Peruvian police recently detained a man from South Korea who was trying to smuggle hundreds of endangered tarantulas onto a plane.
What is going on?
The Washington Post reported that the strange encounter began at Lima’s Jorge Chávez International Airport. The staff was doing security checks on the passengers and noticed a man who appeared to have a bloated stomach. After asking him to lift his shirt, they discovered dozens of hidden plastic bags tied to his belts. Inside were 35 adult tarantulas and 285 juveniles, 110 centipedes, and nine bullet ants. Officers detained the man and handed over the animals to Peru’s National Forestry and Wildlife Service.
“While the animals were completely overcrowded, mistreated and [carelessly] wrapped, they were placed in a safe place,” the wildlife agency said, according to the Post.
Why is wildlife trafficking a concern?
The Post, citing a UN report, noted that wildlife trafficking affects more than 4,000 species of animals and plants worldwide — including 3,250 endangered species.
In fact, the adult tarantulas being smuggled by the 28-year-old man in Peru are on the country’s endangered list, the Post reported.
Wildlife trafficking is a concern for many reasons. On the one hand, it is harmful for animals, since they are removed from their native habitat, and their populations decrease. In addition, many animals die unnecessarily during transport.
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According to the US Fish and Wildlife Service, wildlife trafficking can also increase the risk of zoonotic diseases and have a strong impact on food, land and other natural resources that humans depend on for survival.
What is being done about the wildlife trade?
Currently, there are a number of international and national laws in place to help curb wildlife trafficking. For example, CITES is an international agreement between governments that aims to ensure that international wildlife trade does not threaten the survival of species.
Meanwhile, the Endangered Species Act and the Lacey Act restrict the trade and transport of wild animals or plants in the United States.
There are also a number of individuals and organizations dedicated to reducing illegal trade. For example, Earth League International collects and disseminates information on wildlife crime. Traffic is another NGO that aims to reduce illegal wildlife trafficking.
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