Turkish officials stopped a smuggling attempt in its tracks. Inside a truck, almost 100 live birds were discovered at a border crossing.

What happened?

Customs officers searched the vehicle entering Turkey at Gurbulak, along the Turkey-Iran border, and grew suspicious after noticing "irregularities," according to Türkiye Today.

Further inspection of the truck revealed 85 pigeons stowed inside. The birds were found in poor condition, but all were rescued from the illegal operation and sent to a local facility for recovery. 

Why is this discovery concerning?

While no details were released about the suspects or their intended destination, the intention is fairly clear: wildlife trafficking.

Unfortunately, animal smuggling is not unusual. It's one of the world's largest illicit trades, "generat[ing] over $20 billion annually," according to the World Wildlife Fund.

Wildlife trafficking targets a wide variety of animals, from pangolins and parrots to eels and snakes. Whether it's the luxury and status of owning a wild animal itself or an animal byproduct, like ivory or scales, wildlife trafficking can result in the injury, abuse, or death of animals.

Large-scale or long-term smuggling can have significant impacts on the environment too. Removing animals from their habitats and introducing them to others can disrupt fragile predator-prey balances, creating ripple effects that threaten various animal and plant life.

What's being done to prevent wildlife trafficking?

Thorough customs inspections at entry points can interrupt active smuggling attempts, but preventative measures can stop attempts from happening in the first place.

Eliminating the financial incentive — with practices like safely dehorning rhinos, removing valuable ivory — can protect the animals from both poaching and trafficking. Implementing stricter laws and consequences, like hefty fees, can also deter criminals from these pursuits. 

Pro-environment job creation may offer the best path forward, though, by offering a win-win: deterring unfavorable activities and staffing up local conservation efforts.

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