Wildlife activists in Uttarakhand fear that with many Forest Department staff members occupied in relief operations in disaster affected areas, poachers and wildlife criminals might take advantage of the situation.
Two persons were arrested with a leopard pelt by the Pithoragarh police SOG on Monday taking the total number of leopard pelts seized this year is more than two dozen. It will be recalled that following the disaster experienced in the mountainous regions of Uttarakhand, the Forest Department too deputed its staff members to aid in the rescue and relief operations with about 1,000 department personnel involved during the peak of the rescue and relief efforts. Though department officials state that there is little scope for wildlife criminals exploiting the situation, an alert has already been declared by the department.
Recently there were reports of poachers entering wildlife rich areas in Chamoli district. According to Wildlife Protection Society of India (WPSI) Uttarakhand in-charge Rajendra Agrawal, the wildlife criminals would also have noticed that the department personnel have been diverted to relief operations. “It is quite possible that the poachers will try to take advantage of this situation and poach wildlife in the State. The department states that it is on alert but it needs to be more alert to effectively curtail poaching. With the leopard pelt seizure from Pithoragarh on Monday, the number of leopard pelts seized so this year has increased to 28,” he said.
It may be recalled that wildlife activists have for some years been calling for strengthened wildlife security especially as the State has now developed into a hub of leopard pelt and body parts supply.