Wildlife crimes getting more organized in country: Experts

The Times of India , Friday, August 02, 2013
Correspondent : Bagish K Jha
INDORE: Poor rate of conviction and lack of political and administrative willpower is the biggest obstacle in checking wildlife trade and crime in the country, said experts gathered at the workshop on wildlife conservation held in Indore on Tuesday.

Only three per cent of accused are convicted in wildlife crime cases even as the wildlife trade and crimes are getting organized with developing international links.

"Low risk and high profit is luring more people to this trade. Low rate of conviction has failed to dissuade traditional poaching tribe to abandon this profession," said head of TRAFFIC India Dr Shekhar Kumar Niraj.

M Marco from World Crime Control Bureau said forest department does not show much seriousness in filing complaints in cases of wildlife crimes. Many a time, they even fail to substantiate the charges with proper investigation due to which cases lose strength and accused comes out free.

Experts present there said that seizure of skins and bones of animals cannot alone ensure conviction. Follow up investigation, interrogation of accused and recording their statements are equally important to nail the accused. Initial level of complaint filing is also very important.

Multi-departmental approach is needed to check wildlife trade and crime. This kind of trade can be check only with coordinated approach between forest department, police, revenue department, CBI, border agencies and intelligence as the persons involved in such crimes frequently change their places. They even change their state and countries to evade eyes of cops.

"Forest department alone can do little in curbing wildlife crimes," said Niraj.

Two decades ago, except tiger trade other wildlife trades were isolated crime. Now those involved in wildlife trade are getting highly organized. In 95 per cent cases, kingpins remain out of the clutch of law enforcement agencies and only foot soldiers are nabbed.

 
SOURCE : http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/environment/flora-fauna/Wildlife-crimes-getting-more-organized-in-country-Experts/articleshow/21526501.cms
 


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