New Delhi: The Central Government, on Saturday, informed the Parliament that a total number of 1,256 cases of illegal trafficking and poaching of endangered animals have been recorded between the year of 2017-2019.
In a written reply to Rajya Sabha, Minister of State for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Babul Supriyo said that as per the data available with Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB) provided by State Forest and Police authorities, a total number of 2,313 offenders have been arrested during 2017-19.
The questions were raised by CPI MP, Binoy Viswam in Rajya Sabha, asking the Union Minister to share the total number of cases involving illegal trafficking and killing of endangered animals, the number of people arrested for the crime during the last three years, and the steps taken by the Ministry to prevent these illegal activities.
As per the official data, 478 cases of illegal trafficking and killings of wildlife were registered in 2017, 492 cases in 2018, and 286 cases in 2019. While the number of wildlife offenders arrested in 2017 was 880, in 2018 were 858 and in 2019 were 575.
Supriyo also informed that WCCB had issued 313 alerts and advisories between 2017 to 2020 for preventive action against poaching and illegal trade of endangered animals.
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Mentioning that the primary responsibility of the management of forests and wildlife is of states and union territories, he said, "Financial assistance is provided to State Governments under the Centrally sponsored schemes of integrated development of wildlife habitats, for providing better protection to wildlife, including endangered species of wild animals, improvement of their habitat and to ensure harmonious existence of human settlements with wild animals."
He also said that WCCB conducted a capacity building program for Forests and Police Officials on the investigation of Wildlife cases, under which 20 programs were started in 2017-18 where 1092 officials were trained, 26 programs in 2018-19 with the training of 1081 officials, and 24 programs in 2019-20 where 1102 officials got trained.
"Organized inter-agency meetings for coordination of inter-agency enforcement efforts in combating wildlife crime. 10 meetings were held in 2017-18, 9 in 2018-19, and 7 have been conducted in 2019-20," he added.
