former ally and deputy, President Mokgweetsi Masisi. The relationship between the two men disintegrated resulting in Mr. Khama currently living in exile in South Africa. According to Christopher Vandome, senior research fellow at Chatham House's African Program, concerns grew as it became clear that President Masisi was not to be Mr. Khama's puppet. In addition, he also refused the former president his demands for special authorizations such as a larger staff and appointing Mr. Khama's brother Tshekedi Khama as vice president. But most importantly, President Masisi reversed a lot of Mr. Khama's conservation policy and efforts in order to further disocciate from the former president. As a result, illegal poaching of Botswana's elephants increased significantly and the current government did not undertake significant measurements in order to mitigate poaching in the country.

Elephant herd on the move

I cannot express in any words about the factors that contributed to the surge in Botswana's elephant mortality rate in recent months. It is extremely outrageous that the current government is paying little attention to the ongoing plight of ivory poaching and not taking any significant action to ensure their protection on the long run. This really goes to show how politics can have a negative impact on wildlife protection and conservation. Botswana, like most African countries, relies on tourism as a source of economy and among its wild places, Chobe National Park is the most biologically diverse making it one of the country's top tourist destinations to see and experience wildlife. Any form of hunting is deemed detrimental to the tourism industry and would result in ecological imbalance. This is especially true in the case of elephants, which play a major role in shaping the landscape. By trampling grasslands, they make room for smaller species to coexist. They also dig dry river beds to create water holes used by other animals when rainfall is low. In addition, they disperse seeds in their dung while travelling vast distances to generate new green growth. 

A lone elephant in a watery habitat

One of the striking features about this news is a statement by research director of the Elephant Crisis Fund Chris Thouless. He warned that the high amounts of elephant carcasses could be a natural phenomenon. He further added that there is no strong evidence that the elephants died as a result of poaching. I strongly believe that a great deal of research and studying needs to be implemented in order to better understand Botswana's elephant mortality rate. This means collecting biological samples and running scientific tests in order to fully determine whether elephants died as a result of just poaching or some kind of natural circumstance. In addition, quantitative figures need to be determined in order to get a clear and accurate picture of what percentage of Botswana's elephants died from poaching and what percentage died of some natural phenomenon. I think if one comes across an elephant carcass that has been completely emptied of tusks, it should not be assumed that elephant was killed by poachers. A thorough examination of the carcass needs to be conducted to see if any bullets are present inside the body. Furthermore, samples should be collected and closely studied to determine whether the animal died as a result of poisoning or some other natural or unnatural cause. Conducting scientific research can greatly help understand Botswana's elephant mortality and also provide information in implementing steps to prevent further deaths. However, such measurements require also political will and I strongly urge the government of Botswana to change its approach in protecting the country's elephants and wildlife. This includes improvising its policies regarding conservation and deploying more personnel in patrolling the wilderness areas to combat poaching.    




Saturday, December 16, 2023

Scimiter-horned Oryx Returned From the Brink of Extinction

A pair of scimitar-horned oryx

The oryx, with its striking and seemingly handsome looks, is one of the most charismatic animals in the world. Its bold facial markings and a pair of long sweeping horns give it an almost mythological appearance. The horns are so parallel to each other that when viewed sideways, the animal appears as though it has only one. This description has associated the oryx with the unicorn. Unfortunately, the oryx's stunning appearance has also made it a target for hunters and poachers, and no species bore more brunt than the scimitar-horned oryx. Named for its long sweeping horns reminiscent of actual swords used by Islamic warriors of bygone days, the scimitar-horned oryx had suffered tremendously in the hands of humans for decades with factors ranging from hunting and poaching to habitat degredation in its Sahara homeland. It is also said that political instability and civil war in Chad contributed to its downfall. The combination of various anthropogenic factors resulted in the extirpation of the scimitar-horned oryx throughout North Africa, with only surviving populations residing in zoos, private menageries, and captive-breeding facilities. There were even fenced-in herds residing in a handful of protected areas in North Africa. Due to the abundance of captive populations and lack of data in the form of sightings in the wild, the scimitar-horned oryx had been declared "Extinct in the Wild" by the IUCN since 2000.

Scimiter-horned oryx being released in the wilds of Chad.

