Illegal Wildlife Trade Surges In India, Threatening Biodiversity & National Heritage
Bhubaneswar: “Driven by rampant greed for money and the growing demand for wildlife parts (limbs) in Western countries, illegal poaching of wild animals in India is escalating with each passing day. If strict laws are not enacted to stop this, many wild animals will soon disappear from India's forests.”
Odisha Forest Minister Ganesh Ram Singhkhuntia on March 18, 2025, informed the State Assembly that 14 tigers, including two Royal Bengal tigers, had been killed by poachers in Odisha's forests over the past three years. He also revealed that authorities had seized six Royal Bengal tiger skins and 63 leopard skins during this period, underscoring the alarming scale of wildlife crime in the state.
Biodiversity at risk
Illegal wildlife trade endangers India’s biodiversity, causing ecological disruption, introducing invasive species, and increasing the risk of zoonotic diseases. Organised criminal networks exploit wildlife populations, driving them toward extinction. In India, the trade impacts food security, ecological balance, and the livelihoods of rural communities.
Notable cases include the poaching of tigers and rhinos, prized for their skins, bones, and horns, and the trafficking of star tortoises and other exotic species. Many of these items are smuggled through cross-border routes via Nepal and increasingly through Myanmar.
Enforcement measures: Innovation and intervention
Sniffer Dogs: India’s “Super Sniffers”
India has deployed specially trained sniffer dogs, known as “super sniffers,” leading to nearly 500 wildlife seizures across 20 states. The Railway Protection Force (RPF) has recently introduced these dogs in its Northern and Eastern zones to detect smuggled wildlife on train routes.
Forensic tools in the field
Forensic field kits distributed by TRAFFIC India enhance the capacity of forest departments to collect and analyse evidence at poaching sites. In 2017, 90 such kits were provided to state departments, improving investigation and prosecution rates.
Species spotlight, Rhinos and the vulnerable small fauna:
Rhinos continue to be heavily targeted for their horns. Sophisticated poaching methods now include poison, crossbows, and high-powered firearms. Fewer than 2,500 Indian rhinos remain today, primarily in India and Nepal.
Smaller species face equal peril.
Star tortoises, culturally prized, can fetch up to $500 each on the black market. Sea cucumbers, molluscs, seahorses, and corals are being illegally harvested from Indian waters for export, threatening marine biodiversity.
The way forward
India’s Wildlife (Protection) Act of 1972 provides a robust legal framework, but gaps in enforcement, monitoring, and conviction continue to hinder its effectiveness.
Recommendations for action:
Stricter enforcement of existing laws. Adoption of AI for real-time monitoring and predictive policing in forested areas. Stronger inter-agency and international cooperation. Increased awareness and community engagement to protect local ecosystems.
Conclusion: A global imperative
Safeguarding India’s wildlife is not just a matter of national heritage, it is a global ecological necessity. Curbing the illegal wildlife trade demands immediate, sustained, and coordinated efforts. Only through decisive action can we preserve the country’s irreplaceable biodiversity and ensure a sustainable future for both nature and humanity.
news