{"id":58912,"date":"2024-05-25T17:49:19","date_gmt":"2024-05-25T17:49:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/news.talkwithrattan.com\/index.php\/2024\/05\/25\/inside-the-illicit-trade-of-exotic-animals-from-myanmar-to-india\/"},"modified":"2024-05-25T17:49:19","modified_gmt":"2024-05-25T17:49:19","slug":"inside-the-illicit-trade-of-exotic-animals-from-myanmar-to-india","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/news.talkwithrattan.com\/index.php\/2024\/05\/25\/inside-the-illicit-trade-of-exotic-animals-from-myanmar-to-india\/","title":{"rendered":"Inside the illicit trade of exotic animals from Myanmar to India"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Inside<\/div>


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A Tata Sumo snaking down the night road in Champhai, Mizoram, was flagged down by Assam Rifles<\/a> for a routine interception on January 30. The cargo surprised everyone: Indonesian salmon-crested cockatoos, South American marmoset monkeys, lizards, snakes and even an Aldabra giant tortoise, native to the Seychelles. The vehicle was stopped roughly about 30 km from the Tiau River, the border between India\u2019s Mizoram and Myanmar<\/a>\u2019s Chin state. Over the past three years, Champhai district<\/a> has become a prime entry point for smuggled exotic wildlife, with about 800 animals seized and many more slipping through undetected. These creatures, primarily of African, Australian, and South American origin, are being brought in from Myanmar and then transported to some of India\u2019s metro cities. And with Myanmar embroiled in a civil war and areas bordering India falling to the rebels, these days it is free for all. <\/p>\n

ANIMAL PLANET<\/strong>
The recent seizures of exotic animals<\/a> in Mizoram, Assam, Meghalaya, and West Bengal have raised several critical questions. At the heart of it all is Zokhawthar, a bustling border town<\/a> in Champhai district, and Khawmawi<\/a>, a key trading hub on the Myanmar side of the border. <\/p>\n

This correspondent spoke to half a dozen Indian officers, local traders from both sides of the border, drivers and porters potentially involved in smuggling activities, and a Chin guerilla leader, who now heads the police force in Khawmawi after the town\u2019s recent takeover by rebels. Some of their names are withdrawn to conceal their identities. <\/p>\n

The burgeoning wildlife trade<\/a> is reportedly run by kingpins based in two locations\u2014Kolkata, and Tahan<\/a> in Myanmar, located roughly 170 km from the Indian border<\/a>, with a significant Mizo-speaking population. The animals\u2019 odyssey does not span continents. Regardless of origin, be it an African wildcat or an Australian albino wallaby, they are all bred and raised in Thailand<\/a> before being transported to Tahan. Here, the illegal trade thrives. There are also unconfirmed reports that breeding also takes place in Tahan. <\/p>\n

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Wealthy Indians who want to buy these animals reportedly connect with brokers and sellers through WhatsApp groups and Facebook pages. Once a deal is clinched, the animal is transported from Tahan to Khawmawi in Myanmar. \u201cThe price of a marmoset pair is about Rs 4-5 lakh whereas a green anaconda fetches Rs 2-2.5 lakh. Some python species are the costliest items. Prices are discovered through bidding,\u201d says a Champhaibased officer in the know, also adding that transactions take place both online and in cash. According to him, online payments for the animals are masked within other business dealings. \u201cThere are reports that Khawmawi also houses a couple of storage facilities to house smuggled animals<\/a> before they are carried in headloads to the Indian side.\u201d <\/p>\n

To understand the hidden web of the smuggling operation, this correspondent crossed the Tiau river into Khawmawi. This border town has recently undergone a dramatic shift in power. In November 2023, a fierce battle resulted in Chin guerrillas wresting control from the Myanmar army<\/a>. <\/p>\n

IN REBEL TERRITORY
<\/strong>Inside Khawmawi, also called Tio in Burmese documents, a meeting with C Rohmingliana sheds light on the new reality. A sturdy figure in a black uniform emblazoned with \u2018Hualngoram Police<\/a>\u2019 (referencing a Chin clan), he now leads the town\u2019s patrol force. <\/p>\n

\u201cI am like a DSP (deputy superintendent of police) in your country,\u201d he says when asked about his rank in the Chin National Front (CNF). \u201cI control 57 villages here,\u201d he says, with a hint of pride. <\/p>\n

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As the conversation turns to wildlife smuggling<\/a>, he nonchalantly scrolls through his smartphone, displaying photos of his police unit\u2019s drug confiscations. \u201cWe are opposed to any form of smuggling to India\u2014be it drugs or wildlife. But let\u2019s be clear: we are in the middle of a war. As we speak, our soldiers are fighting with the Myanmar Army just 35 miles away. I don\u2019t have the luxury to spare my forces to check wildlife smuggling,\u201d he adds. <\/p>\n

