Thursday 31 December 2015

One arrested for killing Nilgiri langur

Kerala forest officials arrested a person and searching 8 others for killing Nilgiri langurs (Trachypithecus johnii) in forests of Kozhikode district on 29 December 2015. Officials were managed to seize skins, 10 kg meat, 4 skulls, 2 guns and cartridges.

Wednesday 23 December 2015

Woman caught with leopard skins convicted

A woman caught with two leopard skins near Dharchula, Indo-Nepal border in January 2013 by Special Operations Group of police was convicted by the court of Civil Judge (Junior Division) in Pithoragarh. Accused was sentenced three years imprisonment and Rs. 10,000 fine.

Tuesday 22 December 2015

Three years imprisonment for illegal possession of bear gall bladder

Chief Judicial Magistrate of Pithoragarh, Uttarakhand has convicted a person who was caught with a Himalayan black bear gall bladder in a joint operation of police and forest department in June 2013. Accused was sentenced to three years rigorous imprisonment and Rs. 50,000 fine.

Friday 11 December 2015

Three illegal wildlife traders sentenced to 7 years imprisonment

Three persons from a hunting community based in Haryana and Punjab, whom were an accused in tiger poaching case registered at Melghat tiger reserve, Maharashtra in 2013 were convicted by a court in Amravati and sentenced them to 7 years imprisonment and Rs. 10,000 fine each.
http://indianexpress.com/article/cities/mumbai/dhakna-poaching-case-3-tiger-traders-sentenced-to-seven-years-imprisonment/

Tuesday 8 December 2015

27 kg pangolin scales seized in Madhya Pradesh

Madhya Pradesh forest officials arrested two persons with 27.5 kg pangolin scales, wild boar hair, peacock feathers, porcupine quills and  mongoose hair at Gwalior on 3 December 2015.
http://www.assamtimes.org/node/15911

Saturday 5 December 2015

Japanese citizens convicted in wildlife smuggling

Two Japanese citizens whom were caught with snakes, lizards, spiders etc at Cochin International Airport on June 2014 were admitted guilty and the local court had convicted them to one year imprisonment and Rs. 45,000 fine each.

Monday 30 November 2015

Leopard skin smuggling: Two persons convicted

A local court in Garur, Bageshwar district of Uttarakhand has convicted two persons in connection with the seizure of a leopard skin by police on June 2012. Both accused were sentenced to three years rigorous imprisonment and Rs. 10,000 fine each.

Repeat offender in wildlife crime convicted again

A local court in Tharali, Chamoli district of Uttarakhand has found guilty in a person who was caught with one leopard skin on April 2013. Accused was sentenced to three years rigorous imprisonment and Rs. 10,000 fine. Earlier he was convicted on August this year by a court in Bageshwar district for his involvement in a seizure of two leopard skins in February 2013.

Thursday 26 November 2015

Monday 23 November 2015

5 elephants killed in train accident, electrocution and poaching on last weekend

Carcass of a male elephant with tusks removed was found in Rairangpur forest division of Odisha on 21 November 2015.

A wild elephant chased by a group of villagers was run over by a train near Madarihat, Jalpaiguri district of West Bengal on 22 November 2015.
http://www.aninews.in/videogallery9/45778-train-kills-elephant-crossing-railway-track-in-west-bengal.html

Two female elephants died in Sonepur district of Odisha when some miscreants were passed electricity in solar fence on 22 November 2015.
http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/two-elephants-electrocuted-in-odishas-subarnapur-district/article7906740.ece

In an another incident a male elephant was electrocuted when came into contact with an illegal electric fence erected around a farm in Sathyamangalam tiger reserve of Tamil Nadu on 21 November 2015.



Friday 20 November 2015

Sloth bear and leopard killed in road accident

A sloth bear was killed in road accident at Belgaum district of Karnataka on 18 November and a leopard was killed at Udaipur district of Rajasthan on 19 November 2015.

Forest department shot dead a tiger in Karnataka

In a human-animal conflict case, a tiger was shot dead by forest department at Bandipur tiger reserve, Karnataka on 19 November 2015.
http://www.newindianexpress.com/states/karnataka/Maneater-Tiger-Gunned-Down/2015/11/20/article3137475.ece

Thursday 19 November 2015

Two years imprisonment for wild boar killer

Recently a local court in Bhainsdehi, Betul district of Madhya Pradesh had convicted a person for killing a wild boar in 2005 in the district. Convict was sentenced to two years rigorous imprisonment and Rs. 5,000 fine.

Villagers killed a sloth bear in Karnataka

In human-animal conflict case, villagers in Chitradurga district of Karnataka killed a sloth bear on 18 November 2015.
http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/karnataka/sloth-bears-kill-man-residents-slay-one-of-them/article7894752.ece

Wednesday 18 November 2015

Two tigers found dead

In two separate incidents two tigers were found dead on 16 November 2015; one tigress at BRT Tiger Reserve in Karnataka and a tiger cub at Kanha Tiger Reserve, Madhya Pradesh.

