THE recent illegal release of lynx in the Highlands has raised questions about animal trafficking in Scotland.
This follows the discovery of porcupine quills near the site where the four lynx were released in the Highlands.
Along with the quills, a pile of straw bedding containing dead chicks was found about 100 meters from the release area.
However, porcupines, a native species from North America, are not found in Scotland.
Talking to Steve Micklewright, chief executive of Trees for Life and part of the Scottish Rewilding Alliance last week, he suspected that the lynx were abandoned and provided with food to help them survive.
He also suggested that the discovery of part of a non-native animal linked the illegal release to someone with access to exotic animals.
“That points the finger of suspicion at the black market and someone with an animal they couldn’t cope with,” he said.
What is the state of the animal trafficking in Scotland?
KEVIN Lacks-Kelly, head of the National Wildlife Crime Unit (NWCU) in the UK, which co-ordinates the response of UK police to domestic and international wildlife crime, stated that the NWCU and Police Scotland “are not ruling out that these animals were the victims of the illegal wildlife trade”.
“There is a number of avenues and lines of inquiry ongoing,” he added.
The key question Lacks-Kelly raised is: “Is this an illicit rewilding attempt or somebody who had exotic animals that escaped?”
As this is a live investigation, Lacks-Kelly is prohibited from speaking about the advancement of the case.
However, he explains that the illegal trafficking of animals is a major concern, and there is a common misconception that it only involves African countries with ivory from elephants.
“The message we are trying to get across to people is when you, when you talk illegal wildlife trade, quite often, you think of iconic species such as pangolins, rhino horns, elephant tusks, big cats and rare plants and flowers.
However, he said that the illegal wildlife trade is “alive and kicking within the UK and Scotland”.
According to traffic, the UK ranks as the 11th highest global importer and the 14th highest (re-)exporter of CITES-listed species.
Lacks-Kelly explained that the biggest threat in the UK is the trafficking of rare birds and their eggs.
Between 1975 and 2020, a total of 34,714 raptors were exported from the UK. Since the EU Wild Bird Trade Ban in 2005, all exports must be captive-bred.
The most trafficked raptor species in the UK is the peregrine falcon, often laundered into the legal trade. Lacks-Kelly stated that eggs or birds are frequently sent illegally overseas, particularly to the UAE.
Why trafficking eggs?
IN the UK, collecting eggs became illegal in 1954 and all wild birds, their nests and eggs are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.
However, egg trafficking is still alive.
In November, one address in Scotland and four in England were searched by the authorities as part of Operation Pulka, an international effort to tackle organised wildlife crime.
They recovered nearly 6000 rare bird eggs stored in attics, offices, and drawers across the UK, with thousands more found in Norway and Australia, bringing the total number of eggs recovered internationally to over 60,000.
“When you look at some statistics from the Amazon, 12 million birds and eggs disappear with the majority believed to go into the illegal wildlife trade,” Lacks-Kelly said.
“When you think illegal wildlife trade, you often think overseas but that's alive and kicking over here.”
He explained that people are interested in purchasing these eggs for “financial gain,” with collectors willing to pay more than £50,000 for a rare bird species egg to add to their collection.
In the UK, authorities focus on domestic issues related to the illegal trade of species such as badgers, bats, egg poaching, and the illegal killing of birds of prey.
Chris Jagger, senior manager for Law Enforcement at Traffic, said: "Illegal wildlife trade poses a threat to biodiversity and human security on both a local and global scale, with cases in Scotland ranging from smuggled rare bird eggs and freshwater pearl mussels to high-value wildlife products like ivory.
“We applaud the collaboration of police, border officials, and researchers in the UK and overseas who work to protect these species and remain committed to supporting efforts to conserve them.”
