India Sets Up Wildlife Crime Control Bureau
by Kimberley D. Mok, Montreal, Canada on 01.23.08
With half of the world’s remaining tigers within its borders, the Indian government has finally stepped up to domestic and international pressure to keep poaching in check, announcing the opening of a wildlife crime control bureau on Wednesday.
India’s forests ministry said that the agency will consist of experts from multiple disciplines ranging from law enforcement, environmental organizations, revenue and customs departments. The bureau will also oversee efforts to conserve and prevent the smuggling of other endangered populations such as leopards and Tibetan antelopes, as well as medicinal herbs.
"The bureau would also aim to strengthen the enforcement at international trade exit points since the major demand for the wildlife and its products lies in overseas markets," said Kalpna Palkiwala of the Forests Ministry.
Under the 1975 international CITES treaty (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species) and signed by 171 nations, the trade of endangered wildlife and wildlife “products” such as tiger organs is considered illegal. Of course, this has not deterred poachers nor has it halted the thriving trade of tiger parts in China and Southeast Asia, which are primarily used in traditional Chinese medicines.
India’s government already gave the go-ahead for the bureau’s formation last summer when a partial survey revealed that tiger numbers were much lower than previously thought.
The final report, released late last year, is a culmination of two years of work by the state-run Wildlife Institute of India (WII). It showed that a mere 1,500 tigers are left in Indian national parks and forests in 2007 – down from 3,600 in 2003. During India’s independence, there were 40,000 estimated tigers - a far cry from today's dwindling numbers.
In states such as Chattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Rajasthan – which used to be home to most of India’s tiger population – may only have less than 500 tigers left.
::Earthtimes.org
See also ::Against The Odds: Tigers Resurface In Indian Rainforest, ::China's Tiger Trade Ban: It's Grrreat! But Will It Last?
Image: Confiscated tiger skins and bones, Againess
Thirsty for more? Check out these related articles:
- China Stepping Up to Halt Internet WIldlife Trade
- Canada Kills Over 500 Narlwhals - An Endangered Species
- China's Coal Fires Burn 20 Million Tons of Coal Per Year
- Teaching by Example: The Road to Galapagos
Most Huggable: Cohousing Save Cash, Big Green Purse, Recycled Tires in Playgrounds + More
|
Matteriashop: Good Design + Smart Materials – a New Online Shop
|
A great initiative. But, with the rampant corru[tion and bribery in India then it remains to be seen how effective it will be.
someday there will only be zoos, we are lucky to live at an age where man an animal coexist. Non human animals are a true glimpse of the primitive nature in man - if only we were modest enough to learn from other animals instead of destroy them.
Hi Mr.Rejser bulgarien
What u said is corrrect. We in India are much shamed for the corrupt officials who serve for money than the real purpose for the post.
Even the Top Bollywood stars and veteren Cricketer is involved in shooting deers last year and still not "Punished'!!
So think about the rest!!
May be some methoods of good price money for the team which capture or prevent these crime or some thing like that sort end the corruption.
infact the officials here are paid less ,more than 12 hours of work and are not eqipped properly with advanced euipments ,transports and other communication and survillance equipments as in advanced nations.
Also the puplic are not much aware about conservation and whose farm lands are near the forest area blame the officials when the animals break the territory .
Imediate action needed!!
Definitively the governments must intervene in the subject. But to the people whom they capture doing this, they must sanction severely.