The Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB), the country’s top wildlife crime control agency, is currently facing a shortage of staff, with nearly half of its total posts remaining unfilled across various departments. The bureau’s highest position that of Additional Director is currently being handled by Joint Director HV Girisha, who has been given additional responsibilities.
According to data available on the WCCB website, out of the 109 sanctioned posts, 42 are currently vacant.
Wildlife campaigners express concern that this acute shortage at various levels is impeding the bureau’s functioning. The WCCB, established under the Union Environment Ministry to combat organised wildlife crime, plays a crucial role in preserving India’s biodiversity.
Among the vacant positions, three out of the four Deputy Director posts remain unfilled, while half of the six Assistant Director posts are yet to be occupied. The bureau is also facing a significant shortage of head constables, with 15 out of the 25 sanctioned posts remaining vacant.
In an unusual circumstance, the bureau currently lacks a public prosecutor to represent its cases in court. External lawyers are being hired on a contract basis as and when required.
The WCCB has advertised various positions, including that of additional director, but is yet to find suitable candidates. In March of this year, the bureau announced job openings for 13 Head Constable positions as part of its recruitment drive, according to a Union Environment Ministry official.
Efforts are underway to fill all the vacant positions, as the WCCB, being a sensitive organisation, cannot function effectively without adequate and trained staff. Wildlife crime continues to occur unabated, with smugglers adopting new methods, including online platforms, for trafficking animal live and parts.
Despite the shortage, the WCCB, in collaboration with State Governments, has conducted seizures and dismantled trafficking networks.
For example, in May, the bureau, along with the Punjab Forest Department, seized 186 shahtoosh shawls from shops in Amritsar and Pathankot. In April, the WCCB, in conjunction with Ladakh’s forest officials, confiscated 213 shahtoosh shawls from traders in Leh.
However, these operations represent only a fraction of the larger challenge, as a fully staffed bureau would have more resources to apprehend wildlife criminals.
In an article titled “Current Wildlife Crime (Indian Scenario): Major Challenges and Prevention Approaches,” Ajay Kumar Rana from the Central Forensic Science Laboratory, Ministry of Home Affairs, Hyderabad, and Nishant Kumar from the Department of Agriculture, Bihar Government, highlight the alarming transit routes for wildlife trafficking through States such as Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka, West Bengal, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Assam.
These regions serve as major hubs for both domestic and international wildlife trafficking.
The researchers emphasise the urgent need to combat ongoing wildlife crimes, increase the protection of endangered species, rehabilitate exotic/extinct species, and restore natural ecosystems. The poaching and trafficking of wild species, driven by profit and fashion, have already caused the disappearance of numerous wildlife species, demanding critical attention to address this menace.3
