India has emerged as a major destination for illegal wildlife trafficking, driven by wealthy collectors seeking endangered orangutans and other rare apes as status symbols.
According to Sinan Serhadli, a wildlife trafficking expert at Indonesia’s Orangutan Information Centre, the illegal trade is increasingly funneling these high-risk species into Indian markets.
Southeast Asia continues to serve as a critical transit hub for global contraband, while Indian wildlife trafficking researcher Uttara Mendiratta emphasizes that consumer demand among elite buyers is fueling the crisis.
The trend poses a severe threat to global conservation efforts and highlights growing enforcement challenges across international transit routes.
Watch this video from Associated Press.
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TIPP Staff
