WCS-India: CWT Newsletter (March 2021)

WCS-India: CWT Newsletter (March 2021)

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Counter Wildlife Trafficking Newsletter

March 2021

News Scan (1-31 March)

Elusive tigress with snare on neck finally captured from Bandipur's Gundre range | 1 March 2021

The tigress with a snare around its neck, which had kept the forest officials in Karnataka and Kerala on high alert, was captured by the forest staffers in Gundre range of Bandipur Tiger Reserve (BTR). The tigress was first sighted with a snare on its neck in Kerala. After two failed attempts to capture it, the tigress had given the slip to forest officials and entered into BTR in Karnataka.

Four-month run ends, elephant trader Shaji arrested | 2 March 2021

V Shaji, hailing from Kollam, was arrested from Navi Mumbai by forest officials on the charge of elephant trading. After a search of four months, the accused was arrested with the help of the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (western region) officials. Cases were registered against Shaji based on a YouTube video that went viral in last October, in which he was seen asserting to have traded 200 elephants.

Man arrested with leopard skins, teeth, claws in Uttarakhand | 2 March 2021

A man was arrested on charges of smuggling six leopard skins, 43 claws and 24 teeth in Sera town of Pithoragarh district by the Uttarakhand Special Task Force (STF).

Human-elephant conflict: Jumbo suspected to be poisoned to death in Karnataka | 3 March 2021

The carcass of the tusker, found in an abandoned cardamom plantation, was in a highly decomposed state which made it difficult to ascertain the exact cause of death. The tusks were found to be missing from the carcass, which led officials to suspect poaching. However, the necropsy results seem to point to the tusker having been poisoned.

Live pangolin rescued from clutches of two poachers | 5 March 2021

The joint team of Wildlife Crime Control Bureau, Special Task Force (STF) Jabalpur, Crime Branch Jabalpur and Forest Department, Patan, rescued a live pangolin from two accused who were out to sell the animal.

Are elephants safe from Poachers in Similipal of Odisha? | 5 March 2021

Distressed elephants of Similipal Sanctuary face an uncertain and dangerous future due to threats from poachers and hunters. With the increasing cases of elephant poaching, the question arises — how much-secured elephants are at the Similipal sanctuary of Odisha. In a fresh case of illegal trade of tusks, forest officials arrested two smugglers and seized 8 pieces of tusks weighing 45kg from their possession.

Red sanders logs seized in Chittoor | 5 March 2021

The Puttur sub-division police and Red Sanders Task Force personnel, in a joint operation, seized 2.5 tonnes of red sanders logs, at a forest location in KVB Puram mandal.

Four men arrested for poaching spotted deer in tiger reserve | 5 March 2021

Forest department officials arrested four people for poaching a spotted deer in Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve. The men were carrying two country-made guns, snare wires and deer meat.

Timber smuggler shot dead in Karbi Anglong, arms recovered | 5 March 2021

A suspected timber smuggler was shot dead by a team of forest department personnel under Silonijan Range in Assam’s East Karbi Anglong. As per reports, a team of forest personnel confronted a group of timber smugglers inside the Garampani Wildlife Sanctuary and asked them to surrender.

The gang of smugglers who were involved in the felling of endangered trees opened fire at the forest team forcing them to retaliate.

Hog deer carcasses seized in Arunachal Pradesh | 6 March 2021

Continuing its effort to check wanton killing of wildlife in the East Siang district, a team of frontline staff from the Forest Range Office, Pasighat headed by Range Officer O Jamoh seized carcasses of hog deer from a daily market.

952-kg sea cucumber seized | 6 March 2021

Mandapam police seized 952 kg of processed sea cucumber that was meant to be smuggled to Sri Lanka. Police said that the Superintendent of Police, E Karthik, received a tip-off that sea cucumbers were being smuggled from Vedhalai on a boat.

BSF rescues exotic birds near Nadia | 6 March 2021

A menagerie of birds that include a Helmeted guineafowl, two Eclectus parrots, a couple of Scarlet macaws and lovebirds were rescued while they were allegedly being smuggled into the city from Bangladesh, an officer of the Border Security Force (BSF) said.

Alert sounded in CTR after increase in poaching in nearby areas | 8 March 2021

A poaching alert has been sounded in Corbett Tiger Reserve (CTR) after its Special Observation Group (SOG) deployed in Kalagarh area (close to the Uttar Pradesh border) informed authorities about poachers being active in the area.

Forest protection force seizes illicit timber in Anantnag | 8 March 2021

Forest Protection Force officials seized illicit timber from a house in Deesu Daksum area in south-Kashmir's Annatnag district, officials said.

Seven convicted of holding ‘illegal lion show’ in Gir forest, get up to 3 yrs in jail | 9 March 2021

A trial court convicted seven men, including three tourists from Ahmedabad, for luring an Asiatic lion with a chicken during an illegal lion show in Babariya range of Gir (west) wildlife division in 2018. The court sentenced them to rigorous imprisonment for up to three years and imposed a fine of Rs.10,000 each.