Tuesday 17 November 2015

Two leopard cubs killed in road accident

In two separate incidents two leopard cubs were killed in road accidents on 16 November 2015, one each at Mandya district, Karnataka and Nainital district, Uttarakhand.

300 turtles seized in Jharkhand

Officials of Railway Protection Force seized 300 turtles at Barharwa railway station in Jharkhand on 16 November 2015.
http://hindi.news18.com/news/jharkhand/three-hundred-turtles-seized-from-anand-vihar-express-1017184.html

Friday 13 November 2015

India and UK will work together to combat the illegal wildlife trade

A paragarah from joint statement issued by India and Britain on 12 November 2015:

The two Prime Ministers noted the importance of preserving the environment and sustaining diverse ecosystems, and recognised the rise of international criminal networks engaged in the illegal wildlife trade. They resolved to work together to combat the illegal wildlife trade and to improve protection for both captive and wild Asian elephants. India endorsed the London Declaration and Kasane Statement on Illegal Wildlife Trade.
http://www.firstpost.com/world/full-text-of-india-britain-joint-statement-2504520.html

Thursday 12 November 2015

Rs. 10,000 fine if board or signages on trees in Delhi


Villagers killed a tiger near Corbett tiger reserve

Villagers in Najibabad forest division of Uttar Pradesh adjoining to Corbett tiger reserve had killed a tiger on 11 November 2015.
http://www.ibtimes.co.in/villagers-kill-tiger-bijnor-animal-beaten-death-after-entering-poultry-farm-654357

Government not to include Red Sanders in Schedule-VI of WPA

Supreme Court had earlier directed the government to examine the proposal of placing Red sanders in schedule VI of Wildlife Protection Act, the task was entrusted to the Plants Committee, which recommended no need for this as the placement would disincentivise cultivation of red sanders by the people because for schedule VI species, a license would be required to cultivate.

The State Government of Andhra Pradesh vide their letter no. 4499/For.III/2009-3 dated 05.09.2012 requested the Government of India that Red Sanders need not be included in the Schedule VI of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972, as about 10,000 ha. of land has Red Sander trees. Besides, the farmers were also growing the Red Sanders trees for their livelihood and inclusion in Schedule-VI would discourage the farmers thereby reducing the cultivation of more trees.

Considering the matter, Standing Committee of National Board for Wildlife took note of the matter and concurred with the findings.
http://www.moef.nic.in/sites/default/files/Min.of%2036th%20%20Meeting%20of%20SC%20NBWL%2809.11.2015%29.pdf

Monday 2 November 2015

Member of international wildlife crime syndicate arrested from Delhi

Special Task Force (STF) of Madhya Pradesh forest department arrested an alleged member of international poaching syndicate from Delhi on 30 October 2015. Accused Jaiy Tamang, 42, a resident of Nepal, was arrested from Delhi's Majnu ka Tila area for trading in pangolins scales and tiger skins.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bhopal/STF-nabs-member-of-global-poaching-gang-from-Delhi/articleshow/49614701.cms?

Friday 30 October 2015

160 turtles seized in Uttar Pradesh

Police rescued 160 turtles at Bisauli, Badaun district of Uttar Pradesh on 29 October 2015.

Three persons convicted for leopard skins smuggling

A local court in Garur, Bageshwar district of Uttarakhand has convicted three persons whom were arrested by police with two leopard skins in December 2013. Court had sentenced the accused to three years rigorous imprisonment and Rs. 25,000 fine each.

Friday 23 October 2015

Monday 19 October 2015

Tiger skin and bones seized in Kailali district, Nepal

Nepal police seized a tiger skin and bones in Kailali district (a district bordering with India) and arrested a person on 17 October 2015.
http://thehimalayantimes.com/nepal/one-held-with-bengal-tiger-hides-and-bones

Kerala captive elephant owners make a killing by selling ivory

An investigation into the ivory smuggling racket in Kerala has put owners of captive elephants under a cloud of suspicion. Elephant owners who obtain the Forest Department’s permission to trim the animals’ tusks periodically later sell them to ivory sculptors for lakhs of rupees, the department has found out.
http://english.manoramaonline.com/news/kerala/elephant-owners-sell-ivory-make-money-forest-departments-permission-trimming-tusks.html

Wednesday 14 October 2015

Two tiger skins and bones seized

In two separate incidents two tiger skins and bones seized in Madhya Pradesh and Assam on 13 October 2015. In Madhya Pradesh, skin of a tiger suspected to have killed in Satpura tiger reserve had seized by forest officials from a village in Chhindwara district. In Assam, forest officials of Kaziranga tiger reserve arrested two persons including a forest guard with a tiger skin and bones.
http://www.india.com/news/india/two-arrested-with-tiger-skin-in-assam-628978/ 
See the video of Assam incident: http://www.mid-day.com/videos/two-arrested-with-tiger-skin-in-assam/698726

