- The growing crisis of biopiracy and the illegal wildlife trade
Sri Lanka is one of the world’s 34 recognised biodiversity hotspots. It boasts the highest biodiversity per unit area among Asian countries. Our varied ecosystems include rainforests, wetlands, and coastal areas, all of which provide habitats for a remarkable array of flora and fauna.
However, this biodiversity faces critical threats from habitat loss due to urbanisation, deforestation, and climate change. While conservation efforts are underway and there is progress, we can sometimes overlook some of our most unique conservation challenges.
Sri Lanka’s unique biodiversity faces a growing crisis from Illegal Wildlife Trade (IWT) and biopiracy, two clandestine industries that generate billions of dollars worldwide but devastate ecosystems and economies. The impact is especially pronounced in biodiversity-rich countries like Sri Lanka, where vulnerable species and valuable genetic resources are exploited.
This month’s WNPS Monthly Lecture focuses on the issues of illegal wildlife trade and biopiracy, with two leading counter-wildlife trafficking experts, Samantha Gunasekara and Hasantha Kaushalya sharing their perspectives and recommendations, providing crucial insights into how these threats affect the country’s environment, economy, and security, and what we can do to combat them.
Ahead of the public lecture, The Sunday Morning Brunch sat down with Gunasekara and Kaushalya for some insight into how illegal wildlife trafficking and biopiracy stand to affect our environment, economy, and security.
Understanding the scale of the problem
Illegal wildlife trade is a massive underground industry that generates an estimated $ 23 billion globally each year. “It’s a complex, illicit industry,” explained Kaushalya, a counter-wildlife trafficking expert with over 15 years of experience at Sri Lanka Customs.
“It affects not just the biodiversity of Sri Lanka but global diversity as well, especially through the illegal trafficking of live animals. Illegal wildlife trafficking poses threats to native wildlife populations and can damage our ecosystems through the introduction of invasive species and foreign zoonotic diseases our ecosystems cannot cope with,” he said.
The term ‘wildlife’ under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) covers all animal and plant products, parts, and derivatives. This broad definition means that any part of a species, including products derived from it (e.g. oils, extracts, and seeds), may be subject to regulation and illegal trade.
“Reptiles are especially at risk due to the illegal wildlife trade because of their demand as exotic pets, with Sri Lankan star tortoises, endemic lizards, and some snakes being trafficked primarily for the pet trade,” Kaushalya shared.
Beyond the trafficking of live animals, he also noted that in his experience at Customs, marine species like sharks were also targeted, with their fins traded in large volumes to meet demand for delicacies abroad. The complexity of the illegal wildlife trade even includes ornamental plants and protected trees like kothala himbutu and sandalwood, with trafficking often disguised as legal exports or exploiting loopholes within existing frameworks for legal trade.
The ecological toll of illegal wildlife trade goes beyond the direct loss of biodiversity. It can destabilise entire ecosystems and introduce foreign pathogens that threaten native wildlife, agriculture, and human health. For example, trafficked animals that bypass quarantine pose a significant biosecurity risk.
“Wildlife smuggling can introduce diseases not yet present in the country,” Kaushalya warned, explaining that pathogens could also reach humans. Invasive species introduced by this trade can wreak havoc on local ecosystems. “Species like the alligator gar fish have been found in our waterways, where they prey on native species and disrupt the balance of the ecosystem,” he explained.
Sri Lanka’s agriculture and food security are also impacted by IWT, as invasive species and diseases can affect livestock and crops, leading to economic losses. Kaushalya pointed out that “wildlife trafficking is linked to other forms of illegal activities, including drug and arms smuggling,” showing that the trade was a gateway to broader security issues.
Department of Wildlife Conservation (DWC) Director Operations Ranjan Marasinghe also spoke to Brunch about the scale of wildlife trafficking, stressing that one of the DWC’s key challenges when it came to apprehending traffickers was obtaining intelligence.
“Trackers [and their activities] are not visible to the public. Recently, the media has been reporting increased raids, confiscations, and prosecutions in relation to wildlife.
“This is largely because in 2012, we created the Sri Lanka Wildlife Enforcement Network – a semi-formal group where all law enforcement agencies, from the Attorney General to the Police to the Forest Department to the National Zoological Gardens to the National Botanic Gardens all work together and share information on activities they notice,” Marasinghe shared.
He also said that this network of law enforcement working together also filled in gaps like identifying different flora and fauna species that were being trafficked. Additionally, the network has also focused on capacity building for agents to ensure that knowledge and skill in intelligence gathering as well as forensic training are developed to better identify and combat trafficking operations.
“All these interventions have resulted in the recent increase in reports of raids, confiscations, and prosecutions in relation to wildlife trafficking and exploitation,” Marasinghe said, noting that the DWC had observed links between illegal wildlife trafficking networks and other larger crime bases like money laundering and organised crime.
