Problem Of Poaching In The Country And Illegal Trade In
Wildlife Body Parts And Derivatives :
Increased
human and cattle population in our country has led to
pressure on forest resources which has ultimately caused
fragmentation and degradation of wildlife habitats.
This,
along with the increase in wildlife population in Protected
Aeras have resulted in wildlife spilling over to other
areas. Resultantly, increased man-animal conflicts leading
to revenge killings and poaching are discernable. Though
India is not a consumer of wildlife body parts, the demand
from other countries for these with lucrative profits
is a threat to wildlife.
Reasons
for man-animal conflict :
Qualitative and quantitative decline of wildlife habitat
including loss of prey base are main reasons for such
a situation.
Ex-gratia
and compensation payment :
Timely
payment of ex-gratia for human deaths and compensation
for loss of property is crucial to pacify the affected
families.
Government of India has raised the compensation against
loss of human life to Rs 1 lakh. During the IXth plan
compensation to the tune of Rs. 332 lakhs has been provided
by Government of India under Project Tiger and Project
Elephant for loss of life and property.
Poaching
Of Major Wild Animals :
The
wildlife products traded illegally from the country are
Musk Deer for cosmetics, Bear for skin and bear bile,
Elephant Tusk for ivory, Rhino horns for aphrodisiac,
Tiger and Leopard skins for fashion products, oriental
medicines and food, Snakes and Monitor Lizard skins for
leather industry, Birds for pet trade and feather for
decoration, Swiftlet nests for soups, Mongoose for bristles,
Turtles for meat and soup, and Tibetan Antelope for shawls.
It is estimated that quantum of trade in wildlife products
is just next to narcotics, valued at nearly 20 billion
dollars in the global market, of this more than one third
is illegal.
Illicit tranboundary trade in tiger body parts has increased
due to lucrative prices offered for tiger bones in particular.
As per one estimate (1999) 10 gms. of tiger bones fetch
a price of US$ 24.25 at the China-Vietnam border, i.e
above Rs. 1 lakhs per kg. In Japan, trade in tiger parts
and products was permitted till April, 2000. This has
now been banned after persuasion by the global conservation
community. Difficulties being faced by developing countries
like India in controlling illicit trade in tiger parts
and products, have been brought to the notice of CITES
(Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species
of Wild Fauna and Flora) time and again. The Convention
has appealed to the International Community to support
India in it's efforts for conserving tigers.
The
list of poaching cases of major wild animals detected
in various states during the last three years :
Reported
cases of Tiger Poaching:
| 1998 |
1999
|
2000 |
2001 |
2002 |
2003 |
| 14 |
38 |
39 |
35 |
47 |
8 |
Reported
cases of Leopard Poaching :
| 1998 |
1999
|
2000 |
2001 |
2002 |
2003 |
| 28 |
80 |
201 |
69 |
87 |
15 |
|
