Wildlife Trafficking and Natural Disasters: Recent Events in South Africa and Nepal > 월드뉴스

South African police have arrested two Thai nationals in connection with attempts to smuggle endangered parrot eggs out of the country. The first arrest occurred on August 20 at OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg, where a 50-year-old Thai man was found carrying 50 bird eggs in a homemade incubator within his hand luggage. Preliminary investigations indicated that these eggs belong to parrot species protected under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). The specific species has not been disclosed.

The second arrest involved a 23-year-old Thai national on July 16 at the same airport, who allegedly attempted to smuggle 418 parrot eggs in two homemade incubator bags. The Thai embassy in South Africa has yet to respond to inquiries regarding these incidents. South Africa faces significant challenges with wildlife smuggling, including the trafficking of rhino horns and illegally farmed tiger bones. The environment ministry emphasized that the illegal collection and trafficking of parrot eggs threaten wild bird populations and animal welfare.

Authorities are currently incubating the seized eggs at the National Zoological Garden in Pretoria, where several have successfully hatched and are receiving veterinary care. The arrests resulted from a joint operation led by the Environmental Management Inspectorate, known as the "Green Scorpions," alongside police intelligence and border units. South African law imposes severe penalties for the illegal export of CITES-listed species, including fines of up to 10 million rand and potential prison sentences.

Flash floods along the Himalayan border between Nepal and Tibet have resulted in at least 95 fatalities and left hundreds missing. The disaster, triggered by a torrent of mud, water, and debris from a river, has devastated infrastructure in Nepal, destroying homes, roads, bridges, and power plants. Officials in Tibet have expressed concerns over potential major casualties.

Authorities have issued warnings for residents in multiple districts to avoid the Bhote Koshi, Trishuli, and Narayani rivers. Reports indicate that 384 tourists, including individuals from India, the United States, the United Kingdom, and Malaysia, are among the missing. Additionally, 44 army personnel and 30 police officers are unaccounted for, along with one Australian tourist who was part of a group traveling with Kathmandu Holiday Tours and Travels.

The floods are believed to have been caused by an ice-rock avalanche from a glacier, which led to a sudden surge in the Lhende Khola river, a tributary of the Bhote Koshi. Flood alerts have also been issued for the Indian states of Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, which border Nepal and are downstream of the affected rivers.

Nepalese police have been unable to fully assess the extent of the damage due to the ongoing crisis. Rescuers reported that helicopters could not land in severely affected areas until river waters recede. Eyewitness accounts describe widespread devastation, with entire settlements swept away. Nepal's Prime Minister Balendra Shah has mobilized police and military personnel for search and rescue operations. China's President Xi Jinping has called for comprehensive search efforts for the missing and improved monitoring systems to prevent further disasters.