WPSI: Tiger poachers behind killing of Gir Lions

[Guest guest]

Forwarded message from Ms. Belinda Wright, OBE, Executive Director,

Wildlife Protection Society of India (WPSI)

 

Azam Siddiqui

-----

 

Tiger poachers behind killing of Gir Lions

 

There has been a breakthrough in the Gir lion killing case. WPSI

received a message from a senior police officer in Gujarat early this

morning to say that 17 people, including 15 women, had been arrested

with lion claws and a number of poaching tools. The message added that

" I am indeed sincerely grateful to you for the precious and very

timely inputs you gave " . The accused will be produced in court today.

 

WPSI's suspicions have proved correct. The accused are traditional

tiger poachers from Itarsi and Katni, in the central Indian state of

Madhya Pradesh. This serious new development points to the fact that

since tigers are so scarce in the wild, these poachers are now

targeting the last remaining population of Asiatic Lions. Gir's lions

are an easy target, since they are comparatively used to people and

live in open scrub forest. Their bones are also virtually

indistinguishable from those of tigers. There is no market for big cat

parts in India, and their poaching and the trade is entirely driven by

demand from outside India's borders, for use in traditional Chinese

medicine.

 

So far six lion carcasses have been found in Gir, on 3rd and 30th

March this year, all with their bones and claws missing. Evidence was

found of steel traps, and the fact that the lions had probably been

speared to death. There are fears that at least five other lions are

missing from the Babaria Forest Range where the two poaching incidents

took place. Gir National Park, the last stronghold of the Asiatic

lion, is believed to hold a population of around 360 lions.

 

The Gujarat police contacted WPSI after the case was handed over to

the State CID Crime Branch, and our anti-poaching experts have been

working closely with the Gujarat police for the past few weeks to

crack the case. The dogged diligence with which this lion poaching

case has been pursued by the CID, and in particular Inspector General

of Police CID, Mr Keshav Kumar, who is heading the investigation, is

an example to enforcement agencies anywhere in the world.

 

As the news spreads, there is great jubilation in Gujarat. However the

real work to secure the case begins now. Of primary concern is where

the traps have been hidden, and where the bones have been taken.

 

WPSI's legal department is standing by to assist in the prosecution of

this important case, and our lawyer will be leaving shortly for Gujarat.

 

=======================================================

Belinda Wright, OBE

Executive Director, Wildlife Protection Society of India (WPSI)

S-25 Panchsheel Park, New Delhi 110017, India

Tel: (Int+ 91.11) 4163.5920 & 4163.5921

Fax: (Int+ 91.11) 4163.5924

E-mail: wpsi

Website: www.wpsi-india.org

=======================================================

The information in this e-mail is confidential and intended solely for

the person or organisation to whom it is addressed. As it may contain

information subject to legal privilege, you may not copy, publish,

disclose

or use the contents in any manner. If you have received this e-mail in

error,

please notify the sender and delete the e-mail from your system. Thank

you.