(IN): Well-organised poaching network active in NE

[Guest guest]

Link: http://www.assamtribune.com/scripts/details.asp?id=jun0107/at09

 

Well-organised poaching network active in NE

By Sivasish Thakur

GUWAHATI, May 31 – A well-organized poaching network covering the entire

North-east and having links with international operators in the clandestine

trade of animal body parts is intensifying its depredations in the State.

The revelations have come to light following the recent arrest of a poacher

in Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary. The poacher, a Manipuri who had bases in

Nagaland and Mizoram as well, was arrested inside the sanctuary when he had

entered it with three-four accomplices for poaching rhinos. Pobitora,

incidentally, has a very high concentration of the rhino with 81 numbers in

an area of just 38.8 sq km.

 

" The arrested poacher is more of a veteran sharp-shooter hired by other

operators. It seems he has been a much sought-after man for his shooting

prowess. Though he hails from Manipur, his area of operation covers several

north-eastern States, and he has confessed to killing rhinos in Kaziranga as

well, " Surajit Dutta, DFO, Guwahati Wildlife Division, told *The Assam

Tribune*.

 

Dutta added that the poacher, Lung Khai Go, was most likely to have links

with the illegal racket of international smugglers of animal body parts. " He

is scheduled for more questioning by a joint team of police and forest

officials, which should throw more light on the nefarious practice, " he

said.

 

It is an open secret that a majority of the animal body parts smuggled from

the North-east, a biodiversity hotspot, end up in South East Asia where

rhino horn, tiger bone and other parts, etc., have a huge demand.

 

Dutta said that Go had been staying near Pobitora with arms along with his

accomplices for several days – something that reflects the poor vigilance on

part of the police as well. " It is due to the dedication of our staff,

especially the frontline personnel, and cooperation from the local people,

that we could nab him even though his accomplices managed to escape, " he

said, adding that there had been no case of poaching in Pobitora for the

past one-and-a-half years.

 

Poaching of the rhino has witnessed a sharp rise in the State this year,

with six rhinos already killed in the famed Kaziranga National Park.

Wildlife experts believe that there is far greater coordination among the

poaching rackets than is generally perceived. A recent workshop in the city

by Traffic India on wildlife crimes noted that poaching in the North-east

and Nepal indicated a certain pattern, suggesting that there existed a

greater level of coordination among the depredators of forest wealth.

 

Dwindling staff strength and inadequate infrastructure apart that have been

perennial irritants in the State's forest management, the low level of

intelligence input has adversely affected the fight against forest crimes.

 

" The level of preparedness of the Forest Department to deal effectively with

forest crimes is questionable. International smugglers of animal body parts,

including poachers, have a sophisticated network, which often catches the

forest authorities unawares, " a forest official admitted. Except Kaziranga,

most of the national parks and wildlife sanctuaries of the State have poor

infrastructure and logistics, which impedes fast movement of the forest

personnel, so essential to tackle forest criminals.

 

Pobitora, for instance, has just an old vehicle that often remains out of

order. " Besides a vehicle, we urgently need a few motorcycles for patrolling

the boundaries of the sanctuary, " a sanctuary official said, adding that

more frontline personnel were another crying need in view of the fact that

the rhinos often strayed out of the sanctuary in search of food and space.