Wildlife species like pangolins, lizards and tortoises are rapidly vanishing in India because of poaching, a wildlife trade monitoring network has warned.
"Every year in India, hundreds of pangolins, lizards and tortoises are poached, thousands of birds are illegally trapped and tonnes of sharks are caught, yet the levels of exploitation on these species are rarely reported," said TRAFFIC.
Shekhar Kumar Niraj, head of TRAFFIC in India, said little is known about the levels of illegal trade or its impact on species such as sea cucumbers, seahorses or Red Sand, the "double-headed" snake, which has recently been in demand due to new superstitions attached to it.
"While the threat posed by illegal wildlife trade to some of India's most iconic wild animals, such as the tiger and Indian rhinoceros are well publicised, many of India's less well-known species are also rapidly vanishing because of poaching, yet their fate remains largely under the radar," he said.
Pangolins are "highly threatened" because they are subject to a colossal illegal trade globally, yet their plight is barely publicised in conservation or media circles, he said.
Others, like the monitor lizard, mongoose, star tortoises, spiny-tailed lizards, freshwater and marine turtles also need immediate attention, he said.
TRAFFIC said that monitor lizards, especially the Bengal Monitor, were once commonly seen across the country but appear to have declined markedly, apparently after becoming target of poachers and illegal trade.
Meanwhile, measures to protect wildlife species, such as pangolins, birds, tortoises and sharks, whose illegal trade in India is poorly known were formulated last week during a meeting held in New Delhi.
The meeting was attended by wildlife experts, policy makers, scientists, conservationists and senior officials from Environment Ministry, enforcement agencies, and wildlife NGOs.
According to the participants, the burgeoning demand for birds is currently a major conservation concern in India with indigenous birds protected under the Wildlife (Protection) Act of 1972 still being traded freely.
A recent survey by TRAFFIC at Sonepur Animal Fair revealed that thousands of birds of at least 20 species were being traded. The bird trade also flourishes in other parts like Kolkata, Mumbai, Hyderabad and Bangalore.
