The Uttarakhand forest department claims to be committed to preventing wildlife poaching in the State but expects its anti-poaching cell to deliver with just one official. The rich wildlife of the State is a magnet for poachers, especially those targeting big cats.
The authorities speak of undertaking new measures like establishing wildlife security coordination committees in districts sensitive from the viewpoint of wildlife crime. However, the existing anti-poaching cell has been left to function with only its director and no other staff.
Despite efforts taken by the department, poaching has continued in different areas of the State. Leopards top the list of poached wildlife with at least 62 leopards being poached last year while at least 10 leopards have been poached this year.
The Chief Conservator of Forest (Wildlife), Administration and Intelligence, and Director of the Anti-Poaching cell, S.K. Dutt, states that there is no staff in the cell at present. The cell has been working as best as it can but badly needs support from the department.
“I have submitted a proposal to the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests and Chief Wildlife Warden seeking more staff for the cell. The cell should have at least seven wildlife wardens, four foresters, four forest guards and four ex-armymen in order to work more efficiently against poaching and wildlife criminals,” he said.
The cell should also have a secret fund as in the police department to enable it to pay informers and for use in deals made by decoy customers with poachers and wildlife commodity dealers, said Dutt. Department officials state that the proposal is under process and action is likely to be taken in the near future.
However, wildlife activists point out that the department should have spruced up the anti-poaching cell long ago considering the spate of wildlife crimes in Uttarakhand. Even now, skeptics say that instead of taking new measures the department should first focus on strengthening this cell to protect the state’s wildlife.
