A standing committee of the UN's Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species(CITES) has decided that the Australian customs will impart intelligence training to Indian customs officials in tracking down criminal networks trading illegalyy in big cat skins and body parts.
Environmental Investigation Agency(EIA) has been underlining the role of thorough investigation to pin down the kingpins of illegal wildlife trade. A recent investigation in China indicates that trade in tiger skin and body parts is still on with fresh arrivals from India, Pakistan, afghanistan, russia and Vietnam. A fresh tiger skin was recovered in China which is claimed to have come from India. After Dalai Lama made a call to Tibetans to give up tiger skins, there has been some fall in the demand but the Chinese demand continues which poses serious threat to tiger conservatio initiatives in India. Poachers are active in India and the national capital accounts for most wildlife cases registered in the country which goes to prove that illicit trade in wildlife is controlled from Delhi.
One important issue that CITES needs to bear in mind before starting training is that under the Indian conditions, primary responsibility to investigate rests with the local police and now with the creation of Wildlife Crime Records Bureau, the responsibility will be shared by the apex body. EIA will do well to co-ordinate the efforts in such a way that cutting edge investigators benefit from this decision.
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2 comments:
Call from Dalai Lama will surely help in saving this magnificent animal, though it was very late. (better late than never)
Help in poaching? Is Sansar Chand not enough?
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