With anti-poaching squad defunct, wildlife trade flourishes

The Times of India , Wednesday, December 31, 2014
Correspondent : Vijay Pinjarkar
Nagpur: With the anti-poaching squad attached to Nagpur Territorial Circle going completely defunct, there is a spurt in illegal trade of wild animals and birds listed in various Schedules of Wildlife Protection Act (WPA) 1972, not only in the city but in entire Vidarbha where the squad has its jurisdiction.

On August 30, 1980, state government had set up two anti-poaching units attached to the deputy conservators (wildlife) in Thane and Nagpur. However, considering the fact that wildlife crime was more focused outside the protected areas (PAs), these units were attached to territorial circles from 2006.

There has virtually been no action against illegal traders and sellers openly trading birds like parakeets, titar and baters (partridges & quails) in city's infamous markets in Lakadganj, Mangalwari Bazar, Tulsibagh, and Shanichara. These birds are listed under Schedule IV of the WPA. Even keeping parakeets at home as pets is illegal.

"There are reports that even peacock, chital and wild boar meat is being served at select dhabas on Amravati Road. Ahead of New Year, these dhaba owners seem to make a killing in more ways than one," a senior official said.

Anti-poaching squad has precious little to show for as its achievement. "For the past one year, the post of ACF and RFO (anti-poaching squad) are under additional charge. Only one guard is posted with the squad, whose jurisdiction spreads over Nagpur, Amravati, Chandrapur forest circles, covering roughly an area of 32,000 sq km," said officials.

No raids are being conducted in the city or outside. Recently, there was some action against bush meat sellers in Brahmapuri and Chimur and four firearms were seized but that was on a tip-off from NGO Wildlife Protection Society of India (WPSI). Even main accused in selling two leopard skins Shravan Waghmare in Bhiwapur was nabbed by wildlife wing staff.

Devendra Jain, an animal welfare activist from Hasanbagh, said, "For the past one month on every Sunday, I've been witnessing sale of parakeets, hare and other birds in Lakadganj. When I passed on the information to rescue wing RFO, he blamed Seminary Hills RFO for the mess. I don't know whom to inform. This is despite the fact that the forest check-post is just 100-200 metres away from the illegal market in Lakadganj."

Jain added the bird sellers had changed their strategy and now bring birds in bags instead of displaying them in cages. Peacock feathers are also being sold. Though there is no ban on it officials could check their source. There is no review of the anti-poaching squad by senior officials.

The territorial officials, who are more interested in transfer and posting guards and foresters, recruitment, forest land diversion, khasras, and okaying illegal mining and quarrying, encroachments etc, have forgotten that an anti-poaching squad exists. "The government has given them vehicles and secret funds to develop intelligence network. Yet there are no results," said officials.

"With large-scale tiger poaching on record in the last two years, the squad has been a mute spectator and did nothing to arrest poachers or support court action thereafter. Sometimes we feel it is high time the squad was disbanded," they said.

"When the officials can't nab poachers in plain sight, how could you expect them to protect animals in forest," asked Jain. The officials don't have a system nor will to stop killing of wildlife, he added.

 
SOURCE : http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/nagpur/With-anti-poaching-squad-defunct-wildlife-trade-flourishes/articleshow/45695409.cms
 


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