Monday 12 October 2015

Elephant and calf electrocuted in Dhenkanal

A mother elephant and its 6 months old calf were electrocuted in Dhenkanal district when coming in contact with 11kv electric wire on 11 October 2015 night. In last one month several elephants were electrocuted in Odisha.
http://www.prameyanews7.com/en/oct2015/odisha/4391/Elephant-calf-electrocuted-in-Dhenkanal-Elephant-calf-electrocuted-DhenkanalOdisha-Odisha.htm

Govt. inviting comments on draft environmental laws

Government is inviting comments on draft of the proposed amendment in Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 and National Green Tribunal Act, 2010.
http://www.moef.nic.in/sites/default/files/ScanJobInvitation%20of%20comments%20Draft%20Environment%20Law.pdf

Red sanders seized in Haryana

Haryana police seized a container with red sanders near Delhi when on the way to Tuglakabad inland container depot.
http://www.bhaskar.com/news/HAR-ROH-OMC-red-sandle-wood-foun-in-container-5138832-PHO.html

Huge cache of elephant ivory seized in Delhi

In continuation of an ongoing investigation of elephant poaching in Kerala, the state forest department seized large number of raw ivory and finished products from a hide out in New Delhi last week.
http://english.manoramaonline.com/news/kerala/huge-cache-of-ivory-seized-in-delhi.html

Monday 5 October 2015

180 tortoises seized in Bangladesh-India border

Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) men recovered 180 turtles from Putkhali border under Benapole Port Police Station on 4 October 2015.
http://www.thedailystar.net/country/180-tortoises-seized-151843

One more rhino killed in Kaziranga

Poachers armed with sophisticated night-vision enabled riflescope killed one rhino at Kaziranga national park on 2 October 2015. Park officials said that the poachers however, were unable to chop off the horn as forest staff retaliated with heavy firing. The gang comprised three to four poachers and they were also armed with AK series rifles.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Kaziranga-lost-another-rhino-to-poachers/articleshow/49207726.cms

Ivory trader arrested in Delhi

An ivory trader based in Delhi was arrested in a joint operation carried out by forest officials from Kerala, Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB) personnel and the Delhi police on 2 October 2015. According to the information received by the forest intelligence wing, as many as 40 elephants were gunned down for extracting tusks by the poaching gangs operating in the forests of Edamalayar, Parambikulam, Wayanad and Munnar during the past two years. The documents recovered by the police from the middlemen involved in the illegal trade had revealed that ivories valued over Rs 1.5 crore had been smuggled into different cities in the country from Kerala last year.
http://beta.english.manoramaonline.com/news/kerala/phone-data-leads-to-arrest-of-ivory-racket-kingpin.html

Tiger bones seized in Karnataka

Karnataka forest officials arrested a person with 6 kg tiger bones in BRT tiger reserve on 1 October 2015.
http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/karnataka/tiger-bones-seized-but-controversy-arises-over-suspects-arrest/article7724925.ece

Wednesday 30 September 2015

Conviction rate of rhino poachers are poor

As per official data, a total of 214 poachers were arrested from different districts of the Assam from 2009 to 2013 (the break-up being 18 in 2009, two in 2010, 19 in 2011, 115 in 2012 and 60 in 2013), yet not a single poacher could be convicted during these four years. The jinx, though, was broken late last year with the conviction of two poachers of Kaziranga. This year too, two more poachers of Orang National Park were convicted in July. But still, the conviction rate has been too poor to be any deterrent to poaching.
http://www.assamtribune.com/scripts/detailsnew.asp?id=sep3015/at057

Tuesday 22 September 2015

Monday 21 September 2015

Three years imprisonment for leopard skin smuggler

A person who was arrested for illegal possession of two leopard skins in July 2011 by Special Operations Group of Uttarakhand police in Pithoragarh district was convicted and one of the co-accused was declared as absconder by Chief Judicial Magistrate. Convict was sentenced to three years imprisonment and Rs. 50,000 fine.

Friday 18 September 2015

Leopard cat killed in road accident

One leopard cat was killed in road accident at near Chalthi, Tanakpur - Pithoragarh road in Champawat district of Uttarakhand on 16 September 2015.

