Lions are beloved by millions of people worldwide for their majestic manes and booming roars. With their frequent appearances in art, mythology, and film, lions are a big draw for safari bookings; however, they are also of great interest to big-game hunters and poachers, and they are often smuggled as cubs.
What's happening?
A 35-day-old male African cub was brought to a veterinarian in Istanbul and was subsequently seized by Turkish authorities during an inspection, as reported by Turkiye Today. The cub is now under state protection, and administrative fines have been issued to two individuals.
No further details were released on how the cub was smuggled into the country, except that it was done illegally, as the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry mentioned.
Why is smuggling endangered species concerning?
Poaching is often carried out in highly biodiverse areas that are also economically vulnerable, according to the World Wildlife Fund. These illegal traders strip these areas of natural beauty, decimate already struggling populations of endangered species, and take babies away from their parents for the sake of decor, medicine, jewelry, and exotic cuisine.
Every animal smuggled affects the delicate ecosystems by reducing populations of needed wildlife and plants, affecting the food chain at all levels. It allows invasive species to thrive without native species to keep them in check, which leads to habitat loss and other environmental degradation.
What's being done about smuggling endangered species?
The news of the seizure of the lion cub is part of the country's ongoing efforts to fight the illegal wildlife trade. The ministry has recently upped its inspections around pet shops, vet clinics, and rumored trafficking routes to stop the importing of illegal exotic animals. Turkish authorities are also planning to continue inspections in Istanbul and other major cities.
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Other authorities around the world are also cracking down on smugglers. An exotic bird shipment was stopped in Bali; 1,000 turtles were seized in Bangladesh; and authorities identified that smugglers were using boat routes in Malaysia, which they have since stopped.
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