(a) whether the wildlife crimes have increased in the country during the last three years;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether illegal trade in wildlife articles have also increased in the same period;
(d) if so, the details thereof;
(e) whether the present system of Investigation and Prosecution of Wildlife Offences are
satisfactory;
(f) if not, the reasons therefor; and
(g) the steps taken/proposed to be taken to improve the investigation and prosecution of
wildlife offences?
MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR ENVIRONMENT AND FORESTS (SHRI JAIRAM RAMESH)
(a),(b),(c)&(d) There are no specific reports on increase in wildlife crime in recent years.
However, the number of cases involving violation of Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, Convention
on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), Exim Policy,
which have come to notice of Wildlife Crime Control Bureau’s Regional offices during the
last three years, show an increasing trend. The details of the cases are given in the Annexure.
(e)&(f) Investigation and prosecution of wildlife offences are primarily being dealt by the
State/UT Governments. The present system of investigation and prosecution of wildlife offences
meets the existing exigencies.
(g) Steps taken by the Government for the conservation of wildlife and to stop illegal
trade of wildlife are as follows:
(i) The Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, has been amended from time to time and made more
stringent against wildlife related offences.
(ii) Threatened species of wildlife are placed in the Schedules of the Wildlife
(Protection), Act, 1972, thereby according them the highest degree of protection.
(iii) The Government has created the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau as a multi disciplinary
agency to complement the existing state machinery to deal with wildlife crime having
ramification beyond state and national borders.
(iv) Wildlife staff posted in highly sensitive areas has been provided with arms, wireless
sets and vehicles to keep check on wildlife poaching and trade.
(v) Training and capacity building programmes are organized to improve the skills of
wildlife staff to improve the investigation and prosecution of wildlife offences.