Latest news with #Eryxjohnii
The Hindu
03-05-2025
- The Hindu
Elephant killers will be punished, says Assam tribal council chief
The chief of the Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC), Pramod Boro, has asked forest officials to track down and punish the killers of three elephants in the Manas National Park on Friday (May 2, 2025). The 500 sq. km. Manas, a transboundary protected area, is within the Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR), which the BTC governs. Forest guards found the carcasses of the elephants in the Palengshi Beat area of the park's Panbari Range close to the India-Bhutan border. 'We have taken this incident with utmost seriousness, and the officials have been directed to take all necessary steps to catch and punish the culprits. We will not tolerate any harm to our wildlife and will ensure strict action against those involved,' he told journalists on Saturday (May 3, 2025). He said the BTR saw a sharp decline in poaching over the past few years. Sustained efforts by the government led to the surrender of scores of poachers. He added that the former poachers and hunters were provided one-time financial aid to support alternative livelihoods. The government has also undertaken steps to reduce human-elephant conflicts and fast-track compensation for the families of people killed in such incidents. 'The declaration of the Raimona National Park and the Sikhna Jwhwlao National Park in the BTR was a part of our efforts to protect wildlife and preserve our natural resources,' Mr. Boro said. The poaching incident triggered outrage in the areas around the Manas National Park, where elephants are often revered despite frequent conflicts with humans. The local units of the All Assam Students' Union and the All Adivasi Students' Association of Assam have stepped up pressure on the BTR authorities to crack down on poachers and wildlife body parts traffickers. 2 wildlife traffickers caught On May 1, Border Security Force (BSF) personnel caught two wildlife traffickers at Ghewmari in western Assam's Dhubri district and recovered 202 common sand boas (Eryx johnii) from them. The two were identified as brothers Arif Mal and Talib Mal from North 24 Parganas in West Bengal. They were caught trying to smuggle the snakes in sacks across the border. The common sand boa, primarily found in southern India, is listed under Schedule IV of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. Believed to bring wealth and prosperity, this non-venomous snake is in high demand in the grey market. 'The large number of rescued snakes points to a wider trafficking syndicate. We have launched a comprehensive investigation to find the network's reach and connections,' an officer of the Forest department, which took custody of the common sand boas, said.
Hindustan Times
03-05-2025
- Hindustan Times
Red sand boa rescued in Uttarakhand; 3 held for smuggling protected species
Dehradun: The Uttarakhand police on Friday rescued a red sand boa snake and arrested three men who were allegedly smuggling the protected species, listed under Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act. The accused — Anil Kumar (40) from Haryana's Kurukshetra district, Ashok Kumar (50) from Yamunanagar district, and Sandeep Kumar (41) from Haridwar district — reportedly members of the Ladwa Gang, an international wildlife smuggling network, had brought the snake from Haryana to sell it in Dehradun. 'The recovered species of snake is valued at approximately ₹1 crore in the international market,' an officer said. The red sand boa (Eryx johnii), a rare non-venomous snake, is listed on the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) Red List of Threatened Species in 2021. The snake fetches high value in the black market as it is supposed to bring good luck, prosperity and is used during rituals to invoke rain or pray for money It is used in the production of certain medicines and cosmetics, and is also believed to have significance in black magic, making it highly sought after globally. Also Read:Red sand boa snake worth ₹1.25 cr rescued in Madhya Pradesh Police received a tip-off on May 2 about three members of an international wildlife smuggling gang in possession of a rare red sand boa, a species often associated with black magic, senior superintendent of police Ajai Singh said. 'The accused were waiting in a white Swift car without a registration number on Canal Road in Vikas Nagar, intending to sell the snake. We immediately formed a special police team to apprehend the suspects. The team cordoned off the area and intercepted the vehicle,' Singh added. A two-headed red sand boa was found in a bag on the rear seat of the car. Also Read:Red sand boa stuck in metal rings rescued from Delhi's Uttam Nagar 'Upon interrogation, the three suspects failed to provide any satisfactory explanation. When questioned further, they confessed that they had brought the snake from Haryana to Dehradun to sell it at a high price for use in black magic. They also admitted that the snake fetched prices in the range of ₹1 crore on the international black market,' he said. The forest department was called to inspect the snake. 'The forest officials identified the snake as a red sand boa and informed that it is listed under Part C (Reptiles), Serial No. 01 of Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 (as amended in 2022). Any hunting, trade, possession, or transport of the species is strictly prohibited and considered a punishable offence,' Singh said. A case was registered against them at the Vikas Nagar police station under relevant sections of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.
