Mongoose-hair paintbrushes put species at risk

Consignment of 1,300 brushes seized in India

January 2012: Indian mongoose is at risk of being literally painted out of existence.

RAMPANT TRADE: Mongoose paintbrushes

Thousands of mongoose are being killed in India each year as a result of the continued global demand for paint brushes made from mongoose hair. Make-up artists, painters and even children in many countries are unwitting accomplices to this brutal slaughter in India - considered a major illegal exporter.

‘The trade is rampant but rarely highlighted, as the focus remains on the larger more charismatic mammals,' says Jose Louies of the Wildlife Trust of India (WTI).

Eight-month covert operation
The continued trade in mongoose-hair paintbrushes has been proven by occasional seizures in the country. The latest was the seizure of a consignment of 1,300 brushes, and arrest of a trader by the Kolkata authorities. It was a result of an eight-month long covert investigation by the WTI's Enforcement Assistance Team, following a tip-off received from the United States.

Interrogation revealed that the accused had been exporting mongoose hair paintbrushes, among other banned wildlife products, for more than two decades.

The accused also admitted that ‘these paint brushes are preferred by artists and also used in fashion industry as a make-up kit accessory'. A wily trader, he advised the proxy buyer to courier the goods rather than carrying them on his person, prompting comparison to the trade in illegal drugs.

The accused reportedly had a lucrative business running, dealing with buyers in at least seven countries over the internet.
‘This is yet another incident to show that we need to spare focus on the virtual world too for wildlife protection,' added Louies, who had carried out the groundwork leading to the first arrest of online wildlife traders in India in 2008. This is the fourth online wildlife crime cracked by the WTI team since then.

Mongoose now get same legal protection as tigers
The persecution of mongoose for production of paintbrushes was made common knowledge by the award-winning documentary A Brush With Death by Syed Fayaz and WTI, produced as part of a study that began in April 2002. The documentary contained footage of undercover operations revealing the scale and brutality of the trade; it was screened before policy makers, media and wildlife conservationists to generate awareness.

‘A number of seizures were carried out with our team assisting authorities in various parts of the country during the study,' recalled Ashok Kumar, vice-chairman, WTI. ‘One particular seizure in Moradabad, Uttar Pradesh, involved a haul of paintbrushes that amounted to 50,000 dead mongoose.'

Acting swiftly, the Indian government upgraded all species of mongoose under the wildlife protection act, giving it the same level of protection as the tiger. A conviction for illegal trade at present, can lead to a maximum sentence of seven years' imprisonment.

'Blood-stained paintbrushes could cause species to become extinct'
Mongoose also find international protection through restriction of exports, being listed in Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna (CITES).

A case has been registered against the accused in the latest seizure in Kolkata. However, the accused is now on conditional bail granted to him for medical reasons.

‘This seizure was not as big as the earlier seizures, but it clearly indicates an overseas demand for these paint brushes. Do we or our children really need to use these blood-stained paintbrushes that can cause these species to become extinct, when there are alternatives available? We cannot afford to lose our wildlife to lack of awareness or apathy, and tackling this requires concerted effort,' said Kumar, calling for teachers and parents to help prevent unknowing use of mongoose hair paintbrushes by children.

Courtesy of Wildlife Trust of India (WTI)