Illegal ivory trade

[Guest guest]

Thefollowing news item evokes curious

feelings. Though india is a signatory to CITES and such global treaties

regarding the ban in ivory and its trade,Kerala has the largest number of

private ivory collection. Kerala has the largest number of captive tuskers

and their annual death rate is the highest in India due to the extreme and

unhealthy conditions in which they are forced to survive.When such a tusker

dies or cleverly killed for its insurance money, in most of the cases the

'owner' is allowed to keep the tusks wth him.Nobody enquires what happens to

the ivory later.Out of curiosity I personally have attended the " funeral

ceremony " of at least 20-25 tuskers-but I could see only once the presence of

forest officials to file the death and take the tusks in to custody.The

young forest ranger present on that single occasion was very brave and

diplomatic, took the tusks into custody- despite the aggressive opposition

from the members of the powerful elephant owners lobby and deposited the

tusks in the State treasury. That was the first capture of tusks from the

elephant owners (in 2007.)The officer was soon transferred. Kerala forest

officials will have to answer a lot of questions if a proper enquiry is

initiated by the Central Govt.and national and international watchdog

organistions in this regard. Ivory worth millions of dollars is being kept

and traded illegally by a vey powerful mafia in Kerala. Ivory

seized, five arrested

 

Express News Service

<http://www.expressbuzz.com/edition/searchresult.aspx?AliasName=qK1tLBLX|pLKZtS/\

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First Published : 13 Jun 2009 10:44:56 AM IST

Last Updated : 13 Jun 2009 10:57:37 AM IST

 

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: A five-member gang, involved in smuggling of ivory to

foreign countries, was held by the Forest officials here on Friday.

 

Two idols carved in ivory worth several lakhs of rupees in the

international market, a gun used for hunting, and large number of crude

weapons including saw, axe and knives, were recovered from the gang at

Muttathara. A Maruti 800 and a Santro car were also recovered from the gang.

 

 

Those arrested have been identified as Vijayan alias Ponthan Vijayan of

Palode, Sisupalan of Kilimanoor, Rajendran of Kallambalam, Rajan alias

Punchiry Rajan and Williams, both hailing from Muttathara.

 

A team led by Palode Forest Range Officer M.Ashokan and Kulathupuzha Range

Officer S.Abdul Jaleel held the gang following an investigation into the

killing of a wild elephant in Kulathupuzha forest area last month. The tusks

of the elephant were missing.

 

Sources said that the gang was nabbed while they were planning to smuggle

the ivory idols to foreign countries via Chennai. The ivory idols of Lord

Krishna weighed around 15 kg. Rajan and Williams are suspected to be members

of an international racket involved in smuggling of ivory idols.

 

Rajendran was initially held following inputs from tribals. He was leading

a posh life in the forest areas of Kulathupuzha. The other members of the

gang were traced on the basis of the information received from Rajendran.

 

Forest officials suspect the involvement of more officials in the racket.