122 turtles seized in Udham Singh Nagar

122 turtles protected under the Wildlife Protection Act, were seized from a car near Shakti Farm area of the Udham Singh Nagar district, Uttarakhand on 17 September 2015.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/dehradun/122-rare-turtles-seized-from-smuggler/articleshow/49003410.cms

Turtles brought from India seized in Dhaka

Bangladesh forest officials seized 4200 turtles suspected to be brought from India, consisting of four species - 1,800 pieces are Tricarinate hill turtle, 1,600 Indian pond turtle, 500 star tortoises and 300 Indian roofed turtle.
http://www.thedailystar.net/backpage/man-held-4200-turtles-145012

Wednesday 16 September 2015

Poacher caught in Corbett Tiger Reserve convicted

A person who was arrested in Dhela Range of Corbett tiger reserve, Uttarakhand with poaching tool, food and mobile in December 2013 (he was associated with tiger poachers whom were killed two tigers in Amangarh around the same time) was found guilty by the court for the violations of Sections 2(16), 2(35), 9, 27, 35(8) of Wildlife Protection Act. Last week Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate, Ramnagar had sentenced him to three years rigorous imprisonment and Rs. 10,000 fine.

DFO's office burnt down in Chandel, Manipur

Office of Divisional Forest Officer - Tengnoupal Forest Division in Chandel district of Manipur was set on fire by unidentified miscreants on 15 September 2015.
http://e-pao.net/GP.asp?src=18..160915.sep15

Friday 11 September 2015

Tiger killed in Train accident at Valmiki Tiger Reserve

One tigress (Panthera tigris) was found dead near Bagaha-Chitauni railway tracks of East Central Railway on 10 September 2015. Forest officials claimed that the tiger was killed after being hit by a train under Madanpur range of division-II of Valmiki Tiger Reserve (VTR), Bihar around 290km northwest of Patna. Around 6km of the section of the railway tracks passes through Madanpur range, which falls in the western part of the VTR. The section was made operational in 1992 and more than a dozen passenger and goods trains pass through the stretch daily.
http://www.telegraphindia.com/1150911/jsp/bihar/story_41927.jsp#.VfJwB9Kqqko

Naxals burn down forest department offices in Maharashtra

Left-wing extremists were burned down the forest department's range office and inspection room at Perimili, Bhamragarh-Alapalli road in Gadchiroli district of Maharashtra on 10 September 2015.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/nagpur/Naxals-burn-down-forest-depts-offices-in-Gadchiroli/articleshow/48906081.cms

Thursday 10 September 2015

21.63 tonne red sanders seized in Gurgaon

A joint team of Delhi police and Haryana forest officials seized 21.63 tonne of red sanders in Gurgaon district, Haryana on 9 September 2015.
http://www.jagran.com/haryana/gurgaon-12863314.html

Wednesday 9 September 2015

Sentence of wildlife convict reduced

In a case which was reported in November 1997 in Delhi, a person who was caught with 1 leopard skin (initially recorded as tiger skin) was convicted by trial court for one year simple imprisonment and Rs. 10,000 fine on March 2015. In an appeal filed by the convict now sessions court has reduced his sentence and released him on probation. Court observation is as follows:

"Having upheld the conviction of accused (appellant herein) this court has further heard appellant and his counsel appearing on his behalf as well as Ld. PP, on the point of sentence. Appellant submits that he is 44 years of age. He is engaged in the business of selling wood and that he is the only bread earner in his family having wife, three school going children and aged mother dependent upon him. He is not a previous convict and no other criminal case is pending against him. It is submitted that the convict is having a permanent place of abode and is well settled in the society and he has not repeated the similar offence. It is submitted that he has faced trial for about seventeen years since July, 1998 and prayed for taking a lenient view. It is submitted that accused had remained in custody since 28.11.1997 to 22.12.1997 and thereafter w.e.f. 12.01.2013 to 05.02.2013, during trial. Ld. PP submits that ld. Trial court has already taken a lenient view and in the fact and circumstances, the convict does not deserve any lenient view.

Having regard to the totality of facts and circumstances noted above, nature of the offence, character of the offender and the fact that the convict has appeared during trial for about 17 years and has already remained in custody for a period of one and half months, coupled with the fact that appellant is not a previous convict and is not reported to be involved in any other similar case or any other criminal case. This Court is of the considered view that appellant should be given an opportunity to reform and rehabilitate himself in the society and to become a responsible citizen of State. Therefore, it is deemed expedient in the interest of justice to release appellant on probation instead of sentencing them. Appellant is ordered to be released on furnishing bond of probation in a sum of Rs. 25,000/- with one surety of like amount for a period of one year before the ld. Trial Court/successor court, apart from depositing a compensation of Rs.1.00 lac. (one lac.), which shall go to State towards taking wild life protection measures and towards defraying expenses of the protracted prosecution proceedings in this case. The appellant shall be given adjustment of the fine of Rs.10,000/-, imposed by the trial Court, if already deposited by him. In default of deposit of compensation within one week from today, convict (appellant herein) shall be liable to undergo three months Simple Imprisonment & compensation shall be recovered by attachment/sale of the immovable or movable property belonging to the appellant. Order accordingly.

In the result, appellant's conviction for the violation of Section 49 & 49-B(1) punishable u/s 51 of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 is maintained. Sentence awarded by Learned Trial Court is modified, in terms noted above. Appeal stands dismissed."

