Officials in Pune, India, recently intercepted the smuggling and illegal sale of over 400 kilograms (882 pounds) of peacock feathers at the Bohri Ali market. 

What's happening?

The 11 individuals responsible for carrying out the smuggling operation were arrested, and a further interrogation led officials to discover an even larger stockpile of peacock feathers elsewhere in the city, according to the Hindustan Times. 

Collecting peacock parts is strictly prohibited under the nation's Wildlife Protection Act, even if the peacocks themselves suffered no cruelty or lasting harm. As a result, Pune's various forest conservation officers are treating the offense seriously, especially considering that the total feather haul made for one of the largest recent seizures in the country.

"Even if no cruelty is evident, the very possession of peacock feathers in this quantity constitutes a serious offense," one senior official reported to the Times. "The peacock is India's national bird, and it is protected."

Why is illegal feather trade concerning?

According to the International Fund for Animal Welfare, illegal wildlife trade poses the second-largest threat to biodiversity worldwide, after habitat loss. Considering that a single peacock sheds only about 150 to 200 feathers each year by natural means, smugglers go to extremes in order to gather their hauls, putting the species at risk.

Animal trading and trafficking are also a slippery slope at an international or interregional level, where bringing wildlife across official or unofficial borders can introduce invasive species into a new environment. In addition to causing ecological damage by outcompeting native species for essential land and resources, invasive species can incur an immense economic burden — to the tune of hundreds of billions of dollars each year.

What's being done about wildlife smuggling?

At a case-by-case level, keeping regulations strong and intercepting trafficking acts can pave the way for any trapped animals to undergo rehabilitation while discouraging individuals from similar behavior. The 11 men responsible for the Pune peacock feather case, for instance, are still in forest custody as of early July.

In the long term, however, prevention is the best way forward. Conservation groups around the world are working to tighten protections for species at risk of smuggling, especially those that are already threatened or endangered. 

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