Some good news from the wildlife conservation front for a change. Reuters reports that Brazilian federal police arrested 72 people accused of running an international smuggling ring that trading in wild animals. Police had 102 warrants, but could not execute them all in Operation Oxossi. The ring smuggled captured animals from parks and ecological reserves, including endangered species such as jaguars, snakes, monkeys and tropical birds, that bring high prices on the international market. One endangered Blue Macaw egg could bring as much as $3800 in Europe making the wildlife trade more lucrative in some cases than drug trafficking. The global trade in animals and their parts is worth $10 to $20 billion a year ranking third behind arms sales and drugs according to Brazil's National Network Against Wild Animal Trade (Renctas). The organization estimated in 2001 that 38 million wild animals were poached every year. Captured animals usually suffer in inhuman conditions after being taken. Only about a third survive to be sold. Police associated with the arrests say the traffickers are being charged under criminal anti-gang statutes making convictions with prison sentences more likely. Typically those charged with animal trafficking only face fines. Many small time traders are poor indigenous people with few options for making a living.[photo: www.msu.edu, Pantera onca]