Tuesday 1 September 2015

Large-scale deforestation along the Assam-Meghalaya border

Large-scale deforestation triggered by illegal logging and timber smuggling has pushed the Rani forest landscape along the Assam-Meghalaya border to the brink. The reserve forests of Rani, Jorasal and Kawashing under Kamrup East Forest Division are spread over an area of 45,981 hectares, where sal and teak were once predominant. Massive destruction inside the reserve forests  has also triggered exodus of wild elephants into the nearby fringe villages in search of food even during the monsoon season. Local people attribute this worsening man-elephant conflict to human-induced depredations in the forests.
http://www.assamtribune.com/scripts/detailsnew.asp?id=sep0115/city058

Friday 28 August 2015

Poachers caught in Similipal Tiger Reserve

Two poachers were arrested and seized three country-made guns from their possession on 27 August 2015 at core area of the Similipal Tiger Reserve of Mayurbhanj district of Odisha.
http://www.thestatesman.com/news/odisha/two-poachers-caught-in-similipal-tiger-reserve/85724.html

Thursday 27 August 2015

One person convicted for illegal possession of leopard skin

One person who was found with illegal possession of a leopard skin in Bageshwar district of Uttarakhand on June 2013 was convicted by Chief Judicial Magistrate under Wildlife Protection Act (Criminal Case/769/2013) and sentenced him to three years rigorous imprisonment and Rs. 25,000 fine.

Thursday 20 August 2015

Three years imprisonment for smuggling leopard skins

Two persons caught with 2 leopard skins by Special Operations Group of Uttarakhand Police in February 2013 were convicted by Chief Judicial Magistrate of Bageshwar (Court Case No. 347 & 348/2013) on 18 August 2015. Accused were sentenced to three years rigorous imprisonment and Rupees 25,000 fine each.

Wednesday 19 August 2015

770 wildlife crimes registered in India last year

According to the statistics released by National Crime Records Bureau 770 crimes were registered under Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 in India for year 2014. http://ncrb.gov.in/


Tuesday 18 August 2015

Leopard killed in road accident

On 16 August 2015 a leopard died after being knocked down by an unknown vehicle in Igatpuri taluka of Nashik district on Mumbai-Agra national highway.
http://newshence.com/leopard-killed-on-mumbai-agra-national-highway.html

Saturday 15 August 2015

Leopard skin smuggler imprisoned in Uttarakhand

Chief Judicial Magistrate court in Bageshwar had found guilty in a person who was arrested with two leopard skins in Bageshwar district, Uttarakhand on September 2012. Accused was sentenced to three years rigorous imprisonment and Rs. 25,000 fine.

Friday 7 August 2015

Turtles seized in Kolkata and Chennai

Enforcement officials seized Forty four Indian tent turtles, 27 star tortoises, one crowned river turtle and four spotted black terrapins in Kolkata yesterday. In Chennai One hundred and thirty eight Spotted black terrapins that were to be smuggled to Kuala Lumpur through Colombo was seized by the officials of the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (Southern Region) at the Chennai airport on 6 August 2015.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/environment/flora-fauna/Threatened-tortoises-turtles-rescued-from-Kolkata-two-held/articleshow/48382102.cms?
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/138-black-spotted-pond-turtles-being-smuggled-to-Kuala-Lumpur-seized-in-Chennai/articleshow/48374889.cms

Wednesday 5 August 2015

1784 wild animals killed in recent floods in Gujarat

Government reported in parliament that as per the report received from the State Government of Gujarat, the details of death of wild animals including lions due to excessive rain and flood recently is as under:
S.No.
Name of Species
No. of death
1.
Asiatic Lion
10
2.
Spotted deer
87
3
Blue bull
1670
4.
Black buck
9
5.
Wild boar
6
6.
Porcupine
1
7
Jackal
1

Total
1784

http://164.100.47.132/LssNew/psearch/QResult16.aspx?qref=21560

841 people were killed by tiger and elephants in last three years

In a reply given in parliament government stated that 841 people were killed by tigers and elephants between April 2012 to March 2015.

Tiger
Elephant
2012-13
22
371
2013-14
24
335
2014-15
26
63
Total
72
769

http://164.100.47.132/LssNew/psearch/QResult16.aspx?qref=21559

5 pieces of ivory seized in Jalpaiguri district

Five pieces of ivory, weighing around 5kg each, were seized from three persons by the officers of Belakoba range of Baikunthapur forest division in West Bengal on 4 August 2015.
http://www.telegraphindia.com/1150805/jsp/siliguri/story_35439.jsp#.VcG1_POqqko

Monday 3 August 2015

8 tiger claws seized in Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu forest officials arrested three persons with 8 claws of tiger in Kanchipuram district on 31 July 2015.
http://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/chennai/Trio-Caught-with-8-Tiger-Nails-Bullets-in-Poonamallee-Hotel/2015/08/01/article2951405.ece

