When we think about wildlife crime, some harsh realities come to mind. While many may know of the smuggling of tiger skins and trading of live animals to be kept as pets, what often skips our thought is the endless cutting of trees for timber trafficking.
Wildlife SOS was invited to take part in a wildlife crime prevention workshop titled ‘Working Together to Combat International Wildlife & Timber Trafficking’ from June 1-5, 2026, in Bangalore, Karnataka. Experts from the United States of America and India came together to deliberate on this global crisis. The primary goal for the workshop was to strengthen both the countries’ ability to investigate and prosecute these crimes.
As the prosecution and jury system of the USA and India vary vastly, it was important for key agencies to come together and understand how they function.
The US Embassy facilitated bringing various agencies under the same roof. Organisations such as the US Department of Justice, US Forest Service, US Fish & Wildlife Services and US Homeland Security Investigations. From India, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change of India (MoEF&CC), Wood Science and Technology (IWST), Wildlife Institute of India (WII), Directorate of Revenue Intelligence, came together to participate in the workshop. Various forest departments from India such as Karnataka Forest Department, Madhya Pradesh Forest Department, Tripura Forest Department, Ladakh Forest Department, and Goa Forest Department also were invited for the conference.
The Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF) & Head of Forest Force (HoFF) of Karnataka Forest Department, Dr. Meenakshi Negi gave the opening remarks and set the tone for collaborative enforcement.
The Reality of Illicit Timber Trade
The illegal harvesting of timber and its trade is known as timber trafficking. This act ultimately intrudes with the legal trade of natural resources and ends up hurting the communities and businesses that depend on them. Out of the timber that is circulated globally, 30% is illegal, valued at USD 150 billion per year. The felling of trees results in reduction of natural resource usage, which then has a ripple effect and further causes excess habitat destruction, leading to environmental degradation. Another outcome is decreased biodiversity and an increased chance of species extinction.
Wildlife Crime Extends Beyond Forests
Mr. Wasim Akram, Director of Sustainability & Special Projects, Dr. Arun A Sha, Director of Research & Veterinary Operations, Mr. Swaminathan Shamugavelu, Senior Field Biologist and Mr. Yogaraj, Field Biologist, represented Wildlife SOS at the prestigious conference. Mr. Wasim’s presentation was titled ‘From Snares to Border: Combatting Wildlife Crime & Cross-Border Repatriations’. He highlighted the wide-ranging impacts of wildlife crime focusing on rescue, rehabilitation and repatriation. To better understand the topic, important terms must be understood first: rehabilitation means preparing an animal medically and behaviorally until it is fit to be released back into the wild, while repatriation means returning an animal or a complete population to its native habitat or in broader terms, country, if it had been a cross-border case.
The ‘dancing’ bear project was a success due to the cooperation and support we gained from multiple authorities like the forest departments, the police, Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB), the Central Bureau of Investigation and Special Task Forces (STF). Wildlife SOS has been able to rescue as many as 628 sloth bears from this trade while working hand in hand with the Kalandar Community that was practicing it, guiding them towards new, sustainable livelihoods. Several community members were employed in the organisation itself. This ensured that the community no longer took part in the illegal poaching of sloth bears.
Mr. Wasim Akram also spoke about the ongoing threat that has consumed the wild population of Asian elephants. Young calves are poached and subjected to phajaan, meaning the breaking of the elephant’s spirit to be used for tourism and entertainment industries.
Light was also shed on a past undercover operation that was planned in Coimbatore in collaboration with the Tamil Nadu Forest Department and the Tamil Nadu Wildlife Crime Control Bureau. The successful interception led to the seizure of six big cat poachers and a 10-foot-long tiger skin, one tiger skeleton and one leopard skeleton.
Visit to Bannerughatta Bear Rescue Centre
Wildlife SOS initiated a tour of the Bannerughatta Bear Rescue Centre (BBRC) where the attendees of the workshop had the opportunity to witness the rescued sloth bears. They gained first-hand experience of witnessing the lives of the rescued sloth bears, which included enrichments and veterinary care that were being given to them.
International Cooperation Through CITES
The workshop highlighted the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), an agreement between nations worldwide to help protect animals and plants. The protection is extended to ensure that the survival of species is not threatened.
Appendices I, II and III of CITES were discussed in detail. These sections list species and the level of protection they receive to protect them from ecological depletion. The most endangered species are listed under Appendix I. Appendix II provides an inventory of species that are not threatened right now but are at risk if the trade of them is not controlled. Appendix III lists those that are specific to countries that need cooperation from other countries to stop their exploitation or trade.
The Money Behind the Crime
It is known that criminal organisations that participate in illicit timber and wildlife trade generate many billions of dollars, estimated to cost the global economy over a trillion dollars.
US Homeland Security
The session by the US Homeland Security covered an important topic of money laundering, which is crucial because several criminal organisations are involved in this act.
Once the parties have received their money through the illicit trade, they tend to cover the money’s origin. This can be done through feigning assets and investments.
Revenue Intelligence
The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence from India that works under the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) also participated in the conference. They presented the crucial role they play in wildlife trafficking investigations. The agency is involved in collecting and analysing information connected to smuggling.
A thorough discussion took place on The Customs Act of India. It includes several provisions to prevent smuggling, regulate the international trade agreements and proper protocols of clearance of goods at customs check points such as at airports and shipping ports.
A case of the recent seizure of leopard skin in Gujarat was also discussed. The Revenue Intelligence gathered their information, such as the address of the hotel where the target was, through social media channels. Their operation was successful, and they found out that they were allegedly selling the leopard skin for a whopping USD 105,000.
Real World Examples
The presenters discussed real life, eye opening examples during the conference. This included internationally traded wildlife parts and their price in an international market. For example, a lot of species are sold live, such as exotic birds and reptiles and insects. Many devastatingly lose their life for the manufacture of different goods such as shawls and ivory products. A surprisingly cruel fate is met by great apes like orangutans that are sold live for no less than USD 50,000.
Another interesting yet complex case was discussed of the Indian star tortoise – world’s most trafficked turtle. India holds two major genetic clusters of the Indian star tortoise, the North-western and Southern with further sub-clusters in southern India. As there is no data on the genetic status of the wild population, release of seizures i.e., individual tortoises that are secured from illegal trade, can disrupt natural genetic diversity. This makes the repatriation of the species more difficult and sometimes impossible. A harsh reality and effect of wildlife crime.
Why Do Countries Need To Come Together?
Animals do not understand borders when they cross them, nor do they carry passports. They are subjected to trade that spans multiple countries and complex networks that recklessly exploits them. This results in a single-trafficking case that involves many different jurisdictions across countries.
For example,
- Illegal harvest of wildlife or timber may occur in one country
- Documents may be created or altered in another
- Cargo may transit through a third country
- Import, sale, or laundering may occur at its destination
- Evidence and witnesses may sit outside the prosecuting jurisdiction
Rescuing or seizing the animal from the trafficker’s possession is not the last step of a wildlife crime case. What follows after is the identification of the species and the strenuous journey through the legal framework to make sure the individual animals are returned to the wild. Implementation of the policies with all the paperwork may take up to a year if not more. Animals involved in this trade already bear trauma, and such delays can cause stress to them.
The week unfolded with the participants sharing information about legal frameworks and investigative tools that India and the United States employ to counter trafficking attempts. The next step is to not only ensure that justice is served, but a timely one at that.
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Feature Image: Homeland Security Investigations and Department of Justice
