Illegal hunting and trading of star tortoise and pangolin may lead to extinction of species. Poachers in Southeastern Asia have started to target rare species, as better-known creatures are protected by regulations.
Belinda Wright, Director of the Wildlife Protection Society of India, said, "The problem is that we were turning a blind eye to all lesser-known species and suddenly this very lucrative trade has been allowed to explode".
Pangolins can be found in Sri Lanka, Nepal, India and Pakistan. To protect themselves from threat, the creatures curl up into a ball, but the technique does not protect the animals from poachers. Pangolins are killed by hunters for meat and medicine.
Just three Pangolins a year were killed in India each year between 1990 and 2008. The number has been raised to over 320 animals a year during the years between 2009 and 2013.
The star tortoise is found in wild areas. Poachers are harvesting the creatures to keep them as house pets.
According to protection security, star tortoise seizures by port customs officials have increased dramatically. From 1990 to 1999, port customs officials have captured average of less than 800 star tortoises per year. From 2002 to 2013, they have seized 3,000 tortoises per year.
According to co-chairman of the International Union for Conservation of Nature, Jonathan Baillie, all species of pangolin are threatened with extinction. The species are being traded to Vietnam and China. He also said that illegal trading of these creatures should be stopped.
Increasing demand for lizard skin has already driven monitor lizards to extinction from wild areas of India. Tongues and livers of monitor lizards are used to make drug and skin is processed to make clothing.
Rare and lesser-known animals have become attractive to hunters as government of India has reinforced the tiger conservation program.
via Science - Google News http://ift.tt/1tln3Dw
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