However, there were ongoing conservation efforts to revive this species in the wild. These efforts comprised of breeding programs designed to increase the numbers of these antelopes in captivity and reintroduce them in their former haunts. They were carried out through joint collaborations between zoos, conservation groups, government agencies, and other key partners. One of the key success stories occurred in 2016 when a group of 25 oryxes were released in Chad's Ouadi Rime-Ouadi Achim Game Reserve as part of an operation led by the country's Ministry of Environment and Fisheries, the Sahara Conservation Fund (SCF), and Environment Agency Abu Dhabi (EAD). That same herd produced a calf the following year marking the first wild birth for more than two decades. From then on, more oryxes were being reintroduced into the reserve and in 2021, sixty calves were born increasing the number to 400 animals. Recently, it has been reported that 510 calves have been born in the wild thanks to a breeding scheme by EAD and the Zoological Society of London (ZSL). Not only has this renewed hope for the oryx's future, but it also changed its status from "Extinct in the Wild" to "Endangered."

A mother scimitar-horned oryx and calf.

I cannot think of any greater news than the scimitar-horned oryx being downlisted to "Endangered" from "Extinct in the Wild." This is truly a result of several years of joint collaboration between partners in conservation and politics to save a species from the brink of extinction. What struck me is that prior to this recent achievement, scientists from the ZSL published a research study in the journal Science which asserted that conservation zoos had the potential to alter the extinction of some animals. The research was the first to comprehensively analyze the 95 Extinct in the Wild animals and plants that have survived due to consistant human care since 1950. One of those animals is the scimitar-horned oryx. This magnificent antelope has become the second member of its species after its Arabian counterpart to make a remarkable comeback into the wilds of its arid North African haven. I very much hope that more efforts will be implemented to identify potential protected areas outside of Chad for the scimitar-horned oryx where it once thrived before disappearing. These include Sudan, Niger, Mali, Burkina Faso, Mauritania, Senegal, Western Sahara, Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, and Egypt. I also hope that because some of these countries are rife with political instability and terrorism-related activities, considerate and effective actions will be taken to ensure that reintroduction efforts are carried out successfully and that the animals are fully protected. The scimitar-horned oryx shared its North African homeland with two other antelopes, the addax and the dama gazelle; both of which are critically endangered and kept in zoos and captive breeding facilities outside Africa. All three of these antelopes play an integral part in maintaining the North African landscape by grazing and browsing, which prevents desertification. Therefore, their reintroductions are crucial nature-based solutions in helping tackle local impacts of climate change.    

Wednesday, November 29, 2023

New Hope for Wolverines

A wolverine captured on camera in Tahoe National Forest near Truckee, California on Feb 27, 2016.

The wolverine is a creature that personifies the harsh ruggedness of the frozen north. For centuries, it has garnered a fearsome, yet hated reputation among local human populations sharing its Arctic and sub-Arctic homeland. Universally regarded as vermin by fur trappers, it was indiscriminately shot on sight due to its habit of eating animals caught in traps during winter and fouling its human competitors' cabins with its strong scent. Please read below at the end of this article for more inforamtion on this remarkable animal. 

The relentless persecution geared by uncontrolled trapping and poisoning campaigns decimated the wolverine population across most of the U.S by the early 20th century. Approximately 300 survive living in remote, fragmented groups at high elevations in the northern Rocky Mountains. Now, the wolverine faces a threat of completely different magnitude: climate change. This is seen as scientists warn of rising temperatures anticipated to reduce mountain snowpacks which wolverines depend on to make shelter to raise their young in coming decades. 

In response to the scientists' warning, the U.S Fish and Wildlife Service proposed giving threatened species protections which had been delayed due to more than twenty years of arguments over the risks of climate change and threats to the continuing survival of the wolverines. Officials wrote in the proposal that protections under the Endangered Species Act were required "due primarily to the ongoing and increasing impacts of climate change and associated habitat degradation and fragmentation."