The theft of genetic heritage
Beyond the trafficking of live animals and plants, Sri Lanka is also vulnerable to biopiracy, where genetic information from native species is extracted, often without permission, for commercial gain abroad.
Former Deputy Director of Customs Samantha Gunasekara, a veteran in wildlife crime detection, clarified that biopiracy was “the unauthorised collection of genetic material from plants and animals for commercial purposes”. This practice has been on the rise as advances in genetic technology allow companies to take genetic sequences from Sri Lankan species and use them to develop products, often without needing physical samples.
Gunasekara warned that biopiracy deprived Sri Lanka of economic benefits and intellectual property rights. “Plants like kothala himbutu have been patented hundreds of times for their active compounds, yet Sri Lanka doesn’t see a cent of that revenue,” he pointed out.
Foreign companies gain exclusive patents on compounds from Sri Lankan plants and sometimes even the intellectual rights over certain plant varieties, which restricts Sri Lanka from benefiting from its own resources. “When they take genetic material and monopolise it through patents, we lose our rights, our revenue, and sometimes our very ability to produce similar products locally,” he added.
The long-term consequences of biopiracy are serious. As foreign entities patent more of Sri Lanka’s genetic resources, the country’s ability to use its biodiversity for future research, conservation, and commercial development diminishes.
Both illegal wildlife trade and biopiracy have social and economic impacts that go beyond the immediate loss of biodiversity. For communities dependent on local wildlife, these practices remove critical resources.
Additionally, Kaushalya shared that wildlife trafficking was often intertwined with other criminal networks and organised crimes such as drug smuggling and arms trafficking. He warned that this created a national security threat, as the channels used to smuggle live animals could also be exploited to transport other illegal goods or even weapons.
The economic impact extends to Sri Lanka’s tourism industry, which relies heavily on the country’s natural beauty and wildlife. As local species are depleted by trafficking and foreign species disrupt ecosystems, the very foundation of this sector is at risk.
Gunasekara noted that biopiracy was especially damaging because “we’re losing future revenue by not protecting our intellectual rights”. Without adequate legal protection, Sri Lanka cannot prevent companies from exploiting its unique resources, leading to potential economic loss in the long term.
Constant vigilance is key
The fight against illegal wildlife trade and biopiracy requires a coordinated effort from both Government agencies and the public. Law enforcement agencies such as Customs play a frontline role, intercepting trafficked species and monitoring borders.
However, Kaushalya stressed that public involvement was also essential. “The public can help by being vigilant, reporting suspicious activities, and questioning the origins of any wildlife they purchase, especially exotic pets,” he said. Educated consumers who demand verification can discourage illegal trade by refusing to buy animals or plants that may have been trafficked.
The rise of social media has also empowered citizens to hold authorities accountable. “People can easily circulate issues and make sure authorities are doing their job,” Kaushalya noted. By supporting local enforcement efforts, the public can contribute to dismantling trafficking networks.
Marasinghe noted that the public’s ability to help was limited because wildlife traffickers were skilled at moving under the radar, especially if they favoured using sea routes to smuggle wildlife.
However, this is not the case if traffickers use land routes; therefore, he stressed that this should not discourage the public from attempting to make a difference.
“The best way the public can help is by reporting things they witness. They can contact the DWC directly on our hotline – 1992 – to report any suspicious activity. My message to the public is to share any information they have with us – their privacy will be maintained and the information they give will never be revealed publicly.
“Additionally, if the information they provided leads to a successful raid and court case, depending on the amount of time and the gravity of the offence they helped discover, they are also eligible for a reward.”
Gunasekara, meanwhile, called for more local research and development to counter biopiracy. “Our scientists should focus on local production and patenting to protect our resources and retain economic benefits,” he advised.
Citing a successful example of Sri Lankan-owned intellectual property, he noted: “To my knowledge, only one Sri Lankan brand has patented products, showcasing how local companies can protect and profit from our natural resources.” By investing in research and securing patents, Sri Lanka can prevent foreign exploitation and cultivate a sustainable economy based on its own biodiversity.
IWT and biopiracy are not just environmental issues – they are challenges that affect Sri Lanka’s economy, security, and national heritage. The lucrative global market for wildlife and genetic resources continues to pose a severe threat to Sri Lanka’s unique biodiversity.
“We’re losing our rights, revenue, and our ability to sustain our resources,” Gunasekara warned, urging citizens and policymakers to act decisively while highlighting that awareness, vigilance, and responsible consumer choices were the first lines of defence against these threats.
As Sri Lanka confronts the complexities of wildlife trade and biopiracy, collective action and sustainable practices can preserve the country’s invaluable natural heritage for future generations.
Info box
Gunasekara and Kaushalya will dive deeper into the themes of illegal wildlife trafficking and biopiracy in the November edition of the Nations Trust WNPS Monthly Lecture, which will take place at 6 p.m. on Thursday (21) at the Lotus Hall, BMICH. The lecture is supported by Nations Trust Bank and is open to both members and non-members, free of charge