626 poachers held in 268 cases since 2020

Since 2020, a total of 626 poachers have been arrested in 268 cases of wildlife poaching across the country. This includes 21 confirmed cases involving tigers, in which investigations have been concluded.

The data shared with The Tribune by the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB) reveals that Punjab, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh have logged 12, 15, and 17 cases of poaching in the last five years.

Tamil Nadu has topped the chart in wildlife crimes with 30 incidents, followed by Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh, each registering 24 cases of poaching. Odisha recorded 23 such cases, while Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh reported 13 and 14 cases, respectively.

Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Goa, Tamil Nadu and Telangana are the states which have recorded poaching of tigers.

The Supreme Court in September asked the Union government, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and Maharashtra to explain the presence of a well-organised, transnational poaching syndicate threatening tigers in Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh.

“The numbers pertaining to the poaching of tigers could be more. But the states share the data with us and only after the investigation in the cases get over we conclude that those were cases of poaching,” a senior official from WCCB said.

In February this year, the CBI arrested four poachers and recovered two leopard skins, nine leopard canines, 25 leopard claws, three leopard jaw pieces, three otter skins, and pangolin scales in Pinjore, Haryana.

In an RTI response, the WCCB said, “A case has been registered and is being investigated by the CBI.”

In June, seven people were arrested in connection with the poaching of three tigers and one leopard along the Madhya Pradesh–Rajasthan border.

The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) has in its report also warned against the poaching of leopards in Madhya Pradesh.

“While leopard populations thrive in Madhya Pradesh, ongoing effective vigilance is essential to address both targeted and unintentional poaching. Jharkhand needs to control prey poaching for bushmeat consumption,” said NTCA.