MINISTER OF ENVIRONMENT AND FORESTS (SHRI T.R. BAALU)
(a), (b), (c), (d) & (e) A statement is laid on the Table of the House.
STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a), (b), (c), (d) & (e) OF LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 9 REGARDING POACHING OF ANIMALS AND BIRDS DUE FOR REPLY ON 18.11.2002.
(a) & (b) The Government is aware of the incidents of poaching of tigers, elephants and other important species of animals and birds but any specific increasing trend is not discernable. There has been more vigilance resulting in increased detection of wild life offences. The number of poaching cases reported during last three years and thereafter in respect of tiger, elephant, lion, leopard, rhino and peafowl is at annexure -I.
(c) No, Sir.
(d) However, there have been some seizures of wildlife products at these two places and the details are at annexure-II.
(e) The following steps have been taken to save the wildlife from poachers -
(1) State level:
(i) State level and District level coordination committees have been set up in several States to prevent poaching and illegal trade in wildlife.
(ii) State Wildlife Authorities carry out regular checking of the stocks of dealers of animal products and birds.
(2) National level
(i) Government of India has set up Regional and Sub-regional Offices for wildlife preservation in major export and trade centers of the country to prevent smuggling of wild animals and their products.
(ii) Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has been empowered under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 to apprehend and prosecute wildlife offenders. Anti poaching efforts are being coordinated with INTERPOL.
(iii) Financial and technical help is being extended to the States under various Centrally Sponsored Schemes, viz. Project Tiger, Project Elephant and Development of National Parks and Sanctuaries for enhancing the capacity and infrastructure of the States for providing effective protection to wild animals. Financial assistance is, in particular, being provided for raising `Strike Forces` and providing arms to the protection staff for combating the organised poachers. Assistance is also provided for giving rewards to the informers for eliciting information about poachers and smugglers.
(iv) A Special Coordination and Enforcement Committee has been set up under the chairmanship of Secretary, Environment & Forests, Government of India, for control of poaching and illegal trade in wildlife.
(v) Export of wild animals and their derivatives is prohibited under EXIM policy.
(vi) Ministry of Home Affairs has written to all the State Governments to lend a helping hand to the field formations to curb poaching and illegal trade in wildlife.
(3) International level
(i) Government of India is a signatory to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna (CITES) for control of illegal trade in wildlife items.
(ii) Bilateral agreements have been signed with Nepal and Republic of China for controlling trans-boundary illegal trade in wildlife.
(iii) A Global Tiger Forum of Tiger Range Countries has been created for addressing international issues related to Tiger Conservation.
ANNEXURE -II
ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (c) &(d ) OF THE LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO.9 FOR REPLY ON 18.11.2002 REGARDING POACHING OF ANIMALS AND BIRDS
NUMBER OF SEIZURES OF WILD LIFE AND ITS DERIVATIVES MADE AT BALAGHAT, MADHYA PRADESH
Sl.No Year No. of seizure made
1 2000 2
2 2001 3
3 2002 Nil
NUMBER OF SEIZURES OF WILD LIFE AND ITS DERIVATIVES MADE AT HARIDWAR, UTTRANCHAL
Sl.No Year No. of seizure made
1 2000 9
2 2001 2
3 2002 5
