Animals

Biopiracy, animals' smuggling

Everyone knows that the term biopiracy doesn't have an exact definition, but I think the best definition is this one: Biopiracy is the smuggling not only from life in a general way, but also the smuggling of regional comunities knowledge (indigenous peoples for example) that become patented by foreign companies, and the profit obtained with that product or knowledge are in part destinated for the patent owners.

But today, I will write about a certain kind of biopiracy, the animal's smuggling . This practice takes 12 millions animals from Brazil by year, the biggest majority from the amazon area that attracts smugglers from all the world, because it is the biggest world's ecosystem.

This practice makes some species already considered in extinction, to be hunted even more, because they reach high values in the black market , for example, the blue arara, one of the most threatened wild bird, costs around US$ 60 thousand.

The countries that suffer the most with the smuggling are the countries in development , and the main buyers are the most developed, like USA and Europe countries, it is interesting to note that sometimes the smuggling of animals is directly connected with drug dealing, according to the RENCATAS (nome próprio) ( Rede Nacional de Combate ao Tráfico de Animais Silvestres) Dener Giovanini: "Around 30% and 40% from the 350 or 400 gangs that practice animal smuggling also keep connection with drug dealing".

Besides the buyers that are looking for rare and exotic beauty animals , other problem that has to be solved with extreme urge is the smuggling og animals like snakes and spiders, that are smuggled with the intention to make pharmaceutical studies to pharmaceutical companies.

But how to finish all of that? It's so simple, first it is necessary to monitor the goods sent to those foreign people called "Researchers". And also the most important: aware people that buy these animals, and contribute to the extinction of these ones, because the greatest part of the people don't think it is wrong to purchase a beautiful wild bird, but this people forgot that for 10 animals took away from the forest, only one survive, and even those which survive, almost never will have its natural habitat reproduced by its owner .

Finally, the animal smuggling is a practice that has to be extinct with extreme urge, and ending with it depends also on the competent autority, but above everything, it depends on the common people too, because if there isn't a buyer, anyone would sell, isn't it ? And if you want to purchase a pet that isn't domestic, think a little more, if it wouldn't be better living in its habitat.

Juliana, student.