Context

• Recently the World Wildlife Crime Report 2024 was released by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. Which highlighted that the rhinoceros and cedar were most affected by the global illegal wildlife trade.

Key Points

• The World Wildlife Crime Report 2024 was launched by the UNODC in Vienna, Austria. This is the third report in the series, following publications in 2020 and 2016.
• The above report states that rhinoceros and cedar were the animal and plant species most affected by the global illegal wildlife trade during 2015-2021.
• Based on the standardised seizure index, the bulk of the illegal wildlife trade observed during 2015–2021 involved just 15 broader markets.
• At 29 percent, rhinoceros horn had the largest market share among animal species. This was followed by the market for pangolin scales at 28 percent, followed by the market for elephant ivory at 15 percent.
• Among saplings, cedar and mahogany, sacred wood and other sapindales such as guacamole were the largest markets with 47 percent.
• Rosewoods was second with 35 percent. Edgerwood and other myrtles such as ramen and eucalyptus were in third place with 13 percent. Golden chicken fern and other cybotiums as well as orchids accounted for one percent of the market each while other species accounted for the remaining three percent.
• The report also points to diversity among seizures of illicitly traded biodiversity – plant and animal – products during 2015-2021.
• Of all such seizures, 16 percent were corals. Crocodiles (true crocodiles, alligators, caimans and gharials) came in second place with nine percent.
• ​In terms of items, coral pieces were the most commonly found item and comprised 16 percent of all seizures during 2015-2016.
• Live samples came in second place with 15 percent, while drugs made from animal products accounted for 10 percent of all seizures.
• The seizure included six percent each of animal meat, shells and small leather products. They were followed by animal bodies (4 percent), plant roots (3 percent), extracts (3 percent), ivory carvings (3 percent) and others (28 percent).

Conclusion

• Significantly, wildlife crime is linked to the activities of large and powerful organised crime groups operating in some of the most fragile and diverse ecosystems, from the Amazon to the Golden Triangle. Under these circumstances, a comprehensive strategy is needed to address wildlife trafficking and organised crime as a whole.

Important facts for exam

Rhinoceros

• There are a total of five species of rhinoceros in the world – the white and black rhinos in Africa, the one-horned rhinoceros, the Javan and Sumatran rhinoceros in Asia.

Status in the IUCN Red List

• Black Rhino: Critically Endangered
• White Rhino: Endangered or near endangered
• One Horned Rhinoceros: Vulnerable
• Java: Critically Endangered
• Sumatran Rhino: Critically Endangered

Note

• Only one horned rhinoceros is found in India.
• Habitats : Kaziranga, Manas, Pobitora

Cedar Tree

• Type: angular or conical
• Family: Pine
• In the Himalayas at an altitude of 1500 -3200 meters
• Found in the Mediterranean region at an altitude of 1000-2200 meters.
• Tree height: 40 -50 meters

Existing laws to combat organized crime in India

• National Security Act, 1980 and Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985

India is a signatory to many international conventions and treaties, such as:

• United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime (UNTOC)
• United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC)
• United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC)