Wildlife and Nature Conservation - Centre for Ecological Sciences

[144] The forest service as a whole be mandated to combat wildlife crime and undergobasic level training in this regard. For combating specific wildlife crime(poaching, trading and smuggling), training be imparted to field wildlife staff,taking the assistance of specialized technical agencies, governmental or nongovernmental,in doing so[145] Intelligence gathering be given adequate resources as contingency fundsallocated to the Chief Wildlife Warden and managers of important protectedareas, and special groups of personnel be trained in it and this be budgeted as aregular part of anti-poaching operations. Wherever possible, special “cells” todeal with organized illicit trade in wildlife be set up and suitable persons from thepolice or other departments be taken on deputation.[146] To assist the ‘cells’ to curb illicit trade in wildlife products, expertise in wildlifeforensics should be developed in each state, preferably in an establishedinstitution or laboratory equipped with the requisite tools, in collaboration withthe Wildlife Institute of India.[147] Each State and Regional Deputy Directors of Wildlife Preservation under theGovernment of India, should set up computerized database on illegal wildlifetrade and the ongoing cases in court. These would feed a national level databasein the Ministry of Environment and Forests.[148] The role of non-wildlife agencies in curbing wildlife crime is to be underscoredand they be given adequate mandate, training and incentive to help Governmentcurb wildlife trade.[149] All forest protection staff must have group insurance against death, disease anddisability by the state to increase their morale and as a staff welfare measure.[150] The broad recommendations of the Subramaniam Committee report of 1994,especially the formation of the wildlife crime unit and the provision of legaltraining and support to wildlife law enforcement agencies, be implemented.[151] Government should enforce CITES more stringently and cooperate more withother nations in doing so, especially our neighbouring nations, as ultimately thiswould be in the country’s interest in preventing illegal trade. Recently, theAssociation of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) has decided to set up a ASEANWildlife Enforcement Network (ASEAN-WEN). Government of India must jointhe process and both provide and seek cooperation from this set-up, and endeavorto establish a similar set-up for South-Asia or South Asian Association ofRegional Cooperation.[152] There have been numerous instances of wild animals being deliberatelyelectrocuted by cutting overhead wires, amongst them elephants, rhinos andtigers. Livestock and humans have also perished. As far as possible, no electriclines be laid over national parks and sanctuaries and those that exist should besafeguarded against such vandalism and misuse.[153] Though two new categories of protected areas have now been recognized underthe amended Wild Life (Protection) Act, namely, Conservation Reserves andCommunity Reserves, hardly any new protected area under these two categorieshave been established. As demographic restrictions envisaged under these twocategories are far less than in the case of national parks or sanctuaries, adefinitive effort needs to be undertaken by each state to identify and designateprotected areas under these two new categories. The Ministry of Environmentand Forests needs to undertake a survey to identify areas, which have potential141