Two tiger cubs found dead in Sunderbans

Recovery of tiger cub bodies in Sunderbans have raised suspicion of poaching in the mangroves. A day after the recovery of a carcass from the Jhila 3 compartment under the Bagna range, the body of another cub, a male and probably its sibling, was found floating on a creek in the same area by a forest patrolling unit on 31 July 2015 morning. Initial post-mortem report has revealed that both the cubs had "completely black and fragile livers" — a sign, according to vets, of liver toxicity that can be triggered by poisoning. Both the cubs are aged between 12 and 15 months.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata/Cub-deaths-spark-poaching-fears/articleshow/48303120.cms

Elephant killed in train accident in Assam

An elephant was crushed to death at Nagapathar in Rangapara area where Dekargaon-New Jalpaiguri passenger rammed into the herd of elephants when they were crossed the rail tracks on 3 August 2015 morning.
http://www.assamtimes.org/node/14429

Hundreds of egrets and herons killed in Maharashtra

Hundreds of egrets and herons were killed, when there nests were destroyed as villagers of Dehli in Ballarpur Tehsil of Chandrapur district chopped off at least five giant tamarind trees during last few days. Forest officials have registered a case against Sarpanch and Dy. sarpanch of the village for issuing orders cutting the trees and destroying the nests of the birds.
http://www.ehitavada.com/hitavadanew.aspx?lang=6&NB=2015-08-03&spage=VLpage&SB=2015-08-03#VLpage_6

Friday 31 July 2015

Thursday 30 July 2015

Tuesday 28 July 2015

Three poachers get 7 years imprisonment in Assam

Three poachers, who would committed crimes at Nameri Tiger Reserve, were convicted by a district court.
The Sonitpur additional sessions judge, S Das, has sentenced Arjun Basumatary, Bijoy Basumatary and Debeswar Pogag to seven years rigorous imprisonment and imposed a fine of Rs 50,000 on each.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/guwahati/Three-Assam-poachers-get-7-year-RI/articleshow/48242444.cms

Thursday 23 July 2015

Rhino poachers convicted in Assam

Two poachers were convicted and sentenced to two years imprisonment and Rs. 25,000 each for killing a rhinoceros in Orang National Park of Assam in January 2011. Please see the judgement as follows:






















Monday 20 July 2015

Red sanders seized in north Bengal

A joint team of SSB and West Bengal forest department seized around four tonnes of red sanders in Jalpaiguri district on 18 July 2015.
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/huge-quantity-of-red-sandalwood-worth-several-crores-seized-from-north-bengal-village/articleshow/48135128.cms

Wild elephant electrocuted in Chhattisgarh

One male elephant died when come in contact with live wire that was hooked by villager in Jashpur district of Chhattisgarh on 18 July 2015.
http://www.dailypioneer.com/state-editions/raipur/wild-elephant-electrocuted-in-jashpur.html

Curious case of Mizoram’s missing pangolin scales

Around the end of May, Mizoram forest department discovered that 292 kg of seized pangolin scales, locked up inside its godown in Kolasib had been replaced by fakes. The missing scales made up for more than a third of the 848 kg pangolin scales seized by various law enforcement agencies from smugglers since 2012. A case was registered soon after the Kolasib incident, but initial probe apparently led to nowhere. On June 11, a joint operation by police and Assam Rifles seized six bags, with reportedly 216 kg pangolin scales, from a bus at Farkawn, a village close to the border with Myanmar. During the handover to the forest department the next day, Assam Riles declared that the consignment weighed 216 kg. But forest officials claim the bags given to them were lighter by 32.5 kg.
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-others/curious-case-of-mizorams-missing-pangolin-scales/

Tuesday 14 July 2015

Monitor lizards under threat in Andhra Pradesh

Alleged medicinal values linked to Varanus is posing a threat to its survival in Andhra Pradesh. The demand for the Varanus is high at the Machilipatnam fish market in Krishna district.
http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/andhra-pradesh/survival-of-varanus-under-threat/article7420104.ece

Hunting of sharks

With increased landing of sharks and rays, Kochi has turned out to be the one of the most favoured destinations those in the trade. It is estimated that an average of 3,500 tonne of shark is landed in Kochi annually. An analysis carried out by the fisheries experts of Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI) suggested that the shark landings in Kochi harbour was on the rise. This includes several species of sharks and rays protected under the Convention of International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) and Wildlife Protection Act.
http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Kochi/care-for-some-shark-meat/article7419723.ece

Villagers hang 2 youths upside down for poaching pigeons

A crowd of nearly 300 villagers hanged two youths upside down from a tree and severely beat them up on a suspicion that they had poached pigeons in the forest reserve area in Badi Sadri, Chittorgarh district of Rajasthan on 12 July 2015
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/jaipur/Villagers-hang-2-youths-upside-down-for-poaching-pigeons/articleshow/48062963.cms

