Stop Wildlife Imports to India Until Proper Checks in Place

Why in News ?

• A CITES verification mission (Sept 2025) has recommended that India halt imports of wild animals — especially criticallyendangered species such as gorillas, orangutans, chimpanzees, and snow leopards — until stronger verification, control, and traceability mechanisms are in place.
• The report found gaps in India’s due diligence and verification of animal origin, as several wild species imported as “captive bred” raised concerns about illegal wildlife trade.

Relevance :

GS Paper III (Environment & Biodiversity):

• CITES Convention — structure, appendices, and India’s obligations.
• Wildlife trafficking, traceability, and captive-breeding loopholes.
• Role of MoEFCC, WCCB, and compliance mechanisms.
• Ethical and legal aspects of animal trade.

GS Paper II (Governance & International Relations):

• India’s global environmental diplomacy and treaty compliance.
• Coordination between international and domestic wildlife laws.

Basic Facts

• CITES: Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (1973); India a party since 1976.
• Objective: Ensure that international trade in wild animals and plants does not threaten their survival.
• Appendix I: Species threatened with extinction — trade only under exceptional circumstances.
• Appendix II: Species not necessarily threatened but could become so if trade is not regulated.
• Indian Authority: Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB), Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC).

Key Findings of the CITES Verification Mission

• Mission Period: September 15–20, 2025
• Sites Inspected:
  • Vantara’s Greens Zoological Rescue and Rehabilitation Kingdom (GZRRK), Gujarat
  • Radha Krishna Temple Elephant Welfare Trust (RKT EWT), Jamnagar
• Findings:
  • India imported a range of critically endangered species reportedly under “captive bred” status.
  • 41,839 animals at GZRRK and 594 at RKT EWT—claimed to be under legal acquisition.
  • CITES Secretariat noted irregularities in import documentation, raising doubt over the legality of the source.
  • Invoices from exporters (e.g., Czech Republic, Germany) contradicted India’s claims about animals’ captive-bred status.

Specific Red Flags

• GZRRK imported two snow leopards (Appendix I species) from Togo with claimed zoo-trade code (Z). Germany and CITES Secretariat found inconsistencies.
• India imported elephants from Myanmar and lions from Burkina Faso, but documentation lacked traceable origin data.
• CITES report: Some animals listed as “bred in captivity” were actually wild-caught and reclassified before export — violating Article IV of CITES.
• Highlighted misuse of purpose codes (T – trade, Z – zoo) and source codes (C – captive-bred, W – wild) in documentation.

Core Concerns

1. Traceability Failure: Lack of verification on whether imported animals were genuinely captive-bred.
2. Regulatory Gaps: India’s import permits sometimes issued without CITES Secretariat cross-verification.
3. Potential Illegal Trade Route:
   1. Exported from wild-capture countries (Togo, Myanmar)
   2. Reclassified via intermediate nations (e.g., Germany, Czech Republic)
   3. Imported into India as captive-bred zoo specimens.
4. Due Diligence Deficit: CITES noted India must verify “source, purpose, and transaction authenticity” before granting permits.

Recommendations by CITES

• Suspend imports of wild animals declared as “captive-bred” until India:
  • Strengthens verification and control mechanisms.
  • Ensures traceable documentation of origin and breeding.
  • Submits compliance report to CITES Secretariat.
• Mandate proof of legal acquisition from exporters.
• Reassess import permits granted between 2020–2025.

India’s Position

• India stated that no wild specimens were imported and all animals met CITES norms.
• Claimed animals were rescued or zoo-bound, not for commercial trade.
• MoEFCC assured strict adherence to CITES guidelines and readiness to enhance traceability systems.

Global Context

• Similar controversies have arisen in Thailand, Myanmar, and African states regarding reclassification of wild-caught animals as “captive-bred”.
• Reflects a global loophole in wildlife trade regulation, often exploited by private zoos and exotic pet traders.

Environmental & Ethical Implications

• Encourages illegal poaching in source countries.
• Threatens biodiversity conservation goals under SDG-15 (Life on Land).
• Undermines India’s global image as a wildlife conservation leader.
• Violates Article 51A(g) of the Indian Constitution — duty to protect environment and wildlife.

Way Forward 

• Establish National CITES Verification Authority for real-time tracking of imports.
• Implement DNA profiling and microchipping for imported species.
• Enforce import moratorium on high-risk species until compliance verified.
• Increase bilateral coordination with exporting nations and CITES Secretariat.
• Integrate digital permit traceability (blockchain-based) for transparency.

---