Black buck rescued from poachers | 10 March 2021

Acting on a tip-off, the Hyderabad police rescued a three-year-old female black buck and arrested three persons involved in hunting deer and selling its meat to customers in different parts of the state. In a joint operation with the forest department, police also recovered body parts of another deer the accused is alleged to have killed.

Sandalwood smuggler held In Odisha, logs Seized | 10 March 2021

Commissionerate Police arrested a 45-year-old man on the charges smuggling sandalwood in Choudwar and other parts of the State. Senior police officials informed that sandalwood weighing 92 kgs has been seized from his possession.

3 nabbed for selling elephant tusks | 11 March 2021

In a major action against wildlife criminals, Kolhapur forest department officials have nabbed three persons planning to sell three elephant tusks.

Sea cucumber seized in Lakshadweep | 11 March 2021

Lakshadweep forest department busted an international sea cucumber poachers’ racket and seized 486 dead sea cucumbers. Two fishing boats were also seized and seven poachers were arrested as part of the operation.

Poacher with 7 kg porcupine meat nabbed while setting fire in forest | 12 March 2021

Forest personnel nabbed an armed poacher who was trying to set fire to Machhakandana forest under Podadiha range of Similipal South wildlife division and seized 7 kg porcupine meat from his possession.

8 people including 5 policemen held with tiger skin in Dantewada | 12 March 2021

Eight persons including five policemen and two health workers were nabbed with tiger’s skin in naxal affected Dantewada town of Chhattisgarh.

Two arrested in Odisha’s Kandhamal for trying to set forest on fire | 12 March 2021

The forest department in Odisha arrested two persons for allegedly trying to set on fire the Baraba Reserve Forest in Karada range under Kandhamal district’s Phulbani forest division.

Hunter Held In Mayurbhanj District Of Odisha | 13 March 2021

A hunter has been arrested by the Forest Department officials in Karanjia forest division at Kendujiani panchayat in Mayurbhanj district of Odisha. The officials seized the bow and arrows from the area.

Accused get bail in birds seizure case | 15 March 2021

Additional sessions judge Cholu Gauns granted anticipatory bail to Gregory Bruno Fernandes and Blevia Fernandes. They were arrested for illegal captivity of protected species of birds and animals at their open hall in Varca.

Youth catches hunters with 25 dead squirrels | 15 March 2021

A 25-year-old man stood up to a group of alleged hunters armed with bows, arrows and improvised bamboo spears at a village in Howrah’s Panchla. More than 25 dead squirrels were found on the group, most of whose members fled the spot after being challenged by Subhankar Koley, 25.

11 migratory birds found dead in Koderma, poisoning suspected | 16 March 2021

As many as 11 migratory birds were found dead in Jamukhari under Chandwara police station limits in Koderma along with a bottle of poison, officials said. This is the second incident of bird poaching in Jamukhari in the recent past. Earlier, the forest department found carcasses of 40 birds there.

Endangered wildlife species smuggled from Amazon Rainforest seized in Golaghat in Upper Assam | 16 March 2021

Wildlife enforcement agencies seized three endangered wild animal species, suspected to be smuggled from Amazon Rainforest in Brazil in upper Assam’s Golaghat district. The officials rescued one pair of Macao, four Silvery Marmosets and one pair of Golden-headed Tamarin.

Fourteen woodcutters from T.N. nabbed near Tirupati | 16 March 2021

The Andhra Pradesh State Red Sanders Anti-Smuggling Task Force (APSRSASTF) personnel apprehended 14 woodcutters from Tamil Nadu at a forest location between Panapakam and Ithepalle villages, the entry points to the Seshachalam hills.

Four men arrested for hunting spotted deer | 18 March 2021

Forest department officials arrested four people for hunting a spotted deer at Nellimalai reserve forest in Mettupalayam forest range. They placed a snare inside the reserve forest area and caught a spotted deer, later killed the deer and cooked the meat.

Man Arrested For Setting Fire In Forest To Hunt Wild Animals | 18 March 2021

The forest department officials arrested one person for allegedly attempting to set fire in Attei reserve forest near Jamupasi village in Dhurudiamba in Keonjhar district to hunt wild animals by setting traps.

Customs Seizes 21 Lakh Pieces Of Peacock Tail Feathers Being Smuggled To China | 18 March 2021

Customs officials have seized about 21 lakh pieces of peacock tail feathers at the Inland Container Depot here while they were allegedly being smuggled to China, officials said.

Skins of black bear seized in Dirang | 18 March 2021

Skins of Schedule I species including Himalayan Black Bear have been seized in Arunachal Pradesh’s Dirang district by the sleuths of Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB), SSB and Police. Acting on specific input, a team of WCCB and SSB conducted a raid at the house of Dorjee Letro in Sangti village in Dirang and recovered skins Himalayan Black Bear and leopard.

4 Held For Trying To Sell ‘Tiger Skin’ | 19 March 2021

The Ahmedabad Crime Branch arrested three persons for attempting to sell what looked like tiger skin in the open ground at the old Ahmedabad fire headquarters.

