Rhino products seized at India Burma border

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Rhino bones seized near Moreh

 

K Sarojkumar Sharma & Naresh Mitra, TNN 16 September 2009, *

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IMPHAL/GUWAHATI: In a strange twist to the illegal trade in wildlife parts

rampant in the North-east, Assam Rifles personnel have seized a large amount

of rhino skins and bones as well as other animal parts from two persons at

Tengnoupal near Manipur's Moreh town in Chandel district bordering Myanmar.

 

On Wednesday, Manipur Principal Chief Conservator of Forest (PCCF), S

Singsit, said, " I have received information about the seizure of Rhino parts

and other animal organs from my staff. " On Monday, instead of the usual

recovery of rhino horns, the jawans found 25 kg of rhino bones, 5.5 kg of

rhino skin, 10 bear glands and 482 kg of Pangolin shells from the possession

of Darshel Lamkang (21) and R R Romen Chothe (19). The duo was heading

towards Moreh when they were apprehended. The soldiers also seized 14,120

acetified tablets from them.

 

Poachers generally take away the horn and leave behind carcass after killing

a rhino. But the present haul hints at a departure, said a wildlife crime

expert. " If rhino bones and skin are being smuggled, then it gives a

completely new dimension to the illegal wildlife trade in the northeastern

region, " he added. Assam houses two-third of the world's one-horned rhino

population and the animals are frequently poached for its horn, which are

smuggled mostly through the Myanmar border into China and Southeast Asia for

uses in traditional Chinese medicine.

 

Both persons, along with the seized items, were handed over to Manipur

forest Office at Pallel, Assam Rifles officials said. However, Assam PCCF

(wildlife) Suresh Chand said it's impossible to tell whether the bones

belong to rhinos till forensic tests at the Dehradun-based Wildlife

Institute of India (WII) confirm it. " First of all, the bones need to be

certified as that of rhinos by WII. Only then can proper probe be

undertaken. So far, everyone knows that rhino horns are smuggled, and the

claim by paramilitary forces could only be an apprehension, " Chand said,

adding, " Only WII is authorized to say whether the bones are of rhinos. "

 

The porous India-Myanmar international border near Moreh is one of the major

conduits for smuggling wildlife parts. Himalayan black bears are also killed

in the North-East for its gall bladder, which is said to have medicinal

uses, while pangolin shells are used for making decorative items in China

and Southeast Asian countries.

 

In February this year, two tiger skulls, 16 kg of tiger bones and paws were

intercepted from Bongyang in the same district. Singsit reiterated on

Wednesday that steps are underway to set up a Wildlife Crime Control Bureau

office at Moreh soon, keeping in mind the frequent interception of wildlife

parts from the area