Ethiopian Airlines illegally involved in Wildlife Trafficking
Posted: Thu Sep 02, 2021 9:21 am
World Animal Protection (WAP), an international animal protection organization, has investigated the aviation industry’s role in wildlife transportation in West Africa. The report cites Ethiopian Airline as the linchpin of the network transporting wildlife from Africa to at least 18 countries around the world.
The report shows between 2016 and 2020 at least 25 different species of wildlife including reptiles, mammals, vertebrates and amphibians featured in at least 30 Ethiopian Airlines shipments. WAP had pictures taken of the many crates in which the wild animals were transported by Ethiopian Airlines, with stickers with destinations and cargo numbers. Photos were taken inside the containers to establish how the live animals were packed in the crates.
Patrick Muinde, Wildlife Campaigns Manager, WAP, said “It’s quite shocking because, Ethiopian Airline is playing critical role to distribute medical equipment and COVID-19 vaccines across the globe. But at the same time, it is transporting high risk mammals, that are known to have adjures pathogens. And that in a way is distributing a dangerous pathogen that can cause the next pandemic. So our key call is to ask Ethiopian Airlines to immediately stop transporting high risk mammals such as bat primates, and all live animal species.”
Ethiopian airlines is also accused of supporting the Ethiopian government’s war effort, by transporting military personnel and weaponry to the war in Tigray.
- Mongoose. Images of animals in shipping crates provides evidence that Egyptian mongooses were exported from Togo to Italy and Japan via Ethiopian Airlines.
Read the full report: Cargo of Cruelty: How Ethiopian Airlines is fuelling global wildlife trade