Animal Smuggling

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Every year, thousands of live animals are discovered by customs officials around the world. Reptiles, birds, insects - whatever the demand calls for - are all smuggled using various techniques to transport and hide the animals in hope of avoiding detection. In 2015, a consignment of critically endangered cockatoos were rescued by police in Indonesia after being found stuffed into empty plastic bottles for illegal trading. The birds had gone from flying free to being bound and squashed into bottles, packed into a suitcase and transported across the world. Reptiles, amphibians and insects are sold for food or pets. They are kept in bare plastic boxes without food, water, heat or suitable ventilation. They are stacked on top of eachother in a horrific display, efficient to ship but tortuous to the animals.