Illegal trade of rare and disappearing species of flora and fauna is one of the significant threats for biodiversity. By opinion of experts, the profit from illegal sale of wild species of flora and fauna makes up from 500 to 1000% and annual world trade turnover of wild animals and plants makes up about USA $ 10 billion. A great part of this turnover is illegal.
The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) was founded in 1973 with the purpose of preservation of rare species of animals and plants. The Convention regulates the transference of these species through boarders of the states – members of CITES. Uzbekistan joined to this Convention in 1997. The CITES Convention includes three Supplements in which about 34000 ob objects are entered. In the first Supplement the species that are under threat of disappearance are included.
Lately the Department of Smuggling of the customs post of the Tashkent airport has detained the unique cargo – these were the rarest specimens of wild animals. They were intended for ‘true connoisseurs of animals’ in Uzbekistan. These animals were sent from Bangkok without special accompanying, authorization and identification documents. After detaining the animals were conveyed to the Zoo, where specialists-zoologists examined them. The scientists defined that these animals were: the couple of Pygmy Slow Lorises, seven individuals of Yellow-crested Cockatoo and ten Common Hill Mynas.
Besides that, there were a couple of Clouded Leopard kittens among the contraband cargo. Clouded Leopard is rarest species of fauna included into the first Supplement of CITES Convention. The kittens were of 3-5 mouths age.
Clouded Leopard is marked out as especial genus that takes a intermediated position between Pantherinae and Felinae. The usual weight of this animal is 16-20 kg. In spite of its name, this beast is not concerned with genuine leopards. Its body is 62-100cm. in length. Its hair is thick with beautiful pattern of wide and narrow marks in a share of circles and ovals and has effective coloration. Clouded Leopard is spread in the South Asia. It is typical inhabitant of dense tropical forest, bushes and swamps where it usually lives in trees.
Unicity and beauty of many animals is the main threat for their surviving and preservation as species on the Earth. Birds, animals, reptiles and fishes becomes hostages of the exotic fashion. The fate of ‘alive toys’ got into a home zoo mostly is tragic and sad. It is very difficult to keep them. For example, Pygmy Slow Loris is very sensitive to temperature changes, fastidious about food and can be aggressive in day-time. Living in unhabitual conditions without the skilled treatment, animals start falling ill, become aggressive and soon dead or are thrown out.
Besides that animals caught in the wild nature may be disease carriers and threaten to the health of all members of a family living near a home zoo.
What will happen with the animals ‘arrested’ by the customs service in the Tashkent airport? After the procedure of adaptation and acclimatization, the Tashkent Zoo, will evidently become their home. And thus the animals will be given a chance to survival by receiving the skilled treatment. All necessary conditions will be created for their keeping because the specialists- scientific workers of the Zoo – will now devote themselves to these animals.
Expressing the common opinion of ecologists, employees of the State Committee for Nature Protection and the Republican Inspection for Protection and Rational Use of Flora and Fauna and the community, we want to thank the employees of the Department of Smuggling of the customs post of the Tashkent airport for their vigilance, adherence to principles and professionalism.

N. Shivaldova