Last March, Spanish authorities busted a widespread wildlife trafficking ring, as reported by Murcia Today, with 17 endangered species included in the haul.
What's happening?
The Guardia Civil, in collaboration with Málaga's Environmental Prosecutor's Office, recovered a flamingo, a marmoset monkey, and other protected species being smuggled by 26 people in Málaga.
The smugglers had been selling animals online and using "banned equipment such as nets and glue" to trap wild animals.
Live animals weren't all that authorities found. The smugglers, several of whom had an existing criminal record, also had tortoise shells, zebra skins, and caracal fur in their possession.
At the time of writing, the animals' fate post-investigation is unknown. Unfortunately, animals "rescued" from trafficking are often released into unsuitable environments or are smuggled again.
Why does wildlife trafficking matter?
Wildlife trafficking has both blatant ethical issues and long-term environmental consequences.
Stay hydrated and refreshed this holiday season — without any sugar or harmful additives Nuun’s zero-sugar hydration tablets are a perfect, guilt-free way to enhance your water throughout the day. You’ll get five essential electrolytes for everyday hydration — with zero grams of sugar. Plus, Nuun tablets are certified vegan and gluten-free, and they’re the perfect size to keep in your car, purse, or anywhere you'll want a healthy, restorative drink. Learn more → |
Firstly, the recovered animals are almost always found in terrible conditions. In Indonesia, for instance, thousands of songbirds were found packed tightly into boxes. Over 500 of them died in transit.
If wildlife trafficking continues, even more animals — and humans — could die as a result. When non-native animals are introduced to new ecosystems, they can quickly become invasive, harming biodiversity.
This can cost governments billions of dollars to rectify and, depending on the species, spread diseases among humans. It can also lead to native species' extinction, as they compete with invasive ones for resources.
What's being done about it?
Guardia Civil's Nature Protection Service continues to bust wildlife trafficking operations both within and outside of Spain. However, the illicit wildlife trade industry is still worth millions. As long as people continue to glorify ownership of "exotic" species, it will continue.
There's a reason dermatologists personally use this daily moisturizing sunscreen more than any other brand Dermatologists see and understand skin at a much deeper level than the rest of us, and they know that the perfect SPF both protects and corrects your skin. That's why they trust, recommend, and personally use EltaMD more than any other brand. EltaMD's clinically tested formulas are designed with dermatologists to meet the needs of any skin type or condition. They're also designed for consistent daily wear to build long-term resilience with a moisturizing, lightweight, non-comedogenic texture — plus hyaluronic acid to help reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Learn more → |
|
Do you think America has a plastic waste problem? Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. |
Definitely 👍 If you want to do your part to fight wildlife trafficking and boost biodiversity, try donating to climate causes or planting a native lawn.
Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Cool Picks
