Guwahati: Amid a concerning rise in the utilisation of air routes for smuggling wildlife products by global illegal trade cartels, airport staff at the Guwahati Airport has been alerted about the surge of illegal wildlife trade.
In a bid to sensitise and equip airport personnel with the necessary skills to identify and intercept illegal wildlife products in passenger luggage and cargo shipments, the biodiversity conservation organisation Aaranyak, in collaboration with the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB), organised a sensitization session on illegal wildlife trade (IWT) at the Adani Group-operated Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International (LGBI) Airport in Guwahati on Monday.
The workshop, supported by the USFWS, aimed to empower airline staff to recognise, review, and report instances of wildlife smuggling via air routes.
Around 30 individuals from various airlines, including Indigo, Vistara, Akasa, and Air India, as well as service providers such as Blue Dart Aviation Ltd., BATS, AAI Cargo Logistics and Allied Services Company Limited (AAI CLAS), Guwahati International Airport Ltd. (GIAL), and CISF security officers, actively participated in the session.
Dr Jimmy Borah, Senior Manager, and Ivy Farheen Hussain, Project Officer and Wildlife Crime Analyst from Aaranyak, along with Rabin Bora from WCCB, served as resource persons during the workshop.
Hussain provided insights into the gravity of the illegal wildlife trade, both regionally and globally, stressing the crucial role of airline staff in combating this menace.
Dr Borah elaborated on the existing routes of illegal wildlife trade and emphasised the need for coordinated responses, especially within the national and international transport sectors.
He shared about the importance of vigilance among security and airline personnel, citing examples of wildlife trafficking seizures from airports worldwide.
Furthermore, a live demonstration featuring various wildlife products enabled participants to gain firsthand experience in identifying and distinguishing illicit items. WCCB official Rabin Bora engaged with attendees, offering his perspectives on the issue at hand.
Dear Reader,
Every day, our team at EastMojo travels through rain, rough roads, and remote hills to bring you stories that matter – stories from your town, your people, your Northeast.
We do this because we believe in truthful, independent journalism. No big corporate backing, no government pressure – just honest reporting by local journalists who live and breathe the same air you do.
But to keep doing this work, we need you. Your small contribution helps us pay our reporters fairly, reach places others ignore, and keep asking the tough questions.
If you believe the Northeast deserves its own fearless voice, stand with us.
Support independent journalism. Be a Member.
Thank you,
Karma Paljor
Editor-in-Chief, eastmojo.com
The session delved into specific wildlife trading routes in the Northeastern region of India, highlighting the prevalent species involved in such illicit activities. Additionally, a summary of past seizure instances, including those at airports, was presented.
Illegal wildlife trade not only poses a threat to biodiversity and ecosystems but also raises concerns regarding public health. Reports indicate an alarming trend of traffickers exploiting air transport systems for smuggling wildlife items.
Also Read | Assam: Krisarthak selected by World Summit Awards