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Source: Reuters
The illegal animal trade is on par with black market arms trading and improved policing is urgently needed, especially of online auctions sites.
A new paper from the University of Canberra reveals the trade is exploding and when caught, criminals are rarely handed the maximum punishment.
Organised criminal gangs are using internet sites like eBay to sell endangered native animals, author Erika Alacs says.
"The illegal trade of wildlife is one of the largest global black markets, on par with the illegal trade in drugs and guns and worth more than $US20 billion ($A29.3 billion) per year," Alacs said.
"Our unique and charismatic Australian wildlife is being plundered to end up as pets across the globe."
Because the trade was moving online, Alacs said, more monitoring needed to be done online.
"We should increase internet surveillance.
"The profits from this crime are huge and the penalties are not."
Alacs pointed to attempts to smuggle the Oenpelli Python, which is worth about $A40,000 on the black market.
"Our laws are probably the toughest internationally but 70% of people are let off with a fine."
The paper points to a large rise in the number of seizures by Customs. In 2004-05 there were 3,902 seizures and in 2006-07 that number had almost doubled to 7,533.
Alacs said the rise in the number may be due to increased security screening at airports.
More worrying is the apparent involvement of organised crime.
"Organised criminal networks conducting large-scale illegal wildlife smuggling operations spanning several countries have been detected in Australia," the paper said.
In June 2006, Customs discovered 25 kilograms of powder derived from seahorses sent from China to Australia and then illegally exported to New Zealand.
"We need tougher penalties issued," Ms Alacs said.