The border bustles with activity. Porters move freely back and forth between India and Myanmar, carrying goods across the bridge. On the Myanmar side, the border gate stands wide open, adorned with blue flags bearing the emblem of the Chin rebels<\/a> \u2014two hornbills. In contrast, the Indian checkpoint remains partially closed, although porters are permitted to pass. <\/p>\n

For the smugglers, noisy and aggressive animals are a liability, making them less desirable for trafficking. Reptiles<\/a>, on the other hand, are highly sought-after due to their ability to survive for extended periods without food or water. For birds, careful planning goes beyond just transport. Smugglers ensure they have access to corn and fruit during the journey to keep them alive. <\/p>\n

The most common trafficking route is from Mae Sot in Thailand to Tahan via Mandalay. Payments are often made when the animals reach Khawmawi. Once in India, the cargo embarks on a circuitous route: Zokhawthar\u2013 Aizawl\u2013Kolasib\u2013Silchar (Assam)\u2013Jaintia Hills (Meghalaya) \u2013 outskirts of Guwa hati\u2013 New Bongaigaon \u2013 Cooch Behar\u2013Siliguri\u2013 Kolkata. <\/p>\n

\u201cAccording to our intelligence, most smuggled wildlife ends up near Kolkata, a city with a high concentration of brokers and buyers. Interestingly, some animals are kept there for up to a year to acclimatise to their new environment before being sold in other major cities like Mumbai, Delhi and Bengaluru,\u201d says another officer. \u201cWealthy buyers in these metros,\u201d says the Champhai officer, \u201chave customised enclosures with controlled temperature to house their exotic acquisitions.\u201d<\/p>\n

THE COVID FACTOR
<\/strong>According to former Assam Police chief Bhaskar Jyoti Mahanta, a significant increase in the seizure of exotic animals coincided with the Covid-19 pandemic. \u201cAn upsurge of wildlife smuggling from Myanmar is a relatively new phenomenon. It emerged alongside the pandemic,\u201d he explains. <\/p>\n

A vivid illustration of this phenomenon came to light in July 2020. As lockdown restrictions started easing, authorities in the south Assam town of Silchar were shocked to discover a smuggled kangaroo among a collection of exotic animals. Margaret Lalramchhani, director of the Aizawl Zoological Park<\/a>, paints a concerning picture. <\/p>\n

\u201cBased on the influx of exotic animals surrendered to our zoo, 2022 stands out as the peak year for wildlife smuggling originating from Myanmar,\u201d she says. Though the number of seizures has come down since then, it still places a significant burden on the zoo administration and its resources. <\/p>\n

\u201cOnce the legal proceedings are completed after any seizure and confiscated animals are entrusted to our care, we prioritise quarantine procedures, as they could be carrying zoonotic diseases,\u201d she adds.<\/p>\n

Located on a 62-hectare hilly campus near Mizoram\u2019s capital, the zoo faces a unique challenge. The facility currently houses 144 exotic animals, birds, and reptiles\u2014all confiscated from wildlife smugglers from Myanmar\u2014a staggering number compared with its 192 native species. It\u2019s important to note that not all seized animals reach the zoo. <\/p>\n

In the January 30 seizure, for example, only 37 out of 49 animals survived transportation. Some animals die in the zoo as well. Two spider monkeys, seized in Champhai in September 2022, have died. One of the monkeys, a male, died of snake bites a year later. His mate, a female monkey, apparently could not bear the loneliness and died sometime after. <\/p>\n

\u201cCaring for these exotic animals presents a unique learning curve,\u201d says Bethsebi Lalremruati, a range officer posted in the zoo. \u201cFor example, we initially struggled to understand why an albino Burmese python in our care wouldn\u2019t eat the rats and chicks we provided. It turned out that this particular variety has poor eyesight, a fact we weren\u2019t initially aware of.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n


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A Tata Sumo snaking down the night road in Champhai, Mizoram, was flagged down by Assam Rifles for a routine interception on January 30. The cargo surprised everyone: Indonesian salmon-crested cockatoos, South American marmoset monkeys, lizards, snakes and even an Aldabra giant tortoise, native to the Seychelles. The vehicle was stopped roughly about 30 km […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":58913,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"tdm_status":"","tdm_grid_status":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/img.etimg.com\/photo\/msid-42031747\/et-logo.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[602],"tags":[57345,1087,13027,57336,52023,57346,57342,57347,57333,57340,57343,14193,273,57338,57334,25244,57344,57339,57335,57337,6342,14195,57332,57341],"amp_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/news.talkwithrattan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/58912"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/news.talkwithrattan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/news.talkwithrattan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/news.talkwithrattan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/news.talkwithrattan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=58912"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/news.talkwithrattan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/58912\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":58914,"href":"https:\/\/news.talkwithrattan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/58912\/revisions\/58914"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/news.talkwithrattan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/58913"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/news.talkwithrattan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=58912"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/news.talkwithrattan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=58912"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/news.talkwithrattan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=58912"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}