Endangered Red Panda Found in Luggage at Bangkok Airport: Smuggling Operation Exposed
In a shocking discovery, an endangered red panda was found among 86 other animals inside luggage at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport. The Thai Customs Department made this announcement on Wednesday, revealing that six Indian nationals were arrested for attempting to smuggle live animals out of the country. The suspects and the animals were destined for Mumbai, India.
The red panda was not the only exotic creature found in the smugglers’ suitcases. Thailand’s Customs Department also uncovered a cotton-top tamarin monkey, a fishing cat, and a Sulawesi bear cuscus. Additionally, lizards, snakes, birds, squirrels, and bats were among the animals discovered during the operation.
Images released by the Thai Customs Department showcased the distressing conditions in which these animals were being transported. They were crammed into wicker baskets, plastic tubs, and fabric bags inside large wheeled suitcases, all intended to be loaded onto an airplane.
The individuals involved in this smuggling operation have violated several laws, including the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), which regulates the international trade of wild species. They are also accused of attempting to export live animals without declaring them and violating animal disease control laws.
This incident is not an isolated one. According to a 2018 report by TRAFFIC, an NGO campaigning against illegal wildlife trade, there were 1,346 seizures of wildlife and wildlife products in the air transport sector between 2009 and 2016. These trafficking activities took place in airports across 136 countries, with Thailand ranking second highest in the number of incidents reported.
Kanitha Krishnasamy, director of TRAFFIC’s Southeast Asia office, highlighted the persistent trafficking of live animals between Southeast Asia and South Asia. She mentioned a series of cases involving smuggling between Thailand and India in recent years, with busts occurring in both countries since early 2022. Krishnasamy attributed the increase in wildlife trafficking to a growing fad for exotic pets, including kangaroos, cuscus, and red pandas.
To combat this issue, Krishnasamy emphasized the need to understand the contemporary pet market in India thoroughly. This understanding would guide future interventions, such as strengthened regulations and reducing demand.
The discovery of the red panda and other animals in the luggage at Bangkok Airport serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing battle against wildlife trafficking. It sheds light on the cruel practices involved in smuggling live animals and the urgent need for stricter enforcement and international cooperation to protect endangered species.