Bengal first, Maha second in wildlife crimes in India in 2018: Govt data
MUMBAI: West Bengal followed by Maharashtra recorded maximum wildlife crime cases in 2018, according to the Union environment ministry.
Of 388 cases of wildlife crime recorded across India last year, West Bengal recorded 55 cases while 50 cases were recorded in Maharashtra. Other states with high number of cases included Assam (42), Uttar Pradesh (35), Tamil Nadu (32), and Madhya Pradesh (29).
Maximum cases in Maharashtra involved poaching of leopards, tigers, sloth bears, and wild pigs while elephants, leopards and tigers were wildlife at risk in West Bengal.
The information was based on data collated by the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB) from various state forest departments and police. Maharashtra also recorded its highest number of cases since 2016 as prior to 2018 45 and 39 cases were recorded in 2016 and 2017 while West Bengal recorded 66 and 59 during both years. Minister of State (Environment) Babul Supriyo tabled responses before Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha while answering two separate questions on Friday.
“The data is indicative of better enforcement across these states to address the issue of wildlife crime,” said MS Negi, additional director general of forest (wildlife), Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MOEFCC). “Cases are high in these two states as
Maharashtra
Assam
Uttar Pradesh
Madhya Pradesh
(Source: Ministry of Environment
Forests and Climate Change)
they act as zones from where wildlife parts are intended to be transported out of the country with Mumbai and Kolkata acting as transit hubs.
However, strict vigilance and coordination between the state’s forest departments, WCCB, and at times even the Interpol has ensured cross border trade is stopped and speedy prosecution of poachers is done to curb illegal trade.”
The environment ministry also listed out efforts taken by Maharashtra government to ensure wildlife crime is curtailed (see box) but did not provide any
similar information for West Bengal. “Most of the crimes in Maharashtra are related to snaring (using wires) or electrocution. Both issues have been addressed through specific measures. We also have a dedicated wildlife cyber cell where inter-state cases of poaching have been tracked down and nexus busted,” said Nitin Kakodkar, principal chief conservator of forest (wildlife), Maharashtra.
MOEFCC also presented data that leopards (81) accounted for most cases (21%) of wildlife crime (388) in India followed by scheduled birds (61), tigers (42),
star tortoises and other species of turtles (39), deer (36), and elephants (27).
“Wildlife crime related to leopards has been more owing to a population increase across states like Maharashtra as well as t heir close proximity t o human-dominated landscape in search of food,” said M Maranko, regional deputy director (west), WCCB. “Villagers living on the fringes of forest patches are setting up wire snares to trap animals like wild boars, deer and rabbits for bush meat. However, big cats are being caught in these traps.”