Jet Airways supports global initiative against wildlife trafficking

MUMBAI – Jet Airways, India’s premier international airline has signed the ‘Buckingham Palace Declaration’ and affirmed its support to the global fight against illegal wildlife trafficking.

 

The declaration was signed by Jet Airways in the presence of His Royal Highness Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, during the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge’s visit to New Delhi.

 

By becoming a signatory to the United for Wildlife (UFW) International Taskforce on the Transportation of Illegal Wildlife Products, Jet Airways becomes one of the few airlines in Asia Pacific to join the initiative.

 

The Duke of Cambridge, who set up the Taskforce in 2014, under the auspices of the UFW, hailed the Declaration as “A game changer in the race against extinction.”

 

Naresh Goyal, Chairman, Jet Airways said, “Jet Airways has always been at the forefront of implementing best practices in the aviation industry. As a responsible corporate citizen, Jet Airways recognizes the universal concern for wildlife conservation and pledges to help root out the global scourge of wildlife trafficking. We hope that this collective action will help combat poaching, and protect and preserve our fragile wildlife ecosystem.”

 

Signatories to the Declaration will uphold the eleven commitments, which raise standards across the transportation industry to prevent traffickers from exploiting weaknesses as they seek to covertly move their products from the killing field to the marketplace. The list includes adopting a zero-tolerance approach to wildlife trade, increasing awareness among staff and guests about its nature, scale and consequences, and encouraging peers in the transport sector to join the effort.

 

The Declaration also covers information sharing, detection, implementation of practical measures to stop transport of illegal wildlife products and developing new mechanisms to combat the issue.

 

United for Wildlife was created by the Royal Foundation of the Duke of Cambridge HRH Prince William and his wife, Duchess of Cambridge, and HRH Prince Harry. The organisation unites the world’s leading wildlife charities under a common purpose: to create a global movement for change.

 

Jet Airways has been taking proactive initiatives to curb illegal wildlife trafficking. The airline was awarded the ‘2014 Henry Spira Humane Corporate Progress Award’ by Humane Society International in recognition and appreciation of the airline’s policy to enforce a ban on shipments of shark fins as cargo to curb the illegal trade of shark fins.