The Indian Customs Department; TRAFFIC and WWF-India are reaching out to travelers passing through Indira Gandhi International Airport, Delhi on issues related to poaching and illegal wildlife trade. Five life-sized, brightly lit standee displays of Snow Leopard Panthera uncia, Greater One-Horned Rhino Rhinoceros unicornis; pangolins; Asian Elephant Elephas maximus; and Don't Buy Trouble (which lists prohibited wildlife species for possession or trade in India) have been set up on the Arrival, at the Customs checkpoint on Terminal 3.
Snow leopard is poached for its fur and body parts while Greater One-Horned Rhino is targeted for its horn used in supposed body tonics. Pangolins—reported to be the most trafficked wild mammal globally— on the other hand are poached for their scales and meat. Asian Elephant poached for its tusks, which are used to make artefacts and jewelry, and sometime for its meat and skin—the latter is used to make fashion beads and as ingredients in traditional Asian medicines.
Unsustainable consumer demand for wildlife products is a leading threat faced by many such wildlife species in recent times. Traffickers rely on existing transport links to smuggle illegal wildlife products to consumers across the world. Misuse of the aviation system by smugglers to evade Customs and other enforcement agencies is a major concern. Meanwhile, both international and domestic airline passengers are sometimes unaware about the illegality of buying certain wildlife products and the grave conservation impact of their actions on various species in the wild. In India, the Customs Department is tasked with preventing trade of contraband.
Dr Amandeep Singh, Additional Commissioner, Office of the Commissioner of Customs, IGI Airport, Terminal-3, Delhi said, "Illegal wildlife trade has grown to become a very serious crime globally. Here at Customs, we recognise this threat to our country's biodiversity and have therefore undertaken this awareness initiative to help enlighten travelers as well as Customs officials about the species impacted by illegal wildlife trade. Customs is fully behind the efforts to control wildlife crime in the country."
Manish Kumar, IRS, Commissioner of Customs, IGI Airport further added, "Stamping out wildlife crime and smuggling is a high priority objective for Indian Customs. At the IGI Airport, we are constantly alert for any attempts to smuggle wildlife contrabands. We appreciate the efforts undertaken by TRAFFIC and WWF-India for engaging in initiatives that will help to curtail smuggling of wildlife products and derivatives".
Dr Saket Badola, Head of TRAFFIC's India office said, "This is the first time TRAFFIC has partnered with Customs at Delhi's IGI airport and we hope this partnership can be extended to other airports in the country."
Ravi Singh, Secretary General and CEO of WWF-India added, "Lack of awareness is one of the biggest hurdles in efforts to curtail wildlife trafficking in the air transport sector. These displays will help raise awareness and sensitise both travelers and airport staff about wildlife trafficking."
TRAFFIC encourages travelers to look out for the displays at the Arrivals hall, Terminal 3, IGI airport, take a picture and share it widely to raise awareness about illegal wildlife trade in India.