Wildlife Alliance

A Close Look at Wildlife Trade

February 26, 2008

Originally Published by Malaysia Star

IF you haven't yet seen Animal Planet's Crime Scene Wild, you can still catch Steve Galster at work when he goes undercover to reveal and document some of the worst crimes in the wildlife world.

Using cutting-edge forensic and DNA technology to track wildlife smugglers and catch them in the act, Crime Scene Wild provides viewers with a behind-the-scenes look into the world of illegal wildlife trade.

Watch Galster in Big Cats (March 2, 2pm), where he uncovers new, chilling facets about the trade of some of the best-loved and most endangered animals on the planet. Travelling to the United States, Galster gets an idea of the scale of the problem. In Denver, they have seized big cat parts from all over the country and Galster is stunned by the quantity; massive corridors stacked with pieces of skins, bones and claws. It’s just the tip of the iceberg, though, because the million item haul here represents only a fraction of the trade

Next, catch Shahtoosh (March 3, 9pm). The Tibetan antelope or Chiru is one of the most endangered species on the planet. Living in the extreme conditions on the Tibetan plateau, they possess some of the finest wool in the animal kingdom. Demand for shahtoosh shawls threatens to completely wipe these amazing animals out. Each shawl requires three or four dead animals, and the financial rewards are huge. This trade is highly illegal, yet Chirou wool is found throughout the Western world.

Shark’s fin trade is also popular among hunters. In Sharks (March 10, 9pm), viewers will see Galster travelling across the globe. From the hub of the trade in Taiwan, to El Salvador, Costa Rica and Australia, and then circling back to Taiwan where he finds the proof he needs that this mindless slaughter is driving sharks to the brink of extinction.

Chimpanzees are not left out. In Central Africa, the hand of a chimpanzee is an expensive delicacy. In Bushmeat (March 17, 9pm), Chimps, gorillas and rare monkeys are being killed and eaten at such an alarming rate that in just 20 years they could be extinct. Galster sets out to investigate. The trail begins in London, where Galster uses an undercover contact to discover that smoked monkey meat really is available in East London. The search leads to an underworld gang dealing in drugs and other illegal goods.

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