Stockpiles of illegal wildlife products, including those derived from tigers, elephants, leopards, lions and snakes, were burnt in the incinerator of Delhi Zoo on Sunday in the presence of Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar. This is aimed at sending a strong deterrent message to poachers across the country,
The step apart from highlighting the commitment of the Government to curb illegal wildlife trade also stresses on the importance of protection of biodiversity, particularly wildlife. “It is an attempt to deplore the unethical, indiscriminate and y unlawful activities of harvest and trade of wildlife products,” said the sources.
The items including tiger body parts and ivory had been seized by the Delhi Wildlife department. Consigning the seized wildlife parts to incinerator will also boost up the morale of various agencies as the forest and wildlife departments, wildlife crime control bureau, police, customs and many others who are involved in busting rackets of wildlife crime.
Sustainable use of biodiversity is essential for the survival of mankind and is an imperative for sustainable development.
In order to curb unethical and unjustified use of products of various animals and plants, through illegal activities like poaching, smuggling and illegal wildlife trade, law enforcing agencies across the world including India have been trying to combat wildlife crimes and have seized a large number of wildlife products resulting from unlawful activities, said the Ministry sources.
The sources in Wildlife Crime Control Bureau said, the move is very opportune especially when wildlife crime is getting highly specialized and hi-tech in the country. Despite focused efforts, poaching continues to be the key threat to various endangered species in the country.
large number of districts along Indo-Nepal border, as for instance Pilibhit and Kheri in UP, are at a high risk of wildlife crime. The area is today the main international hub for trafficking of tiger and other elephant parts into China. Poachers prefer to operate in specific habitats, mainly because of their familiarity with these areas and trusted network with the local poaching gangs operating for several years.