Wildlife Trade on Rise

There has been a rapid rise in illegal wildlife trade. From January to June 2008, WCN intelligence led to six different seizures of wildlife products. More than 14 people were arrested by the police and national park authorities in connection with the trade.Some have been sentenced, others are still in custody, awaiting sentences.



On February 25, WCN field intelligence came across two Tibetans who could identify a rhino horn by just touching it. Such methods of detection does not come from few handling of the rhino horn, rather it is an experience gained from years of handling rhino horn. This confirms that trade in rhino horn still exists amongst Tibetan traders. According to our intelligence report rhino horns are pulverized into a powder before being sent to China. This could be one of the reasons that WCN has been unable to seize rhino horns in Kathmandu valley.



On March 1, 2008 at Tatopani customs, WCN supported Nepal Police in arresting a Chinese trader with 7 sacks of orchids being taken to Tibet, China. The trader and the seized goods were forwarded to Chautara District Forest Office for further investigation. On March 13, 2008 a local business man was arrested by Crime Division of Hanuman Dhoka at Chapagaun with a sloth bear skin - information WCN. Previously trades in skins were limited to leopard, tigers and otters. Today the demand is any skin. On April 7, 2008, a rhino horn along with 3 people was caught in Butwal through WCN intelligence. The rhino horn has been sent to the forensic lab in Kathmandu. On June 12, 2008 two leopard skins along with a professional trader were caught by police in coordination with WCN.



Another team of WCN was negotiating with poachers and traders at district level regarding illegal wildlife products. The deal would take place near the main highway where most of the people get down to stretch their legs and grab a bite. The local police were informed and this sting operation of June 13, 2008 led to the arrest of three persons with two leopard skin, one Himalayan Palm Civet and one clouded leopard skin. The Clouded leopard is an endangered species and listed in schedule 1 of Nepal’s protected list of mammals.



There is a new trend in the illegal wildlife trade that was not seen in the last eight months. Due to new demands from the oriental market, the skins that have been seized contain teeth and skull indicating that these type of skins are preferred. The skins are also better tanned.


Besides these wildlife crime cases, the recent Ian Baker case opened a Pandora box. Baker an eminent writer for New York times decorated his flat by more than 200 years old wooden statues, tiger and leopard skins. Baker attitude towards Nepal and its policies could be seen with trophies and products that were lying in his living room.



To know more detail on people who had been staying overlong in Nepal, WCN did a small investigation and found few foreigners keeping wildlife in their houses. As WCN collect information, it will pass them to the enforcement agencies to take proper and legal action so that Nepal’s wildlife are protected outside protected areas and national forests of Nepal.


            
            Seized Elephant hair                                                                               Tiger and leopard skins