Nature and Life - Episode 207 (Illegal Wildlife Trading)

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• published: 18 Jan 2016
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A wide variety of wildlife is found all over the world. Besides keeping environmental balance they are the sources of natural beauty also. So wildlife is important in terms of both aesthetic beauty and luxury. Besides, superstitions regarding medicine made from wildlife and communal faiths have been prevailing throughout the world since ancient time. So, a large business on wildlife has been established, majority of which is illegal. The trade is increasing day by day and the helpless wildlife is being threatened and so is the overall ecosystem. The beauty of wildlife attracts all. As a result, a luxurious demand has been created for the wildlife and variety of products made from their body parts. The business is spreading along with the public demand. This includes various birds, turtles, snakes, meat and skins of deer, skins of tigers and monitors, tusks of elephants and luxury items made from their body parts. The live wildlife and items made from their body parts are being exported from one country to another country. Some dishonest traders are taking the chance and continuing their illegal wildlife trading. This business is running depending on capturing wildlife from the nature. Varieties of markets for wildlife trading have been established in different areas along with Dhaka. Various species of wildlife are seen in those markets. Majority of these wildlife are birds. Hill Myna, Parrots, Swamphen, Munias, Doves etc. are sold in those markets freely. These birds caught illegally from different areas of the country are coming very frequently. The demand for the Hill Myna as a talking bird is very high, so they are critically endangered. Along with this, parrots are also being sold for their beauty. The trade of migratory birds increases in the winter. These variegated waterbirds are being hunted by human. Beside the birds other wildlife are also being sold in different markets. Due to our ignorance, some people are doing their business of drugs made from the wildlife. Still now business of fortune telling by parrots is seen beside the roads. The livelihoods of the Gypsy communities mostly depend on showing snake play. They are involved in this profession for many years. They are capturing snakes from nature illegally for such profession. So the number of snakes is reducing in the nature. Turtles are traded illegally in our country for having demand for eggs and meat. Turtles are being sold openly in different places including Dhaka. Among these most of the turtles are from fresh water. These are being sold illegally after collecting from nature. As a result, most of the turtle species are now endangered in our country. Some species are even at the verge of extinction now. Beside the turtles numerous deer are being hunted from the forests. Most of them are Spotted Deer. Tokay Gecko is also becoming endangered due to superstition. Our national animal, the Bengal Tiger is also being hunted. Almost all these wildlife are being collected from nature for illegal trade. The number of wildlife is decreasing in nature day by day due to hunting like this. So other depending animals are being harmed and the overall ecosystem is becoming unbalanced. The illegal wildlife trading has become massive throughout the world including Bangladesh. Bangladesh is being used as a route of wildlife trafficking due to its geographic position. From the neighboring countries wildlife is being smuggled to other countries via Bangladesh. Along with this, our wildlife are also being smuggled. For the efforts of our security forces some of the wildlife are being saved during trafficking. Smugglers are being punished under the Bangladesh Wildlife Preservation Act. But still it is becoming impossible to reduce the illegal wildlife trading. Illegal wildlife trading has become a global problem now. Overcoming the problem will entail building public awareness as well as application of law. It is more enjoyable to see the wildlife in the nature than in the cages. Wildlife are the inseparable part of the nature and if they are conserved the balance of the nature will be ensured. Our future will be safe and better.