He is about to end up run over, his mother saves him
Seahorses, pangolin flakes, tiger bones and bear bile. There were 6012 seizures of illegal wild fauna and flora products in Europe, compared to 5644 the previous year (+ 7%).
The data are reported in the new dossier drawn up by TRAFFIC (joint program of WWF and IUCN that monitors legal and illegal trade in wild species) for the European Commission and which refer to 2018, including only the species of flora and fauna strictly protected by the CITES, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (also known as the Washington Convention) which strictly regulates the trade of thousands of species that could disappear in the face of an unsustainable levy.
Over 1000 seizures involved medicinal products derived from plants or animals, for a total of over 7.000 kilograms and more than 300.000 units seized. Equally worrying numbers concern reptiles, both live specimens and skins and derivatives, with over 1000 seizures and almost 7000 units. Corals and their illegal trade follow with 650 seizures and over 4000 samples seized equal to over 1000 kilograms.
To these are added almost 500 seizures of live birds (over 1.000 specimens, in particular parrots), 400 seizures of ivory (almost 3.000 samples per 145 kg of weight, all in the UK) and over 400 seizures of mammals (almost 2.000 samples of skins , trophies, parts and derivatives, including skins of wolves, tigers and bears) and more than 3.000 protected plants (mainly cacti).
While most of the seizures (about 50%) concerned inflows to the EU, over 500 stopped illegal intra-EU trafficking and over 400 concerned goods in transit or exports from the EU to other countries (primarily China). As many as 37% of the seizures were carried out at airports.
An estimate of the minimum economic value (based on less than 10% of seizures) exceeds 2,3 million euros, an increase compared to the 1,8 million euros estimated in 2017, but therefore suggesting a much higher total value .
Globally, the UN Environmental Program (UNEP) estimates that the total value of illegal wildlife trafficking is between $ 7 and $ 23 billion a year.
Among the main countries of origin of products seized in the EU we find Thailand (over 600 seizures), followed by China (over 400) and Indonesia (almost 200).
"In light of the pandemic in progress, born precisely as a result of illegal or uncontrolled trafficking of wildlife to Chinese markets, there is certainly no need to rest assured ...", concludes the WWF.
To consult the Traffic dossier click here
Fonte: Trafic/WWF
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