Wildlife Trafficking in the Thai-Indian Air Route: A Growing Concern

Indian customs officials seized dozens of snakes and turtles, including a venomous species with limited distribution.

The Thailand-India air route is a key transport artery for exotic pets, with many of those captured being alive.

Over 7,000 animals, dead and alive, have been seized in the last 3.5 years, indicating a massive scale of the problem.

More than a third of the wildlife seized is protected by international regulations.

The reptiles among the seized animals are just one example of the diversity of wildlife being trafficked along this route.

According to Traffic, a group that monitors wildlife trafficking, the scale and frequency of seizures suggest a major organized network.

The Indian government has issued statements expressing concerns about wildlife trafficking, while the UK government has pledged support to the effort.

The Thai government has promised to intensify efforts to tackle wildlife trafficking and has called for increased international cooperation.

Thailand is often regarded as a major transit hub for wildlife smugglers, who sell endangered animals on the black market in China, Vietnam, and Taiwan.

Thousands of animals are lost to the wild annually, further exacerbating the issue, and the data suggests over 7,000 animals have been seized along the Thailand-India air route in the last 3.