Smuggling of animals is an omnipresent problem in our world. And with climate change and warming temperatures that already threaten biodiversity, the illegal trade in animals increases the threat.
What happens?
As the Associated Press reported, customs officers in Nigeria announced in August that they had seized more than 1,600 parrots and canaries that were transported from Lagos to Kuwait without the correct permits.
Nigeria is a signer of the Treaty on international trade in endangered species of wild fauna and flora, better known as quotes.
Nevertheless, the country is known as a hub for the illegal trade of species. Mark ofua, the spokesperson for West -Africa for the natural science Nild -Africa, told the Associated Press that is due to loose boundaries, corruption and lax enforcement of existing laws.
But it's large companies. Ofua noted that the illegal trade of animals is valued at $ 8 billion to $ 10 billion a year.
With that kind of income it is no surprise to hear that this is not an isolated incident.
In another scandalous example, customs officials in Bangkok arrested a group that tried to smuggle 87 exotic animals from the country. Elsewhere in Nigeria, customs officials found a 40-foot shipping container filled with donkeys of genitals.
Why is stopping illegal smuggling of animals important?
For many reasons, smuggling of animals is extremely dangerous. First and foremost it endangers the animals and can run the risk of injury, illness or even death. Because many of the animals that are traded illegally are already threatened, the threat is even greater.
Smuggles indigenous populations by removing beings that are valuable for the balance of their local ecosystems.
In the meantime, introducing a foreign species into an unprepared population can lead to poor results. If an invasive species settles in a local area, it can threaten biodiversity and disrupt the food chain, which may affect human food supply.
What is being done about smuggling animals?
There are many ways to combat this constant problem. Taking local action can help to adopt laws and regulations that support conservation efforts and those who break the law.
It is essential to choose government officials who acknowledge that this is an important problem. Subsequently, it is important to ensure that the authorities have the resources and thus dutifully enforce these laws.
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