Pangolin scales seized in Odisha

Enforcement officials seized 1 kg pangolin scales and arrested a person in Ganjam district of Odisha on 13 July 2015.
http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/pangolin-nails-scales-seized-one-arrested/article7418867.ece

Monday 13 July 2015

Ivory idols seized, 9 detained in Kerala

Nine people were taken into custody from Thiruvananthapuram and other parts of the Kerala by the forest officials in connection with cases related to poaching of elephants. A couple of idols made of ivory were seized from them.
http://www.newindianexpress.com/states/kerala/Nine-Detained-for-Poaching-Elephants-Ivory-Idols-Seized/2015/07/12/article2915233.ece

Headless carcass of leopard found in gunny bag

The carcass of a headless leopard found covered in a gunny bag in a well near Bilikere in Hunsur district of Karnataka on 10 July 2015.
http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/karnataka/authorities-clueless-over-leopard-death/article7413188.ece

10,600 kg of red sanders seized in Hong Kong

Customs officials in Hong Kong detected a suspected sea cargo smuggling case and seized about 10,600 kilograms of red sanders logs from a container at the Kwai Chung Customhouse Cargo Examination Compound on 9 July 2015. Customs officers, through risk assessment, selected a 20-foot container arriving from India and declared to contain "glass flower pot" for inspection. Upon examination, Customs officers found the wood logs in the container.
http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201507/09/P201507090779.htm

Saturday 11 July 2015

Friday 10 July 2015

Star tortoise smuggling goes up in Chennai

Attempt to smuggle star tortoises to Malaysia through Chennai international airport have increased in last ten days, in the latest incident two persons were detained with 130 tortoises on 9 July 2015.
http://www.deccanchronicle.com/150710/nation-crime/article/star-tortoise-smuggling-goes

Leopard shot dead in Odisha

Three persons were arrested by forest personnel on charges of poaching a leopard in Chandragiri reserve forest under Rarsingi range in Ganjam district and seized a country-made loaded gun, three mobile phones and a knife along with skin of the leopard on 8 July 2015.
http://odishatv.in/three-held-for-poaching-leopard/

Tuesday 7 July 2015

Two persons convicted for shot dead an elephant in Kerala

A court in Malappuram district of Kerala have convicted two persons for shot dead a wild female elephant using country made gun near their farmhouse in Nilambur North forest division of Kerala in October 2007. Out of five accused, two were sentenced to three years rigorous imprisonment and Rs. 10,000 fine each. One accused is found not guilty and case against two were stands abated.

Leopard skins seized in Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh

Police officials seized a leopard skin and arrested a person in Rudraprayag district of Uttarakhand on 5 July 2015 and caught a person with two leopard skins in Chamba district of Himachal Pradesh on 6 July 2015.

Ivory traders arrested in Kerala

Forest officials arrested two ivory traders in Thiruvananthapuram in connection with recent elephant poaching incidents reported from the state.
http://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/thiruvananthapuram/Two-Arrested-with-Ivory/2015/07/07/article2906796.ece

Ivory idol seized in Karnataka

A father-son duo that tried to sell an antique Ganesha statuette in ivory on an online platform has been arrested by the police in Bengaluru.
http://www.bangaloremirror.com/bangalore/crime/Father-son-caught-red-handed-trying-to-sell-several-ivory-artifacts-online/articleshow/47965155.cms

Pangolin scales seized in Odisha

Police arrested four persons with 10 kg pangolin scales in Ganjam district of Odisha on 6 July 2015.
http://www.freepressjournal.in/pangolin-shell-export-racket-busted-in-odisha/

Thursday 2 July 2015

Two persons convicted in illegal wildlife trade

Two persons arrested by police in April 2011 at Bageshwar, Uttarakhand with three leopard skins were convicted by the court of Chief Judicial Magistrate. One of the accused is sentenced to three years rigorous imprisonment and Rs. 25,000 fine and other accused who is a repeat offender and was earlier convicted by this same court on last week in similar kind of offences was sentenced to five years rigorous imprisonment and Rs. 25,000 fine.

Tuesday 30 June 2015

Spotted black terrapins seized at Bengaluru airport

72 spotted black terrapins were seized by Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) at Kempegowda International Airport on 28 June 2015 and nabbed two carriers from Tamil Nadu. Accused were caught while trying to pass two black suitcases as check-in luggage before boarding a flight to Kuala Lumpur.
http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/bangalore/terrapin-smuggling-racket-busted-two-held/article7368630.ece

Monday 29 June 2015

Poachers suspected to be killed 20 elephants in Kerala

There is an allegation from witness of a poaching incidents that 20 elephants were killed by poachers for tusks in different forest areas of Kerala including Vazhachal forest division in last ten months.
http://www.manoramaonline.com/news/just-in/more-than-20-forest-elephants-killed-within-ten-months.html

Leopard killed in road accident at Rajasthan

One leopard was killed in road accident at National Highway 8, Udaipur district of Rajasthan on 27 June 2015.