I'm glad to hear that the federal government has recognized the threats various wild animals such as wolverines are facing due to climate change and decided to ensure full protection. Ever since the U.S came under the presidency of Donald Trump, little to no attention had been paid to the findings made by scientists and researchers on the impact of climate change on the wildlife. It should be understood that research and studies about climate change should be taken into serious consideration and acknowledgement irrespective of what political party is in power. There is no room for politics when it comes to science and research, especially with climate change and various environmental issues linked to it. I very much hope that strong and efficient measurements will be implemented in protecting the wolverines on the long run. This includes conducting awareness campaigns geared at educating the public about wolverines, how climate change affects them, and what can the public do to save them. I also think outlawing of winter recreational activities such as backcountry skiing and snowmobiling in areas rife with wolverine activity is essential. In addition, legal trapping is also something that needs to be looked into especially when there is an incident of a wolverine accidentally caught in a trap laid out to catch an unthreatened species. 

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Some general infomation on wolverines: The wolverine, although a member of the weasel family, is powerful enough to command respect from other animals it shares its habitat with. Its size makes it capable of bringing down prey up to the size of a deer, making it an apex predator alongside wolves, bears, and wildcats. Incredibly, despite its relatively small size, the wolverine's fearless tenacity combined with brute strength, bone-crunching jaws, a thick hide, and an arsenal of stong-smelling stink glands, allows it to stand up against its stronger adversaries - often to the point of forcing them to abandon their kills. This ferocious nature has earned the wolverine a bad rap from its bipedal counterparts garnering it several nicknames like the devil bear, skunk bear, hyena of the north, and in Inuit language Kee-wa-har-kess or "the evil one." Perhaps the most popular moniker it was given is "glutton" due to the belief that it kills more than it eats. In reality, the wolverine is far from the verminous beast that plagued the imaginations of hunters and trappers from past centuries. It is a keystone species that plays a crucial role in maintaining ecological balance in the extreme north, and its "gluttonous" behavior is attributed to filling itself voraciously on carrion in winter and burying extra food to be eaten later.    

Monday, October 30, 2023

Poachers Turned Protectors- A Tale of Two Odia Men

Raghupati Dharua (left) and Satyaban Sahu (right)

Illegal poaching is an ongoing issue all over the world. Whenever there is a poaching incident, the investigation involves authorities following clues and other crucial information which would lead them to the culprits. Once apprehended, the culprits are usually convicted and sentenced to considerable jailtime. But what happens when the culprits are released after serving time? Do they resort again to their illegal activities and the process is repeated all over again? Or do they find an alternative which steers them away from a life of crime? One such case was seen with two men named Raghupati Dharua and Satyaban Sahu from the state of Odisha in India. For thirty years, they were infamous poachers and labeled as "most-wanted" in both police and forest departments. But now, these men have renounced their life of crime by working as informants and assisting the forest department combat poaching and capture the perpetrators in Odisha's Debrigarh Wildlife Sanctuary. In their own words, the men wanted to give up poaching because their respective children are growing up and they did not want the younger generation to live in disgrace. Due to their familiarity with the dense forest and difficult terrain, the duo gave information on snares poachers lay out to catch or kill animals. One of the officials who is grateful for their help in protecting the sanctuary and its wild inhabitants is Anshu Pragyan Das, a divisional forest officer of the Hirakud wildlife division. In addition to being informants, Dharua and Sahu have other jobs in the sanctuary. For example, Sahu mans a gate at Zero Point of the sanctuary. Dharua, on the other hand, is a carpenter in the sanctuary's ecotourism facilities and also plumbing and electrical repairs.

Debrigarh Wildlife Sanctuary

I cannot think of any better way to improvise the fight against poaching than recruiting former poachers in assisting wildlife officials in protecting the world's wild places and wildlife. This would be an alternative to the life of crime for them and provide a second chance. Furthermore, ex-poachers have an intimate knowledge of the inner workings in poaching gangs which would be beneficial for authorities in apprehending the gangs' active members and accumulate enough evidence to convict them of their crimes. It goes to show that it takes a thief to catch a thief. Raghupati Dharua and Satyaban Sahu are ideal examples of individuals who once used to make a living poaching wildlife, but decided to give up that lifestyle and turned over a leaf to assist in the battle against poaching. Each one of them had a rough past. Sahu, who hails from the village of Khajuria in the foothills of Debrigarh, dropped out of primary school and made a living grazing livestock before taking up poaching at 17 after his mother passed away. He was involved in a notorious tiger hunting case in 2018 for which he was sentenced to nine months imprisonment. He was arrested again in 2020 after being caught with a leopard skin. Since then, he turned his life around and is now working with the forest department earning Rs. 12,000 per month. He has even been involved in ecotourism activities. I really think that Sahu and Dharua should be seen as role models to various people living in the vicinities of protected areas in India and other tropical places. Their stories and experiences should be taken as life lessons by people who are either actively involved in any type of wildlife crime or even thinking of resorting to these types of illegal activities. I also believe that in countries where poaching is rife in protected areas, there should be special programs geared at people living in the margins of societies providing them jobs in working with wildlife and law enforcement officials in combating various wildlife crimes. It would very much help, especially when there are individuals who are knowledgeable in how poaching gangs and other wildlife crime syndicates function.          

