India’s Wildlife Trade Under Scrutiny by CITES Mission

India faces international scrutiny over the import of endangered species. A recent verification mission by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) raised concerns about the legality of certain wildlife imports. The mission focused on two Indian facilities — Greens Zoological Rescue & Rehabilitation Center (GZRRC) and Radha Krishna Temple Elephant Welfare Trust (RKTEWT) — which have imported thousands of animals. The CITES Secretariat has urged India to strengthen its due diligence and controls to prevent illegal wildlife trade disguised as captive breeding.

Background of CITES and India’s Role

CITES is a global treaty with 185 member countries, including India, which joined in 1976. The treaty regulates international trade in endangered species to protect them from over-exploitation. Each member designates CITES authorities to issue permits for legal import and export. No shipment of listed species can occur without these permits. India’s Wildlife Protection Act restricts zoos to acquire animals only from recognised zoos, ensuring regulated trade.

Verification Mission and Key Observations

The CITES mission visited India in September 2025. It inspected GZRRC and RKTEWT, noting their high standards and advanced facilities. However, the mission brought into light doubts about the origin of many imported animals. Some imports appeared to bypass due diligence, with animals labelled as captive bred despite coming from wild sources or commercial breeders. The mission questioned the accuracy of source and purpose codes used in permits, which are critical for tracking legality.

Concerns Over Wildlife Origin and Trade Codes

The report identified several inconsistencies. For example, African elephants from Burkina Faso were imported via Tunisia but labelled captive bred. Primates and reptiles from Guyana were imported under wild source codes but with zoo purpose codes, raising questions. Snow leopards from Germany were imported under zoo codes, but Germany issued permits under trade codes. Imports through the UAE included species not known for captive breeding, such as gorillas and cheetahs, which should have prompted stricter checks.

Recommendations and International Implications

The CITES Secretariat recommended India urgently review and tighten its import procedures. It urged verification of all questionable imports with exporting countries like Congo, Germany, Guyana, Iraq, Mexico, Syria, and the UAE. The report stressed that India must exercise due diligence even if permits appear valid. It also suggested enhancing in-country support for rescued animals to allow time for thorough checks. The CITES Standing Committee will review India’s response in November 2025 and demand a progress report within 90 days.

Impact on Wildlife Conservation and Trade Regulation

This scrutiny marks the challenges in global wildlife trade enforcement. It puts stress on the need for transparent and robust systems to prevent illegal wildlife harvesting disguised as captive breeding. India’s case reflects wider issues faced by many countries in balancing conservation with legal trade. Strengthening regulatory frameworks and international cooperation is essential to protect endangered species from exploitation and extinction.

Questions for UPSC:

1. Discuss the role of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) in global wildlife conservation. How effective is it in curbing illegal wildlife trade?
2. Critically examine India’s Wildlife Protection Act in the context of regulating captive breeding and wildlife trade. What reforms are needed to strengthen its implementation?
3. Explain the challenges in verifying the origin of wildlife specimens in international trade. With suitable examples, discuss the impact of mislabelling on conservation efforts.
4. Comment on the importance of international cooperation in combating wildlife trafficking. How can countries balance economic interests with biodiversity conservation in this regard?

Answer Hints:

1. Discuss the role of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) in global wildlife conservation. How effective is it in curbing illegal wildlife trade?

1. CITES is a global treaty with 185 member countries regulating international trade of endangered species to prevent over-exploitation.
2. It mandates export and import permits issued by designated national authorities to ensure legal and sustainable trade.
3. Effectiveness depends on member countries’ enforcement, due diligence, and cooperation in tracking specimens’ origin and trade purpose.
4. Challenges include illegal trade disguised as captive breeding, mislabelling, and weak enforcement in some countries.
5. Verification missions and international monitoring enhance transparency but gaps remain, as seen in India’s recent scrutiny.
6. Overall, CITES has curbed overt illegal trade but requires stronger implementation and global cooperation for full effectiveness.

2. Critically examine India’s Wildlife Protection Act in the context of regulating captive breeding and wildlife trade. What reforms are needed to strengthen its implementation?

1. The Act restricts zoos to acquiring animals only from recognised zoos, aiming to regulate legal trade and captive breeding.
2. Current challenges include insufficient due diligence on imports labelled captive bred, risking illegal wild specimens entering trade.
3. Lack of clarity and verification mechanisms on source and purpose codes weakens enforcement.
4. Reforms needed – stricter import controls, mandatory traceability of specimens, and enhanced coordination with CITES authorities.
5. Improved transparency and independent audits of captive breeding facilities can prevent misuse of captive-bred status.
6. Capacity building for enforcement agencies and updated legal provisions to address modern wildlife trade complexities are essential.

3. Explain the challenges in verifying the origin of wildlife specimens in international trade. With suitable examples, discuss the impact of mislabelling on conservation efforts.

1. Challenges include lack of transparent records, forged or misleading permits, and complex trade routes involving multiple countries.
2. Animals labelled captive bred may actually be wild-caught, as seen with African elephants from Burkina Faso imported via Tunisia.
3. Misuse of source and purpose codes (e.g., wild animals imported under captive bred and zoo codes) complicates traceability.
4. Examples – Snow leopards imported under zoo codes despite export permits issued for trade; primates from Guyana under wild source but zoo purpose.
5. Mislabeling undermines conservation by enabling illegal trade, threatening wild populations and distorting data on species status.
6. It erodes trust in legal frameworks and hampers international efforts to protect endangered species effectively.

4. Comment on the importance of international cooperation in combating wildlife trafficking. How can countries balance economic interests with biodiversity conservation in this regard?

1. Wildlife trafficking is transnational; effective control requires sharing intelligence, verifying permits, and joint enforcement actions.
2. CITES framework facilitates cooperation but depends on member compliance and transparent communication.
3. Countries must harmonize regulations and strengthen border controls to prevent illegal trade disguised as legal transactions.
4. Balancing economic interests involves promoting sustainable trade, supporting captive breeding with strict oversight, and incentivizing conservation-friendly livelihoods.
5. Capacity building, funding for conservation, and awareness campaigns can align economic development with biodiversity goals.
6. International pressure and monitoring encourage countries to prioritize conservation while enabling responsible trade benefiting local economies.