Maneka Gandhi, the leading animal welfare activist of India says that the crime against flora and fauna is hugely ignored and while people like to believe that poachers are just some greedy individuals who want to earn a quick buck when they find ideal circumstances for hunting, the reality is that these poachers are part of a very well organised group that operate pan India and have a widespread crime network.
From her years of infield knowledge, Ms. Gandhi has found out that the poachers actually have unlimited supply of ammunitions and vehicles. What is more they have contacts within the system with people who are supposed to be the protectors of the wildlife and it is these who help them whenever crisis arises. According to her, the local politicians, police and forest officials although bestowed with strong powers, either choose to remain aloof or are too scared to act against the criminals.
The environmentalist names many tribal groups across India who have made poaching a business. This includes,
- The Bawarias who move as a family and are organised big cat hunters who operate in and around wildlife sanctuaries,
- Tthe nomadic Pardhiis,
- The Narikauravas of South India who steal squirrels and domestic cats as well,
- The Kela tribes of Orissa who poach monitor lizards and sell their skins to the music industry
These tribes operate like any other organised sector. While the men are in the forest hunting, the women open up a shack near the sanctuaries selling trinkets and jewellery. After dusk, they venture into the forest with the children and help the men skin the animal and separate the parts through the night. At dawn they are already packed and prepared to board the train and export the loot to countries like China. Leopards, elephants bears, they all fetch high prices for these criminals.
Wildlife crime is as big an offense as stealing jewellery or murdering a human being. The value of life cannot be deemed lesser just because it belongs to an animal. If justice is equal for all, it should be given to all no matter what the species. The crime of poaching has to stop.
Image Credit stevendepolo via cc/FLickr
Posted on September 22, 2010
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