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Title: Illegal sale of wild birds in India 印度的非法野鳥買賣 Post by 深藍 Owen on Dec 21st, 2004, 10:12am Illegal sale of wild birds flourishes Available: a hilly myna for Rs 3000, an owl for Rs 15,000, Parakeets and water birds for around Rs 500 each. Related Topics Environment As government tightens the noose, wild bird poachers are fast shifting their focus from smuggling to domestic markets in the garb of religion and fashion, wildlife experts say. From Jama Masjid in Delhi to Mehboob Chowk in Hyderabad, Old Moor Market in Chennai and Bensen Town in Bangalore, wild bird trade continues to flourish, the ban on their capturing and trade notwithstanding, says Abrar Ahmed, a wildlife expert. ``More than 300 species of wild birds are caught and traded with impunity. Over lakh birds are killed for their meat, besides a large number used for taxidermy, black magic, religious and medicinal purposes,'' says Abrar Ahmed, a wildlife expert and former Principal Investigator, TRAFFIC (India). Also, it is considered a status symbol to keep an exotic or rare bird as pet. They come in the range of Rs 50-60,000, says Ahmed. Delhi Police recently unearthed a wildlife smuggling racket operating in the capital, arresting two persons and rescuing three rare Indian Great Himalayan Horned Owls. Each bird would have fetched a handsome Rs 25,000 to Rs 30,000 in the by-lane wildlife market in the city, police said. But Ahmed says this is just the tip of an iceberg. The ban is ineffective as illegal bird trade flourishes in almost all cities, towns and rural hamlets of the country. Religion also plays a significant role in promoting wild bird trade. ``Many Jains, Buddhists and Hindus believe that releasing birds that are held in captivity can purify the soul and relieve personal sins,'' says Ahmed. On auspicious days, they go and buy these birds from traders and release them. ``This has led to the development of a full-fledged business around religious customs. Species of wild birds that are unsuitable for food are captured and brought near these holy places for the devout to purchase and re-release,'' he says. But since they are captive birds, a large number die when released. Others are captured again and brought back into business by the traders, explains Bikram Grewal, a researcher and author of several books on birds. Ahmed conducted a study on the wild bird trade in India and found that some important protected species like the horned owl were hunted for black magic rituals and sorcery. A number of tribes use owls to purify 'amulets'. Wild birds in large numbers are also caught every year and smuggled to West Asian countries for falconry, says Ahmed noting nearly 30 - 40,000 birds are illegally exported from India every year. Bird meat trade is also very popular and over one lakh birds are killed in India for their meat every year, he says. However, exact figures are not available due to the secretive nature of the practice. But it is well-known that species ranging from pelican to ducks and waders are caught for consumption, says Ahmed. ``It is not that the smuggling and exports of rare species has totally stopped. It continues due to several loopholes in the law,'' says Grewal. ``While the law does not allow trade in Indian species, it allows `exotic' species to be breeded and then exported. Under the garb of this provision, traders export Indian wild birds as most inspectors at airports and other places are not experts,'' says Grewal. ``Added to it is the huge loss during international transit. For every bird that is illegally exported, two die en route,'' he says. Ahmed suggests that the government should set up a bird trade working group under the SAARC countries and a single organisation should monitor the illegal export in the country. There is also need to train custom inspectors and policeman on duty at airports and railway stations to keep a check on the traders. Nearly 5000 Chirimars are involved in this trade. They have no dearth of knowledge and they can be rehabilitated by the government and involved in cracking the smuggling of wild birds, he says. (c) 2004 Kasturi & Sons Ltd The Hindu |
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