Forest anti-poaching cell upgrade plan still pending with State Govt

Apart from the recent spurt in tiger deaths in Uttarakhand, the State has been seeing a regular graph of leopard deaths and wildlife contraband seizures. Inspite of this, the proposal for upgrading the anti-poaching cell of the Forest Department is still pending with the State Government. 

Activists state that had this cell been as resourceful as proposed, the department would have been able to work more efficiently towards preventing wildlife crimes and wouldn’t have to depend on the police as in the case of the three recent tiger deaths wherein the department has also requested the Nainital police to conduct inquiries.

Recently three tigers were found dead in the Corbett tiger landscape within a week’s time. The deaths are being viewed as suspicious. While the department is conducting its inquiry into these deaths, activists point out that the wildlife security network of the department should be strong and efficient enough to prevent wildlife crime in stead of limiting its role to inquiries and some seizures after poaching and other wildlife crimes have been committed. According to the Wildlife Protection Society of India (WPSI) Uttarakhand in-charge Rajendra Agrawal, apart from nine tiger deaths recorded this year, at least 70 leopard deaths have been reported from different parts of the State which also include 36 leopard pelts seized.

last year, the anti-poaching cell director SK Dutt had submitted a proposal to the chief wildlife warden for strengthening the cell by providing it staff and financial resources. He had proposed that the cell should have at least seven wildlife wardens, four foresters, four forest guards and four ex-army men apart from its own funds in order to work more efficiently against poaching and wildlife criminals.

However, this proposal is still pending approval. Dutt said that the Government was considering the proposal and was expected to approve it soon after clearing some points related to appointment of staff.However, wildlife activists point out that due to inefficiency of the forest department, the police is making most of the wildlife contraband seizures taking place in different parts of the State. The department needs to strengthen its structure in order to act efficiently against wildlife crime.