Friday, October 27, 2023

Bangladesh's Sundarbans Tiger Conservation Success Story

A tiger in the Sundarbans.

Five years ago, the decline of tiger population in the Sundarbans mangrove forest caused a great deal of concern to the conservation community of Bangladesh. However, in recent times, the forests are signs of recovery of the species. This positive turn of events is an outcome of a series of committed efforts initiated by the government of Bangladesh and several stakeholders showing promising results, renewing hope for the survival and growth of tigers. The main strategies used in this joint conservation campaign have focused around conserving the tigers' habitat, dealing with prey scarcity issues, and tackling poaching through a concerted community-based approach. These actions have not only helped tigers but also the whole Sundarbans ecosystem. The latest surveys carried out simultaneously by the government's forest division, German Cooperation, and the Swiss unit of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) revealed two very important discoveries. The surveys have noticed a reassuring increase in populations of prey species such as chital (spotted deer), wild boars, and monkeys in the Sundarbans. In addition, the surveys also hinted that the forest may now be containing a higher number of tigers due to successful habitat conservation measurements.

Spotted deer herd in the Sundarbans.

One of the surveys titled "Status of Tiger Prey Species in the Sundarbans of Bangladesh" highlighted the importance of six prey species for tigers. It indicated that even though the number of barking deer has decreased, the populations of spotted deer, wild boars, and monkeys have increased in number over the past thirty years. The number of spotted deer, which comprises 79 percent of the tigers' prey consumption, was 1,41,357. The last census recorded the population to be 80,000-85,000 in the 1980s. Wild boars, which contribute about 11 percent of prey consumption, were found to have increased to 45,110 from around 28,000. According to M.A. Aziz, professor in Jahangirnagar University's zoology department and one of the researchers involved in the study, the result of the survey would mean that crucial measures can be taken for the conservation of tiger prey species. He further stressed that prey species need to be protected from poachers.

A tiger in its mangrove forest habitat.

Another survey, a four-month camera trapping study stretching 1,615 miles in the forest's western zone, is being carried out by the forest department. 1,330 cameras were set up to record tigers and their prey in the mangroves. The census currently shows that at least 53 percent of the cameras revealed the tigers' movement, garnering hope and optimism about the increased numbers. Some of the images were of tigers in places where they had not been recorded in the last two censuses. The survey is scheduled to be completed in April 2024, and the number of tigers recorded will be annouced on July 29. According to Sundarban West Division Forest officer Abu Naser Mohsin Hussain, tiger numbers may increase since the government took various measures over the years to protect them. One of them was increasing the amount of protected areas, in which the government proclaimed 52 percent of the Sundarbans as protected areas in 2020 from only 23 percent earlier. In addition, the government has also focused on curbing human-tiger conflict. Mohsin stated that there has not been a single human-tiger conflict in the last five years.

View of the Sundarbans

I truly admire the efforts Bangladesh has put in ensuring the protection of tigers in the Sundarbans. It's amazing to see the roles played by both the government and various stakeholders which resulted in promising outcomes for both the tigers and other wildlife. One of the things that struck me was that there was no reported incident of human-tiger conflict in the Sundarbans in the last five years. This is really extraordinary since human-tiger conflict has been one of the main issues in the Sundarbans for decades. An implementation of 49 village tiger response teams whose job is to protect any tiger that strays into a locality and help the villagers must have contributed to the mitigation of human-tiger conflict. But this probably had occurred on the Bangladeshi side of the Sundarbans. Could it be possible that majority of human-tiger conflicts are currently occurring on the Indian side of the Sundarbans? I think this is something that should be looked into thoroughly in order to get a better understanding of the overall Sundarbans' human-tiger conflict situation. I was also surprised to hear that the Sundarbans were terrorized by pirate gangs some years ago; a situation which has quelled since 2018. It's interesting to see that dangers in the Sundarbans not only come in the form of tigers or anything nature-related, but at one point in the form of human beings. The alleviation of Sundarbans' pirate situation in the forest also helped in tiger conservation by allowing the big cats to stay undisturbed guaranteeing an ideal breeding environment. While there has since been no threat of piracy, I think there should be measurements implemented to ensure it stays that way. This includes patrolling of Sundarbans' waters by both India's and Bangladesh's coast guards. In addition, a joint collaboration between both the countries' governments and stakeholders should be implemented in protecting the Sundarbans' wildlife and villagers. This would further improvise the conservation of tigers and other wildlife in Bangladesh and India.

