Context
The CITES has urged India to temporarily halt imports of critically endangered species such as gorillas, orangutans, chimpanzees, and snow leopards. The recommendation follows a verification mission highlighting possible illegal wildlife trade under the guise of “captive–bred” imports and gaps in India’s verification mechanisms.
About CITES
- Full Form: Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES)
- Adopted in: 1973
- Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland
- Members: 185 countries
- Objective: To ensure that international trade in specimens of wild animals and plants does not threaten their survival.
- CITES Structure and Mechanism
| Appendix | Description | Trade Regulation |
| Appendix I | Species threatened with extinction. | Trade permitted only in exceptional circumstances |
| Appendix II | Species are not necessarily threatened but trade must be controlled. | Regulated to avoid overexploitation. |
| Appendix III | Species protected in at least one country seeking cooperation from others | Requires documentation and control. |
- Trade in these species requires export and import permits issued by national CITES authorities.
India and CITES
- Joined: 1976
- CITES Authority: Directorate of Wildlife Preservation, under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC).
- Legal Framework: Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972: Regulates acquisition, possession, and trade of wildlife species.
- Policy Alignment: India permits international wildlife trade only with valid CITES permits.
Trigger for the Report
- Concerns raised during the CITES Standing Committee meeting (February 2025) regarding wildlife imports to the Greens Zoological Rescue & Rehabilitation Center (GZRRC) in Jamnagar, Gujarat (operated by Vantara).
- The CITES inspection mission also visited the Radha Krishna Temple Elephant Welfare Trust (RKTEWT).
Key Findings of the CITES Mission
- Permits in Order, but Source Questioned: While imports had valid CITES permits, doubts persisted over the true origin and source codes (wild vs. captive-bred).
- Imports from Commercial Bree ders: Many animals imported from commercial breeding facilities, not from recognised zoos, violating Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 norms.
- Contradictory Claims: Czech Republic stated that animals sent to India were sold, contradicting India’s claim of rescued animals.
- Questionable Imports: Species from non-breeding countries (e.g., chimpanzees from Egypt, gorillas from Haiti, cheetahs from Syria).
- Mislabelled and Confiscated Animals: Appendix-I species imported as confiscated or zoo animals, raising red flags on origin verification.
CITES Recommendations for India
- Strengthen verification and documentation for wildlife imports.
- Cross-check all flagged cases with source and transit countries (Congo, Guyana, Iraq, UAE, Mexico, etc.).
- Take corrective action where wild-caught animals were falsely labelled as captive-bred.
- Submit a compliance report within 90 days to the CITES Secretariat.
Challenges and Way Forward
| Challenges | Way Forward |
| 1. Weak verification systems: Gaps in confirming true origins of imported wildlife. | Establish a digital verification platform integrating customs, MoEFCC, and CITES databases. |
| 2. Misuse of ‘captive-bred’ label: Wild-caught animals declared as captive-bred. | Create a genetic tracking and certification mechanism to verify breeding claims. |
| 3. Imports from non-breeding nations: Indicate illegal trade networks. | Strengthen international cooperation with source and transit countries under CITES. |
| 4. Inadequate due diligence by Indian authorities | Train officials and mandate third-party audits before import clearance. |
| 5. Contradictions in source country records | Conduct joint verification missions with exporting countries. |
| 6. Commercial facility imports violating Indian zoo norms | Enforce Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 strictly; limit imports to recognised zoos only. |
Conclusion
The CITES report highlights crucial gaps in India’s wildlife import verification system. Strengthening due diligence, inter-agency coordination, and international cooperation will ensure compliance with global norms and reinforce India’s image as a responsible biodiversity guardian.
| Ensure IAS Mains Question Q. Discuss the concerns raised by the recent CITES verification mission regarding India’s wildlife import practices. Suggest measures to strengthen India’s compliance with global wildlife trade norms. (250 words) |
| Ensure IAS Prelims Question Q. With reference to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), consider the following statements: 1. CITES is a legally binding international agreement that regulates trade in endangered flora and fauna. 2. India’s CITES Management Authority functions under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry. 3. Trade in species listed under Appendix I is completely prohibited under all circumstances. Which of the statements given above is/are correct? Answer: a) 1 only Explanation: Statement 1 is correct: CITES is a legally binding global treaty that regulates international trade in endangered wildlife species. Statement 2 is incorrect: In India, the CITES Management Authority functions under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), not Commerce. Statement 3 is incorrect: Trade in Appendix I species is not totally banned; it is allowed only in exceptional circumstances, such as scientific research. |
