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

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

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.

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

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

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.

Red sanders seized in Udupi

Karnataka police arrested 7 persons from Kerala with 575 kg of red sanders at Udupi district on 17 June 2015.
http://www.daijiworld.com/news/news_disp.asp?n_id=328436

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.

35 star tortoises seized in Andhra Pradesh

Police arrested a woman and seized 35 star tortoises at Chittoor district of Andhra Pradesh a source place for the species on 15 June 2015.
http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/andhra-pradesh/woman-nabbed-with-35-star-tortoises/article7319846.ece

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

280 turtles seized in West Bengal

Around 280 turtles were recovered from the home of a villager near the India-Bangladesh border at Bongaon in North 24-Parganas on 6 June 2015.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/environment/flora-fauna/280-turtles-seized-from-smuggler-in-Kolkata/articleshow/47571282.cms

Clouded leopard skin seized in West Bengal

Forest officials in Baikunthapur forest division of West Bengal arrested a citizen of Nepal with a clouded leopard skin on 5 June 2015.

Tiger suspected to be poisoned in Bandhavgarh

One tiger was found dead due to suspected poisoning by villagers at Dhamokhar range of Bandhavgarh tiger reserve in Madhya Pradesh on 4 June 2015.
http://naidunia.jagran.com/madhya-pradesh/umaria-umaria-tiger-killed-by-villagers-upset-of-address-380853#

Dy. Range officer suspended for supporting illegal cutting

A Dy. Forest Range Officer posted in Hassan district of Karnataka has suspended for supporting illegal cutting of trees and helping to transport the timber to a sawmill.
http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/karnataka/range-officer-suspended-for-supporting-illegal-cutting-transporting-of-timber/article7282279.ece

Spotted black terrapins seized at Dhaka airport

On 31 May 2015, 130 spotted pond turtles (Spotted black terrapins) were seized by the Customs Intelligence Department, at the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka, Bangladesh. These turtles were to be smuggled to Malaysia, in a Malaysian Airlines flight.
http://www.thedailystar.net/country/130-turtles-seized-dhaka-airport-89407

Accused convicted in shahtoosh shawls seizure case

One person who was caught by wildlife officials with 5 shahtoosh shawls at Delhi Hatt in November 1996 has convicted by trial court in Delhi.

Court held that the prosecution has proved its case beyond reasonable doubt against the accused that five shawls were recovered from the possession of accused, on the said date, time and place. The said shawls were made of/derived from   Tibetan   Antelope   (Pantholops   hodgsonii)   which  are   specified   in Schedule ­I of the Act and thus accused have contravened the provisions of section 44/49 and 49B(1) of the Act which is  punishable u/s 51 of Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972. Accordingly, accused is held guilty and is convicted for the offence u/s  44/49 and 49B(1) of Wild Life (Protection) Act.

Convict has been sentenced to undergo simple imprisonment for one year for the offences punishable u/s 51 of Wild Life (Protection) Act along with a fine of Rs.5000/ in default simple imprisonment for one week.

Person caught with 1001 mongoose hair brushes convicted

A trial court in Delhi has convicted a person who was arrested by wildlife officials with 1001 paint brushes made from the hairs of grey mongoose (Herpestes edwardsii) in July 2009.

Court held that the prosecution has proved its   case   beyond   reasonable   doubt   against   the   accused   that  he   was apprehended with the 1001 brushes derived from Mongoose hairs without any licence or authority. The species of Mongoose are specified in Schedule­II of Wild Life (Protection) Act and trade/business in the said 'animal articles' are banned under the Act w.e.f. 30.09.02. Accordingly, accused is held guilty and is convicted for the offence u/s 49 & 49(B)(1) of the Act, punishable u/s 51 of the Act. 

5 tigers killed in Uttar Pradesh were poisoned

Five tigers found dead in different parts of Pilibhit and Lakhimpur Kheri forests between May 2012 and April 2015 were poisoned. Samples of their carcasses tested positive for organochlorine pesticides, including DDT.
http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/pesticides-killed-5-tigers-in-3-years-in-up-pilibhit-and-lakhimpur-kheri-forests/article1-1354678.aspx

11 kg tiger bones seized in Uttar Pradesh

A joint team of police and wildlife officials arrested three persons with 11 kg tiger bones in Bijnore district of Uttar Pradesh on 3 June 2015.
http://www.tribuneindia.com/news/uttarakhand/crime/poachers-gang-busted/89166.html

Accused acquitted in biggest wildlife seizure case

In one of the biggest and widely discussed wildlife seizure case reported from India in 1993, the accused was acquitted by trial court on 29 May 2015. The case dated back to August and September 1993 in which a joint team of wildlife and police officials seized 8 tiger skins, around 400 kg tiger bones, 43 leopard skins, 3 clouded leopard skins, 128 otter skins and other wildlife articles in Delhi.

During the course of trial, accused Pema expired and accordingly proceedings against him were abated in July 2008 and accused Sansar Chand was discharged prior to his death on March 2010. The remaining one accused Mohammed Yakoob is now acquitted by court.

The court was critical on investigation officer and observed that act of him is not upto the mark. 

More than 10,000 kg pangolin scales seized in Nagaland

The initial report (see the following) of 10,000 kg pangolin scales seized is not true (Error is regretted), only 8 kg scales seized.
http://nagalandpost.com/Showstory.aspx?npoststoryiden=TkVXUzEwMDA4MTAxNA%3D%3D-uyHavmhqTa8%3D

Nagaland police seized 10,008 kilograms of Pangolin scales and 500 kilograms of Ginseng at Kohima district and arrested six persons on 29 May 2015.
http://www.easternmirrornagaland.com/kohima-police-lands-15-000-kgs-of-pangolin-scales-ginseng/

Rhino horn seized in West Bengal

Forest officials in Jalpaiguri district of West Bengal arrested five men and recovered a Rhino horn weighing 800 grams on 31 May 2015.
http://www.aninews.in/videogallery2/38136-five-arrested-with-rhino-horn-in-jalpaiguri.html

Rs 19.25 lakh recovered from a DCF

Anti-Corruption Bureau of Maharashtra led by Deputy Superintendent of Police Sanjay Purandare searched an Indian Forest Service Officer, while he was boarding a bus to Pune with a bag containing the cash, a press note issued by ACB said. Officer had reportedly taken money from many forest guards and officials for managing their transfers to their desired places.
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/maharashtra/acb-searches-nagpur-forest-officer-recovers-rs-19-25-lakh/