The Express Tribune looks at the illegal trade of endangered species in several cities.
Hunting pangolins as easy as 1,2,3
Hunting down pangolins is terribly easy. All the poachers have to do is send trained sniffer dogs to track them. Once they sense a predator approaching, the pangolin curls up into a ball to present its harder outside shell to the dogs. By this time, the poachers walk up to the animal, pick it up and put it in a sack.
For those who cannot afford sniffer dogs, the easier way is to use pungent-smelling pills that force the pangolins to come out of their holes. The bags that cover the holes simply trap the pangolins.
Read the full story here.
Sindh gives poachers turtles, scorpions
In Sindh, the illegal trade of endangered species — turtles, black scorpions and leopard geckos to name a few — is as common as the trade of goats, sheep and buffaloes.
Unfortunately, the provincial government only acknowledges turtle smuggling and denies that any other animal is being smuggled, despite reports that various, including certain frogs, are being traded at ‘good prices’.
Read the full story here.
Pangolin trade gives a better high than drugs
The trade of pangolins is so lucrative in Punjab that people, who were previously involved in human and drugs trafficking, have switched over. The profits are just as high, if not higher, and chances of detection and prosecution are next to none. In worse case scenarios, those caught are charged with fines that they pay without much fuss considering the profit margins involved.
Read the full story here.
K-P fails to take steps to control illegal trade
The Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) wildlife department has failed to take steps to control the illegal trade of birds and other animals across the province.
Read the full story here.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 10th, 2014.
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How come focus shifted from endangered pak human species to animals