The Forest department with the assistance of Police, have prevented a major cross-border wildlife trafficking at Imphal by rescuing a Banded Palm Civet (Hemigalus derbyanus) and white-browed black langur (Trachypithecus laotianus), while an accused person was charged with a heavy sum of Rs 2,00,000 for involvement in trading of live wildlife.
The fine was charged on Monday against the accused by the District Wildlife Warden and DFO/Central u/s 54 of Wildlife Protection Act, stated a release.
On Tuesday, a team of Lamphel Police arrested a resident of Moreh Ward No.4, currently Residing at Langol Game Village, Zone-IV, Lamphel Police Station, Manipur 795004 with two wild animals during normal frisking and checking, it stated.
The accused along with the seized two wild animals were handed over to range forest officer, Sadar West Range, Central Forest Division Kiranjit Yumnam on the same day, it stated.
After informing the divisional forest officer N Ganesh (IFS) of Central Forest Division and as per his direction, range forest officer Sadar West along with his team, took the custody of the accused and the two wild animals which are listed in Schedule-IV Appendix 2) from the officer-in-charge of Lamphel Police Station, it mentioned.
It stated that both these species are traded from across the border (Laos).
The wild animals were handed to the Authority of Manipur Zoological Garden for inspection of their health, care and safe custody of the animals and a Wildlife Offence Case taken up by the Divisional Forest Officer, Central Forest Division, it stated.
Wildlife trafficking, which is the illegal trade of wild animals and plants, either as dead or live specimens, or their parts, has a huge negative effect on the world’s environments, biodiversity, economies, governance, and health, it mentioned.
It is a form of transnational organised crime that spans across many countries and involves poaching, smuggling, and illegal collection or capture of protected wildlife. International wildlife trafficking into and out of India mainly occurs through two routes – one, through the long international border along the Northeast, and the other, through airports, it mentioned.
The major driving factor for wildlife trafficking in India lies in the growing demand for exotic pets, especially birds like cockatoos, macaws, and gray parrots, it stated.
In addition many Indian birds, fish, and reptiles are in great demand in global pet markets, it mentioned.
The DFO and the Range Forest Officer appealed to the public to come forward and share such information with regard to trading in wildlife article/trophy or live animal trading as these are prohibited under Wildlife Protection Act 1972.
Such information would be helpful to prosecute and penalise the persons involved in such offences and prevent wildlife trafficking. Further the DFO thanked SP Imphal West and OC Lamphel for their coordination, it added.
Our Thoubal Corespondent has added that the individual responsible for harboring the two wildlife animals has been identified as Premjit Takhelambam, 36, son of (L) Ibotombi from Moreh Ward No. 4, currently residing in Langol Game Village Zone 4.
Ningthoujam Romesh, convenor of JCCWB Manipur, noted that the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau Eastern Region had informed them about the presence of wildlife traffickers from Thailand in August.
When they were closely monitoring the situation, JCCWB received reports regarding the arrest of a suspect involved in the smuggling operation from Langol Game Village on September 21 at 6.30 pm.
A team led by Romesh Ningthoujam and Ksh Johnson, secretary of the Wildlife Conservation Committee, inquired about the wildlife, but the police did not disclose any details. Later, the Lamphel OC transferred the two animals to JCCWB Manipur and RO Sadar West Forest staff around 11 am on Monday after engaging with DFO Central and Superintendent of Police Imphal West.
Romesh urged the public to support their efforts against wildlife trafficking, maintaining that the extinction of wildlife poses significant risks to human environments.
