A 40-year-old woman was arrested at Bandaranaike International Airport in Sri Lanka for attempting to smuggle six live exotic snakes concealed in her checked luggage.
What happened?
As the Daily Mirror reported, the Sri Lankan woman was attempting to smuggle a speckled kingsnake, a yellow anaconda, three Honduran milk snakes, and a ball python from Bangkok via Chennai to Sri Lanka. The snakes were each inside an empty plastic beverage bottle.
The Department of Wildlife Conservation helped the arresting authorities in identifying and safely handling the snakes, and the animals were safely seized without harm to them or the handlers.
Wildlife trafficking is a multibillion-dollar trade targeting biodiverse countries. People illegally move animals in order to sell them. They are sometimes alive, as in the case with the attempt to smuggle the snakes in Sri Lanka, and other times they are dead or just reduced to animal parts.
This seizure brought attention to the importance of agencies working together to combat illegal wildlife trafficking.
Why is stopping illegal animal trafficking important?
Animal smuggling threatens biodiversity and disrupts the balance of ecosystems, thwarting conservation efforts.
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Illegal animal trafficking can lead to the extinction of vulnerable species that are protected in order to help maintain ecological balance and the overall health of the planet.
When animals are successfully transferred from their native environment to a new location, they can become invasive species that cause problems to plants and animals in the ecosystem.
They often outcompete native plants and animals for resources. If they reproduce quickly, they can rapidly take over a habitat. Invasive species can lead to a decline in native species, which can ultimately result in extinction, further disrupting the balance of the local environment.
Invasive species transported through animal smuggling can also have a negative effect on the local economy. They can destroy crops, damage infrastructure, and pose a threat to livestock and fish.
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Majorly 😥 When animals are transported, they can also transmit diseases that can be a risk to human health.
What's being done about wildlife trafficking?
Through regulation and enforcement, local authorities and wildlife organizations can collaborate to combat animal smuggling crimes, thereby protecting the planet's biodiversity.
Promoting awareness can help support the efforts.
Regarding the snake smuggling incident, the article explained that "Sri Lanka Customs reaffirmed its commitment to protecting biodiversity and preventing the country from being used as a hub for transnational wildlife trafficking."
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