NGOs to create database on poaching, illegal trade

Wildlife NGOs from 12 range-countries have joined hands with investigative bodies like Interpol and Environmental Investigation Agency to create a comprehensive database on poaching and illegal trade of Snow Leopards that would help them take on the poachers of these felines.

Snow Leopard is a native of the snowy high mountains of central and south Asia and has been listed as endangered on the IUCN red list of threatened species since 2003. Poaching for their exquisite fur and highly valued bones has been a major threat to snow leopards across their range. 

“Our investigators have recorded at least 106 snow leopard skins, along with claws, bones and teeth for sale in markets in Asia, indicating that demand is still a major factor in driving poaching”, said Debbie Banks from the EIA.

However, currently, there is little information to prioritise which regions have relatively higher rates of poaching and trafficking than others. Charu Mishra, Snow Leopard Trust's Director of Science and Conservation, agreed:  “Robust and quantitative information on snow leopard crime is largely missing, information is scattered, and data are often not accessible to enforcement agencies in organised, usable formats.”

Now in partnership with the US Fish and Wildlife Service, a US agency dedicated to the management of fish, wildlife, and natural habitats, the NGOs in the sector have launched the collaborative initiative that will assist the Global Snow Leopard and Ecosystem Protection Program (GSLEP) - a conservation alliance of all 12 range country Governments - to identify trends and target hotspots in the fight to reduce snow leopard-based crimes.

Mishra added: “Along with other partner organisations, we will be supporting GSLEP through collaborations, compile vital crime data, and share it with relevant agencies.”

“Such instruments play a critical role in exposing the extent of poaching and wildlife trade.

They can reveal the level of sophistication and organisation reached by wildlife criminals, and change the perception and knowledge of wildlife crime”, explained Belinda Wright of the Wildlife Protection Society of India, who was instrumental in developing that country’s Database on Tiger Poaching.

“Once the Database has been developed”, pointed out Koustubh Sharma, International Coordinator for the GSLEP Program, “we will be able to better pinpoint snow leopard crime hotspots and changing trends.”

Alfredo Phoenix, INTERPOL global wildlife enforcement coordinator, said “the database will be an important step forward in filling the current information gap thereby supporting Governments and law enforcement agencies to exchange information...”

A report published by the TRAFFIC estimates that 221-450 snow leopards may have been poached annually since 2008 - at least 4 per week, and perhaps as many as one each day.

The cases can be much more as wildlife crime typically has very low rates of detection.

In India their number varies 200 to 600, being restricted to Jammu and Kashmir, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh.  Snow Leopard are considered an indicator species that has a bearing on the health and functioning of the high-altitude ecosystems.