Wednesday, October 25, 2023

Joint Collaboration Essential in Hong Kong's Battle Against the Illegal Wildlife Trade

A giant Asian pond turtle at an Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department press conference.

In Hong Kong, the illegal wildlife trade is thriving despite the implementation of stricter laws targeted at stopping syndicates from making millions of dollars off of endangered species. According to Amanda Whitfort, a lawyer for the environmental group ADM Capital Foundation, a law known as the Organized and Serious Crime Ordinance was revised two years ago to deal with certain crimes related to wildlife trafficking. The amendment, which was praised as "historic" and "landmark" at the time, enables authorities to secure court orders to obtain documents essential to their investigations that they would otherwise not be able to acquire. It also allowed judges to seize the profits of wildlife crimes and administer harsher punishments. However, the changes have so far proven useless. Whitford further added that law enforcement officers claim there is no evidence proof of organized crime inspite of the extremely large seizures. In 2020 and 2021, more than 676 tonnes of endangered species estimated to be worth more than HK$221 million were seized by customs. Confiscations included 26 tonnes of smuggled dried shark fins in April and May 2020 and 4.12 tonnes of red sandalwood in January 2022. In July, authorities seized a shipment of about sixty pieces of hippopotamus ivory and approximately 3,300 live tortoises, among other things, worth HK$2 million. According to Dr. Astrid Andersson, a wildlife forensics expert from University of Hong Kong, for a relatively small space, the city confiscated huge volumes of endangered animals and their body parts.

Amanda Whitford

 The ADM Capital Foundation said it discovered that authorities had failed to use their new jurisdictions in a meeting with the Customs and Excise Department in February. Whitford, on the other hand, indicated that the situation was brought to her a month later during a meeting of the government's interdepartmental task force on wildlife crime. This task force is comprised of customs, the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD), Environment Bureau, and the police. When called for comment, customs and the AFCD cut short of revealing whether the ordinance had ever been enforced in its wildlife smuggling cases, while the police refused to comment. A closer investigation of the ordinance disclosed that only customs or the police have the authority enforce it, not the AFCD. It is known that after customs make confiscations at the borders, the case is given within a day or two to the AFCD, which handles wildlife. This leaves the customs and police unable to investigate the cases.

Staff at a pet shop in Prince Edward.

I very much feel that there should be a strong collaboration between the customs, police, and the AFCD in the battle to curb the illegal wildlife trade in Hong Kong. With the amendment of the Organized and Serious Crime Ordinance in 2021, it looked like there was going to be a game changer but it seems that neither the customs nor the police are doing their part in investigating the cases involving seizures of endangered species in Hong Kong. Despite having the authority to enforce the ordinance, the customs and the police simply hand over the case to the AFCD after confiscating such illegal contraband. This is simply not the way to combat the illegal wildlife trade. Members of customs, police, and AFCD should investigate such cases together in order to identify key figures in wildlife smuggling rings and come up with solutions in prosecuting such figures. Head of protection of endangered species at WWF-Hong Kong Brian Gonzales proposed the task force should establish specially designed units committed to particular cases. He further added that this would allow the task to delve into the money trails through the ordinance so that the government of Hong Kong could make use of its anti-money laundering jurisdictions against wildlife crimes. Dr. Andersson stated that she and other scientists are developing and providing tools for the police such as a rapid test that verifies the species of shark fins within a few hours. However, she also argued that boosting enforcement is essential. I strongly think that suggestions from these two people should be taken into consideration in improvising Hong Kong's battle against the illegal wildlife trade. It is highly essential that a joint collaboration between the authorities and wildlife and conservation experts is needed.