Four held with elephant tusk | 19 March 2021

A joint team of Uttarakhand Special Task Force (STF), wildlife crime control bureau and forest department held four members of a gang with eight kilograms of elephant tusks from Kashipur road in Rudrapur.

Four arrested with endangered red sand boa in Raipur | 19 March 2021

our smugglers were arrested with a non-venomous red sand boa, a protected species of snake, in Chhattisgarh''s capital Raipur, police said.

Red sanders seized, four held | 20 March 2021

The Chittoor police seized 5.2 tonnes of red sanders logs along with a lorry and a car carrying the consignment, at Penumuru cross on the outskirts of Chittoor. The police nabbed four accused after giving them a chase.

2 nilgais, 16 goats die after drinking poisoned water from Chanda pond | 20 March 2021

Two nilgais and 16 goats were killed after consuming poisoned water from a dried up near Dongargaon in Talodhi range. Foresters have arrested three persons from Palagaon village for poisoning the water body and killing the animals.

3 mute swans rescued on Indo-Bangla border | 20 March 2021

Three swans were rescued by the Border Security Force (BSF) along the Indo-Bangladesh border in Nadia. Stitched inside nylon bags, the mute swans were barely alive. They have been handed over to the forest department in Nadia.

3 mute swans rescued on Indo-Bangla border | 21 March 2021

Poachers on forest dept’s radar after spike in tiger deaths | 23 March 2021

Day after a tiger carcass was found in Dudhwa Tiger Reserve forest, officials began a crackdown against active poachers in nearby districts. A poacher was arrested in Shahjahanpur on Tuesday and a rapid response team was set up in nearby Pilibhit district to target poachers.

Three booked for poaching spotted deer | 24 March 2021

Forest department officials in Jayashankar-Bhupalpally district have booked three persons under Wildlife Act, for poaching a spotted deer. A team headed by Forest Range Officer of Pegadapally Range (Mahadevpur division) Sushma Rao conducted a raid and seized meat and body parts of a spotted deer and binding wire weighing 25 kg, from the houses of the accused.

Days later, four more held with second elephant tusk in Uttarakhand | 24 March 2021

A joint team of special task force (STF), wildlife crime control bureau and forest department officials arrested four people and recovered an elephant tusk from their possession in Rudrapur area in US Nagar district. This second tusk belongs to the same elephant whose first tusk was recovered from four people held on March 17.

Over 150 indigenous parakeets rescued from a house in Narkeldanga | 26 March 2021

More than 150 indigenous parakeets were rescued from a house near the Narkeldanga intersection by officials of the forest department and the wildlife unit of Calcutta police’s detective department.

Forest departmetnt seizes 18 tiger nails; 2 teeth | 26 March 2021

Forest Mobile Squad arrested two persons who were trying to sell tiger nails and teeth at Hunsur.

Elephant tusks seized in Deogarh, two held | 27 March 2021

Forest department officials seized two tusks and arrested two smugglers in this connection at Balipasi Chakk under Khamar forest range. Acting on a tip-off, a team led by Khyama Sarangi, Deogarh forest officer, conducted a raid and arrested two persons involved in the illegal trade. The cops also seized two pieces of elephant tusk weighing 3kg from their possession.

Forest watcher, two others held for red sanders smuggling | 27 March 2021

The police nabbed three persons and seized 20 logs of red sanders, a car, some cash, two mobile phones, axes and saws, after raiding a forest location at Tippayapalle beat of Pullampeta mandal in Kadapa district, Andra Pradesh.

Two poachers arrested in Deogarh, pistol seized | 27 March 2021

The forest department personnel today arrested two poachers at Taranga Proposed Reserved Forest under Reamal forest range in Deogarh Forest Division.

6 held for poaching in Achanakmar Tiger Reserve | 29 March 2021

Six persons were arrested from separate places in Chhattisgarh's Bilaspur district for allegedly killing spotted deer in Achanakmar Tiger Reserve, forest officials said. The carcass of a chital, also known as spotted deer, and 35 kg meat of the animal were also recovered from their possession, they said.

Snake Venom Racket | 30 March 2021

The arrest of six persons including a woman on charges of smuggling around 1.5 litres of snake venom from the State capital took everyone by surprise as Odisha rarely featured as a point for the transit of the deadly poison which is used as a potent narcotics for abusers in China and South-East Asia.

Hunters roaming in search of prey caught in Nayapura forest | 30 March 2021

Two hunters roaming in search of prey were caught by foresters after chasing for over a kilometre. There were six alleged hunters, but four of them jumped from the car and fled. The two hunters were arrested and were found in possession of guns, shrapnel and explosive material found in some types of guns used for hunting animals.

Youth held at airport for carrying Chinkara horns | 31 March 2021

Horns of chinkara were found in the bag of a passenger at Devi Ahilya Bai Holkar Airport in Indore. The youth had reached the airport to catch a flight plying from Indore to Mumbai. During the CISF investigation and bag screening, Chinkara's horns were found from him.

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Infographic: Jessica Luis

Posted in: From WCS-India, Wildlife Trade News

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