This story is from June 5, 2020

Study reveals spurt in poaching of ungulates, leopards during lockdown

Study reveals spurt in poaching of ungulates, leopards during lockdown
Kolkata: An analysis by TRAFFIC-India has found a rise in poaching of wild animals — mainly of ungulates for their meat — in India during the lockdown period. And, this is not restricted to any geographical region or state or to any specific protected area.
An official said the analysis was carried out after comparing media reports on poaching during a six-week pre-lockdown period (February 10 to March 22) with those during six weeks of lockdown (March 23 to May 3).
Reported cases rose from 35 to 88, said the report titled ‘Indian wildlife amidst the Covid-19 crisis: An analysis of poaching and illegal wildlife trade trends’. Bengal also featured on the list for poaching of wild boar, deer and hare for their meat.
The study indicates that restrictions on movement of law enforcement staff and their engagement in Covid-related duties together curtailed law enforcement activities, which in turn appears to have emboldened wildlife criminals. The halt to eco-tourism and loss of associated revenues are other causes of concern, said the report.
“The highest increase in poaching (cases) was reported to be (that) of ungulates, mainly for their meat, and the percentage jumped from nearly eight out of 35 (22%) total reported cases during pre-lockdown to 39 out of 88 (44%) during the lockdown period. The poaching of ‘small mammals’ group, too, showed a marked rise. The animals here include hare, porcupine, pangolin, giant squirrel, civet, monkey and smaller wild cats,” the report said, adding that most of the hunting incidents during lockdown presumably happened for meat. Cases in small mammals group rose from 6 to 22 between the pre-lockdown and lockdown periods.
Among big cats, leopard poaching showed an increase during the lockdown period, with nine of them being reportedly killed compared to four during the pre-lockdown period. A total of 222 persons were arrested in poaching-related cases by various law enforcement agencies during the lockdown period across the country, higher than the arrest of 85 suspects during the pre-lockdown phase.
Saket Badola, head of TRAFFIC’s India office, said: “The more than doubling of reported poaching cases is placing additional burden on wildlife law enforcement agencies. So, it is imperative that these agencies are supported adequately and in a timely manner so they can control the situation.”
National Tiger Conservation Authority member secretary Anup Nayak said: “We have also been getting reports of herbivore poaching from some tiger reserve areas and steps are being taken. Arrests have been made during lockdown too. We are reworking the guidelines to start eco-tourism in tiger reserves across the country as soon as possible.”
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