Latest news with #WildlifeCrimeControlBureau
Deccan Herald
4 hours ago
- Deccan Herald
Passenger caught with 48 highly venomous snakes at Mumbai airport
The Wildlife Crime Control Bureau has ordered that the reptiles be sent back to the country from where they had been brought, as per the provisions of the Wildlife Protection Act.
Hindustan Times
20-05-2025
- Hindustan Times
36 endangered reptiles seized at Mumbai airport
MUMBAI: Thirty-six endangered reptiles, including six iguanas and 30 orange-bearded dragons, were seized by Mumbai customs after they arrived on a flight from Bangkok on Sunday night. One individual, Momin Shaikh, who arrived with the reptiles, has been arrested for wildlife trafficking. Yogesh Warkad, deputy director, Wildlife Crime Control Bureau, said, 'A case has been registered under the Wildlife Protection Act. This is also a violation of CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora. We have informed the chief conservator of forests (wildlife) and other authorities.'' He added that the seizure was effected by the air intelligence unit of the Mumbai customs. The reptiles have been entrusted to Pawan Sharma of the Resqink Association of Wildlife Welfare, a volunteer rescue service. 'Some of the reptiles are not doing well but we are treating them,'' said Sharma. Warkad said the reptiles will eventually be sent back to the country of their origin.
Time of India
13-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Wildlife deaths in Telangana highlight data gaps, enforcement challenges
Hyderabad: An RTI application filed by activist Robin Zaccheus has revealed that Telangana recorded 135 wildlife crime cases between 2014 and 2024, a small fraction of the 6,877 cases reported nationwide during the same period. Uttar Pradesh topped the national chart with 817 cases, followed by West Bengal (785), Tamil Nadu, and decade-long data, provided by the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB), highlights a troubling trend in Telangana. In 2023 alone, the state recorded 52 wildlife deaths—the highest in the past ten years. The number dropped to 23 in 2024, while poaching cases stood at four in 2023 and one in wildlife deaths in Telangana also included train collisions, with three reported in 2023 and one so far in 2024. Over the decade, 12 wildlife deaths due to other types of accidents were documented in the state, contributing to the nationwide total of 485. Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh accounted for the highest number of such of transparency Reacting to the data, Zaccheus expressed concern over the WCCB's limited disclosures and lack of concrete action. He criticised the agency for repeatedly dismissing queries related to electrocution, habitat loss, and whistleblower complaints, either claiming the issues were 'not pertaining to WCCB' or rejecting the requests under section 8(1)(j) of the RTI alarming trends, including 461 elephant electrocutions nationwide between 2009 and 2017, and 49 elephants killed in train accidents between 2016 and 2018—activists say there has been no major policy shift or investment in preventive infrastructure. Zaccheus also raised concern over the persistently low conviction rate, reportedly hovering around 2% between 2012 and 2018 for wildlife for urgent intervention, he demanded the creation of a public database of all wildlife deaths, stronger enforcement mechanisms, and increased accountability in infrastructure development that affects wildlife habitats and respondTelangana chief wildlife warden Elusin Meru acknowledged the challenges, especially in Kagaznagar, a key tiger corridor where multiple species cross railway lines."There are currently two railway lines, and a third one is under construction. Earlier, there were no proper underpasses. Now, we are insisting on building underpasses to ensure safe passage for animals. The third broad gauge line is under assessment, and the National Tiger Conservation Authority along with the Wildlife Institute of India is expected to visit and evaluate the situation," he the issue of poaching, Meru added: "We are strengthening intelligence and surveillance systems. Camera traps are being used to monitor movement related to poaching. While the anti-poaching squad is based in Hyderabad, we also have operational squads in Nirmal and Amrabad, along with flying squad teams to respond to emerging threats."
The Independent
12-03-2025
- The Independent
Indian woman faces up to three years in jail for killing cat that crossed her path
A woman and her friends in the northern Indian city of Moradabad have been charged under the Wildlife Protection Act for allegedly capturing and burning alive a feral cat after it crossed their path. The incident came to light after Delhi 's Wildlife Crime Control Bureau received a complaint about a video being shared online. Police identified the suspect by only one name, Priya, and said she lived in Laluwala village in Uttar Pradesh. They said the woman and her friends filmed the act and shared the video on a social media platform. Priya, who is reportedly in her early 30s, and her friends caught and killed the cat after it crossed their path in Moradabad's Bhojpur area, police said on Tuesday. There is a widespread superstition in India that a cat passing one's path brings bad luck. Women can be seen in the video beating the animal, dousing it in petrol, and setting it on fire. They have been charged under the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972, which carries a penalty of up to three years in prison and a hefty fine for such acts of animal cruelty. 'We traced Priya after verifying the bike's registration number seen in the video,' Moradabad divisional forest officer Suraj Kumar told The Times of India. India has reported many cases of animal cruelty that led to police action. A pregnant wild elephant died in the southern state of Kerala in 2020 after eating a pineapple planted with a firecracker that exploded. The wild animal ran into a nearby river after the blast and stayed there for hours, seemingly seeking relief for its severely injured mouth and tongue in the cool water. In January this year, a man in Andhra Pradesh state's Nellore region allegedly set a pet dog and a scooter on fire to settle a dispute over a damaged phone. The dog received severe injuries but survived. In another incident of animal cruelty from 2023, a young man irritated by a stray dog's barking in Uttar Pradesh 's Mathura Sadar Bazaar poured petrol on the animal and set it on fire.
