30,000 live animals seized in global wildlife crime crackdown by Interpol

The recent Interpol-led "Operation Thunder 2025", a global crackdown on wildlife trafficking across 134 countries resulting in the seizure of 30,000 live animals, serves as a stark reminder of the escalating global challenge posed by illegal wildlife trade (IWT). This operation, a continuation of a series of 'Thunder' operations (such as Thunderball, Thunderstorm, Thunder Strike), highlights the pervasive nature of these illicit networks and their devastating impact on global biodiversity.

**Background Context and What Happened:**

Illegal wildlife trade is one of the largest transnational organized crimes globally, often ranked alongside drug trafficking, arms dealing, and human trafficking in terms of profitability. It's a multi-billion dollar industry that fuels corruption, undermines the rule of law, and pushes countless species to the brink of extinction. The sheer scale of this trade is driven by demand for exotic pets, traditional medicine components, luxury items, and bushmeat. What makes Operation Thunder 2025 particularly significant is its emphasis on the rising trade in 'smaller species', including insects and plants, indicating a diversification of targets by traffickers. This shift often goes unnoticed compared to the more charismatic megafauna, but it poses an equally severe threat to ecosystem balance.

**Key Stakeholders Involved:**

At the forefront of this crackdown is **Interpol**, the world's largest international police organization. Interpol facilitates cross-border police cooperation, intelligence sharing, and operational support among its member countries. Often, such operations are conducted in collaboration with the **World Customs Organization (WCO)**, which focuses on customs enforcement and border control. On the ground, national law enforcement agencies – including police forces, customs departments, forest departments, and specialized wildlife crime units – play a crucial role. In India, the **Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB)**, established under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, is a pivotal stakeholder, coordinating efforts to combat organized wildlife crime. International conventions like the **Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES)** provide the legal framework for regulating international trade in endangered species, acting as a guiding force for these operations. Environmental non-governmental organizations (NGOs) also contribute significantly through research, monitoring, and advocacy.

**Significance for India:**

India, a mega-biodiversity country and a signatory to CITES since 1976, is unfortunately a significant source, transit, and destination country for illegal wildlife trade. Its rich and diverse flora and fauna, including iconic species like tigers, pangolins, star tortoises, and red sanders, make it a prime target for international trafficking networks. The implications for India are profound: ecological degradation, loss of genetic diversity, potential for zoonotic disease transmission (as seen with COVID-19 and the wildlife trade link), and economic losses from reduced tourism. Furthermore, wildlife crime often has links to other organized criminal activities, including drug trafficking and illicit arms trade, posing a serious internal security challenge. The success of operations like Thunder 2025 is vital for India in protecting its natural heritage and upholding its international environmental commitments.

**Historical Context and Constitutional Provisions:**

India has a long history of wildlife protection, though modern legislative efforts gained momentum post-independence. The most significant legislation is the **Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972**, which provides for the protection of wild animals, birds, and plants, and for matters connected therewith or ancillary thereto. It classifies species into various schedules based on their conservation status, with Schedule I species receiving the highest protection. The Act also led to the establishment of the WCCB in 2007. Constitutionally, the protection of wildlife finds mention in both Directive Principles of State Policy (DPSP) and Fundamental Duties. **Article 48A** of the DPSP states that the State shall endeavour to protect and improve the environment and to safeguard the forests and wildlife of the country. **Article 51A(g)**, a Fundamental Duty, mandates every citizen to protect and improve the natural environment including forests, lakes, rivers, and wildlife, and to have compassion for living creatures. Furthermore, 'Forests' and 'Protection of Wild Animals and Birds' are listed in the Concurrent List (Entry 17B) of the **Seventh Schedule**, allowing both the Centre and states to legislate on these matters.

**Future Implications:**

The continuous global operations like 'Thunder 2025' signal a sustained international commitment to combating wildlife crime. Future efforts will likely see enhanced use of technology, including advanced forensics, satellite imagery, and AI-driven data analysis, to track and apprehend traffickers. There will also be a greater focus on tackling cyber wildlife crime, which has seen a significant rise. Capacity building for enforcement agencies, strengthening judicial processes, and fostering greater public awareness to reduce demand will remain critical. The spotlight on smaller species suggests a need for broader conservation strategies that encompass the entire ecosystem, not just flagship species. International cooperation, as exemplified by Interpol's operations, will be indispensable in dismantling these complex transnational criminal networks and safeguarding global biodiversity for future generations.