Star tortoises seized at Chennai airport

Customs officials seized 54 star tortoises at Chennai airport from a Malaysia bound passenger on 28 June 2015.
http://www.dinakaran.com/News_Detail.asp?Nid=153139

Wednesday 24 June 2015

Illegal leopard skins trade: 4 convicted

Four persons caught with three leopard skins in July 2011 at Bageshwar forest division of Uttarakhand were convicted by Chief Judicial Magistrate and sentenced them to three years imprisonment and Rs. 25,000 fine each.

Three leopards found dead in Rajasthan

Three leopards including a male, female and a cub were found dead in Udaipur North forest division on 23 June 2015.

Tuesday 23 June 2015

Red sanders smugglers outsmart cops

The new methods include sending the logs to China after cutting them into small pieces and packing in polythene packets in the guise of copper wire, which is bound around the logs. This packing process is taking place in a warehouse in Bengaluru.
http://www.thehansindia.com/posts/index/2015-06-23/Red-sanders-smugglers-outsmart-cops-158935

Monitor lizard meat seized in Chandrapur

Maharashtra forest officials arrested seven persons with monitor lizard meat in Chandrapur on 21 June 2015.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/nagpur/7-held-for-poaching-monitor-lizards/articleshow/47776726.cms

Orangutans not yet seized in Andhra Pradesh

Faced with the embarrassment of releasing a gang that had been caught transporting two baby orangutans last week, the West Godavari police blamed Forest Department officials and even staff of the Vizag zoo for not identifying the endangered animals correctly and alerting them to the existence of a smuggling racket. “We referred the case to the forest authorities and they said the animals were only monkeys and that they did not figure in the list of endangered species. So we freed the gang,” said a police officer.
http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/andhra-pradesh/police-forest-officials-blame-each-other-over-orangutans/article7343894.ece

Monday 22 June 2015

Two Japanese arrested in Cochin airport with wild animals

Two Japanese citizens were arrested in Cochin International airport when they tried to smuggle different kinds of snakes, lizards, spiders and beetles on 21 June 2015. Accused were suspected to have collected these specimens from Vazhachal forest division of Kerala.

Traffickers are hiding with orangutans in Andhra Pradesh

The police, as per sources, could manage into custody a five-member gang along with two baby orangutans in a cage near Eluru in West Godavari district of Andhra Pradesh on June 17. A picture of the endangered animals had been taken and sent to forest officials for the identification of the exotic species. By the time the confirmation came within hours, the gang could manage to flee, according to a source.
http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/andhra-pradesh/police-in-search-of-missing-smugglers-orangutans/article7340376.ece

Friday 19 June 2015

330 kg of sea cucumbers seized in Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu police seized 330 kg of sea cucumbers from a truck in Sivaganga district on 17 June 2015 night.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/Tamil-Nadu-police-seize-330kg-of-sea-cucumbers-apparently-being-smuggled-to-Sri-Lanka/articleshow/47720193.cms

Villagers killed a leopard in Uttar Pradesh

Villagers in Bijnore district of Uttar Pradesh killed a leopard at Nagina forest range on 18 June 2015.

56 country-made weapons seized in Chittoor district

During the last few months Andhra Pradesh police undertook awareness programmes in the villages against poaching of wild animals and warning the residents to voluntarily surrender the weapons. The villagers dumped 56 country-made weapons in forest areas and police teams seized the same at Chittoor district on 18 June 2015.
http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/andhra-pradesh/major-haul/article7331299.ece

Leopard skin seized in Dehradun

Uttarakhand police arrested a person from Uttarkashi with a leopard skin in Dehradun on 18 June 2015.

Thursday 18 June 2015

Wednesday 17 June 2015

Five poachers convicted in Balaghat, Madhya Pradesh

Chief Judicial Magistrate of Balaghat has convicted five poachers and sentenced them to 3 years imprisonment and Rs 10,000 fine each for killing a sambar deer at North Balaghat forest division in March 2007.

Wednesday 10 June 2015

Elephant shot dead in Kerala

In an elephant-human conflict case, a farmer was arrested by forest officials for shot dead an elephant in South Wayanad forest division on 6 June 2015.

Poachers electrocuted 3 bisons in Chhattisgarh

3 Gaurs (Indian bison) were electrocuted from a live wire laid by poachers by connecting illegally to a high-tension line at Mahasamund forest division of Chhattisgarh on 9 June 2015.

Leopard killed in road accident

One male leopard was killed in road accident at Hassan district of Karnataka on 9 June 2015.
http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/karnataka/hit-by-vehicle-leopard-dies/article7300063.ece

Monday 8 June 2015