Question : SETTING UP OF WILDLIFE CRIME INTELLIGENCE CELL

(a) whether the wildlife crimes are increasing in the country and the Union and State Governments have failed to check the same;

(b) if so, the reasons therefor and if not, the extent of success achieved during the last three years as well as current year in controlling the wildlife crimes;

(c) whether the Union Government have been actively considering setting up a Wildlife Crime Intelligence Cell in the country;

(d) if so, the modus operandi of the proposed cell; and

(e) the extent to which it is likely to check wildlife crimes?

MINISTER OF ENVIRONMENT AND FORESTS (SHRI T.R. BAALU)

(a) to (e) A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (e) OF LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 379 ON `SETTING UP OF WILDLIFE CRIME INTELLIGENCE CELL` DUE FOR ANSWER ON 18.8.2003.

(a) & (b) No, Sir. The details of the number of poaching cases reported in respect of major wild animals during the last three years and in 2003 are given below which show that poaching of wild animals is on decrease.

YEAR	TIGER	LEOPARD	LION	ELEPHANT #	RHINO
2000 39 213 1 61 18
2001 47 86 0 43 11
2002 4 10 0 38 2
2003 1 0 0 4 NA
#	Figure pertains to financial year