Wildlife traffickers in Myanmar were caught trying to smuggle endangered red pandas out of the country.
What's happening?
According to The Irrawaddy, the red pandas were seized in Indaw Township near the Kachin-Sagaing border in Myanmar on September 14.
The National Unity Government stated that the recovered items were handed over by the People's Defense Force to the Kachin Independence Organization's Forest and Environmental Protection Department. The KIO will release the animals back into the wild, but not all captured animals are so fortunate.
Since Myanmar's military coup in 2021, officials have seen a concerning increase in wildlife trafficking. The economic fallout and lack of security have led to more active illegal markets. The unstable systems make control and monitoring difficult, per Global Conservation.
In 2022, the World Wildlife Fund reported that, between 2020 and 2021, the nation's illegal wildlife trade increased by 74%. Specifically, the sale of mammal species skyrocketed by 241%.
Why are red pandas important?
Red pandas are classified as endangered on the IUCN Red List. According to the WWF, it's estimated that there are fewer than 10,000 red pandas in the wild. The dwindling population is attributed to deforestation, habitat degradation, disease, natural disasters, climate change, and poaching.
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As an umbrella species, they maintain the health of ecosystems. They eat bamboo, keeping the fast-growing plant from overtaking other species. They also support other threatened species in their biodiverse ecosystems, like endangered pangolins and vulnerable Asiatic black bears.
Biodiversity helps manage disease outbreaks, reduce extreme weather events, and protect food and water security. Weakened biodiversity creates unbalanced ecosystems, triggering a domino effect that threatens an increasing number of species.
Smuggling these animals also harms the ecosystems to which they're smuggled. As an invasive species, they can topple ecosystems by depleting resources and pushing out native plants and animals.
Additionally, smuggling multiple species together can create new and dangerous diseases. Doctor Eric Wikramanayake, WWF's Asia-Pacific Counter-Illegal Wildlife Trade Hub lead, explained, "The risk of new pathogen transmission from wild animals to humans — the most common source of new epidemics, and pandemics — is increased by the close contact conditions created by this trade."
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Definitely 👍 What's being done about animal trafficking in the Golden Triangle?
Conservation efforts to save red pandas include habitat restoration and creation, anti-poaching tactics, and public education.
The WWF, along with many other nonprofits and government entities, is trying to control the illegal animal market. However, inconsistent law enforcement in the Golden Triangle is a major hurdle.
Donating to the nonprofits that work to stop trafficking and educating yourself and others about the situation can help raise awareness and effect change.
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