As per the available records with the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB) of the Ministry, the incidents of leopard poaching are decreasing. The number of cases of recovery of body parts of leopards for the last three years and current year, as per the available records of the WCCB, based on the information received from State Forest and Police departments are as below:-
Year | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016(up to 30.6.2016) | No. of cases | 95 | 63 | 49 | 23 |
Ministry, through WCCB is taking the following steps to curb the poaching:- (i). Collection, collation and dissemination of intelligence on illegal trafficking of wildlife and its parts as well as wildlife crime to various agencies for apprehension of criminals. (ii). Coordination of inter-agency enforcement efforts in combating illegal wildlife crime. (iii). Sensitization and capacity building of agencies in enforcement of the provisions of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972. WCCB trained 1254 forest & police officials in 2013-14, 798 in 2014-2015, 1009 in 2015-16 and 309 in 2016-17 (up to 30.06.2016) in investigation of wildlife crimes. (iv). Awareness and education campaigns for various stakeholders, 2249 officials of BGFs, CISF, Coast Guard, DRI, Customs, forest police and judiciary etc. were sensitized about wildlife laws and related issues in 2013-14, 5927 in 2014-15, 2810 in 2015-16 and 396 in 2016-17 (up to 30.06.16). Apart from this 1235 PRI representation and villagers around the tiger reserves attended the awareness programmes in 2013-14, 1596 in 2014-15, 2425 in 2015-16 and 45 have so far attended in 2016-17 up to 30.06.16. (v). Joint operations with state enforcement agencies to apprehend criminals involved in illegal wildlife crime. (vi). Providing assistance to state enforcement agencies in investigation and prosecution of wildlife crime cases. (vii). The WCCB has collated criminal profiles of 919 wildlife criminals involved in the wildlife crime cases. Based on these profiles the WCCB has prepared a list of accused involved in poaching and illegal trade in tiger/leopard body parts; and the same has been circulated to concerned State and Central Agencies to maintain strict vigil over their movements and activities. This list is being updated regularly. (viii). The WCCB is issuing alerts and advisories on hunting and illegal trade of wildlife to concerned Central and State Agencies for preventive action. (ix). The WCCB has brought out the following publications for the capacity building of the field officers of relevant enforcement agencies” (x). Handbook for wildlife crime investigation officers on wildlife crime investigation. (xi). X-Ray Manual of wildlife products in illegal trade Identification Manual of Wildlife Species in trade. This information was given by Minister of State (Independent Charge) of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Shri Anil Madhav Dave, in a written reply to a question in Lok Sabha today.
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