Eco-Heal: Combat global poaching and trafficking

Animal poaching means killing an animal illegally. It usually occurs when an animal possesses something that is considered valuable such as ivory or animal fur. In Sri Lanka, Poachers’ main targets are large game animals such as wild boar, spotted deer and sambar deer. The common methods employed to kill them are shooting, setting of trap guns and wire snares. Jaw exploders commonly known as ‘Hakka patas’, are small improvised devices that explode inside the mouth when an animal chews on them, which is the new favorite among poachers. Poaching for bushmeat is driven largely by demand from domestic tourists visiting areas near wild sites, who often seek out wild meat as an exotic delicacy. But the lockdown has effectively dried up this market, meaning the driving force during this period is likely subsistence hunting. Wildlife trafficking involves the illegal gathering, transportation and distribution of animals and their derivatives. Products demanded by the trade include exotic pets, food, traditional medicine, clothing, and jewellery made from animal tusks, fins, skins, shells, horns, and other internal organs. Therefore, we should focus on enhancing global support for efforts to combat poaching and trafficking of protected species in our country.