(a) whether the Government proposes to use hi-tech tools in forest areas to identify illegal wildlife sales including animal’s traffickers;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether the Government proposes to provide more powers to forest conservationists to check any kind of wildlife crime as prevalent in some of the developed countries; and
(d) if so, the details thereof?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
(DR. MAHESH SHARMA)
(a) & (b) Management of wildlife, control of poaching and illegal trade are the mandate of State governments. Government of India has not initiated any specific proposal to use hi-tech tools to identify illegal wildlife sales in forest area including animal traffickers. Funds have been provided to the States under the Integrated Development of Wildlife Habitat (IDWH) scheme for procurement of ammunitions, surveillance gadgets (E-Eye, Drone) etc. in the protected areas for strengthening the existing system of wildlife crime curbing.
(c) & (d)Government of India has no proposal for providing more power to forest conservationists to check any kind of wildlife crime as prevalent in some of the developed countries presently.
***