Wildlife crimes should be stopped: WCCB official

Hyderabad: Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB) Additional Director Tilotama Varma on Wednesday said the main reason for smuggling and hunting of wildlife was the increase in its demand along with their body parts in the international market. Most rare animals are on the brink of extinction due to ruthless hunting in the guise of unscientific […]

Hyderabad: Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB) Additional Director Tilotama Varma on Wednesday said the main reason for smuggling and hunting of wildlife was the increase in its demand along with their body parts in the international market.

Most rare animals are on the brink of extinction due to ruthless hunting in the guise of unscientific beliefs, Varma said, during the 15th coordination meeting with the agencies at Aranya Bhavan here.

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Varma said the ruthless act of hunting animals should be stopped. Wildlife crimes could be stopped with proper coordination with the departments concerned and with neighbouring States coupled with the massive awareness among people.

Officials from Forest, Police, National Tiger Conservation Authority, Directorate of Revenue Intelligence, Enforcement Directorate, Customs, Railways, Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), Forensics, Centre for Cellular & Molecular Biology (CCMB), Zoological Survey of India, Bureau of Indian Standards, Department of Posts and national-level agencies discussed in detail the modus operandi of hunting and wildlife smuggling and necessary
steps to be taken to contain it.

One of the crucial aspects that were discussed during the meeting was strengthening the intelligence network at the field-level. Varma gave a power-point presentation on different types of smuggling of wildlife.

Proper training should be given to the security staff to keep a tab on transport vehicles of various agencies along with the employees of the departments concerned. Principal Chief Conservator of Forests and Head of Forest Force R Sobha, who was also present at the meeting, explained various steps taken to prevent hunting.

Increasing the number of check-posts, coordination with neighbouring States, using assistance from the intelligence department and ensuring stern punishment to those involved in wildlife crimes were some measures taken by the Forest department.

Setting up separate teams of watchers along with anti-poaching and flying squads were also constituted in tiger reserve areas and reserve forests in the State. A toll-free number – 18004255364 was also established to receive complaints pertaining to wildlife crimes.

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