Just How Large Is The Black Market Wildlife Trade?
In October, Russian police unexpectedly found $200,000 worth of illegal black caviar hidden in a coffin inside the trunk of a car. It's the latest high-profile seizure in the illegal wildlife trade and leaders around the world are working to combat this industry. In July 1975, a UN measure went into effect to stop illegal wildlife trade. The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) has since been signed by a total of 181 countries, according to its website. Still, it's a voluntary convention, with no oversight or means of enforcement. Cracking down on animal trade is more or less left to individual countries, and the task can be daunting. Here, we take a look specifically at how Russia is trying to address rampant caviar smuggling-a market that has nearly devastated the beluga sturgeon population.
While it may seem like an overwhelming problem, anyone can take small steps to help protect endangered animal species. Check out #StartWith1Thing to see how people all over the world are pitching in and be sure to watch Racing Extinction on the Discovery Channel. It premieres December 2 at 9PM Eastern.
"Janpai Ongsiriwittaya, from the World Wildlife Fund, said Thailand's junta had taken significant steps to tackle the illegal trade and that the destruction of the stockpile was 'more than just a symbolic act.'"
"Sophisticated, organized criminal syndicates involved in the illegal trade of animal body parts are wiping out wildlife, to the point that several subspecies have already gone extinct, according to a paper in the journal Oryx."
