Bear bile trade in India

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Please contact Daniel Turner of the Born Free Foundation at

daniel if you have any information on this.

 

 

 

---------- Forwarded message ----------

Daniel Turner <daniel

Sep 5, 2008 9:20 PM

FW: ART: Zoo Bears Killed for Bile-India

<shubhobrotoghosh

 

Hi there

Hope you're well. Would you be able to comment on the article below?

Thanks

 

Daniel

 

 

 

Himalayan bears face gory death

 

morungexpress | Zakir Hussain 18 August, 2008 11:00:00

 

 

Dimapur | August 18 : At the site in Rangapahar Wildlife Sanctuary and

Zoological Park in Dimapur flies hovered the dead bodies of two

Himalayan Black bears. The two endangered species are suspected to have

been poisoned to death by unidentified poachers - for the animals'

supposedly precious biles. The bodies of the bears which were lying

outside their enclosure were fiercely slashed by sharp weapons with cut

marks on head, knees, eyes and chest. The Chief Wildlife Warden,

representative from Naga Council and other forest officials were at the

spot.

According to Obed B Swu, Range Forest Officer of the park, the incident

occurred at around 1 to 2 pm this morning. He suspected that the bears

were killed for their biles since they are used for " medicinal purposes "

 

by quacks. However, he said that biles would be of no use since it would

 

also get affected by the poison. He said the bears were probably cut

open by a machate.

Narrating the whole incident to the Media, Swu said the bears were taken

 

out of their enclosure after being poisoned since furious animals like

bears cannot simply be handled easily. He said that there were also

signs of some chemicals that might have been used to poison the bears

inside the enclosure. The lock of the enclosure was found broken. The

park has registered a complaint in the police station and also informed

the Forest Minister and Commissioner and Secretary about the incident.

The two bears including a female, were aged around 10 to 12 years and

were brought from Kohima in the month of June 2008.

Not denying the hand of some organised poachers in the crime, he said it

 

may be the work of some one who lives nearby the park and possess a good

 

knowledge about the area since it was well and pre planned activity of

poaching.

He also did not rule out the involvement of the Park staff in the

incident and added that one such situation people could suspect anybody.

 

He informed that the bodies would be sent to Veterinary hospital at

Burma Camp for post-mortem. The poachers scaled the walls near the front

 

gate to get inside the Park since there were blood stains in the walls,

he disclosed.

While expressing dissatisfaction over the security arrangement in the

Park that was still under CrPc over the recent encroachment issue, Swu

said two companies of IR (NAP) battalions were stationed in the Park

during the encroachment problem. But the companies were replaced by 8th

NAP battalion, which was also withdrawn and presently one section of 8th

 

NAP with about 10 to 12 personnel were stationed at the Park.

The Park with an area of 1.76 hectares and 6.6 Kms perimeter wall

fencing has about 5 foresters, 25 executive staff besides support staff

like peon and gardeners.

Swu while condemning the incident, said people need to be educated about

 

wildlife protection and promotion since the Park is the only

recreational centre in the commercial hub of Nagaland. He added that

government alone cannot do everything but rather people should come

forward to support such noble activities.

Chief Wildlife Warden Dr. Sashidharan said this act should be condemned

as the Park was for the people of Nagaland and also Dimapur did not have

 

any recreational centre.

The Rangapahar Wildlife Sanctuary and Zoological Park presently houses 6

 

Bears (excluding two killed), 3 Foxes, 3 Hornbills, 1 giant Owl, 6

Sambar deer, 1 clouded leopard and 4 Langurs and the Park also has one

'Rescue Centre' that houses 1 Hollock Gibbon, 1 Slowloris, 1 fresh water

 

turtle, 3 aquatic birds and two owls. Interestingly, Medo Angami, one of

 

the Forest Guard informed that 6 Sambar Deer including three female, two

 

are pregnant. The Park will tentatively open on August 28 next by MC

Konyak, Minister of Forest.

The entry fee to the Park will be Rs. 10 and Rs. 5 for adults and

children respectively while there will be separate fee for taking

pictures inside. The Park authorities have designed the enclosures as

per the guidelines of the Central Zoo Authority and are planning to

bring new animals in the Park, after the completion of all enclosures.

 

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