Odisha STF arrests person possessing leopard skin from Kandhamal
Satyasundar Barik, The Hindu
February 13, 2024
See link
https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/odisha-stf-arrests-person-possessing-leopard-skin-from-kandhamal/article67838665.ece
for photo.
Odisha’s Special Task Force on February 13 arrested a person and seized a
leopard skin in Kandhamal district.
The wildlife criminal identified as Gheneswar Pradhan (35) belonged to
Gohibadi village under Dasingbadi police station. During the search, a
country made pistol was also recovered, apart from the leopard hide.
The skin will be sent to Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, for
biological examination. As per the latest information tabled in the State
Legislative Assembly, as many as 84 leopard skins have been seized from
different districts during the past 10 years. The poaching of leopards is
more than 10% of the total big cat population of the State.
Between 2014 and 2019, the seizure of leopard skin has remained in single
digit. From 2019 onwards, there has been a significant spike in leopard
skin seizures. The numbers rose from three in 2019 to 20 in 2021. In 2022
and 2023, 13 and 10 leopard skins respectively were recovered from
criminals.
According to wildlife experts, it requires urgent action to address the
problem of leopard skin smuggling and more effective measures to curb
illegal trade and protect leopard populations.
Elephant poaching has also emerged as a major challenge. During the 10
years between 2014 and 2023, as many as 215 elephant tusks have been
recovered.
From 2019 onwards, there has been a notable increase in the number of
elephant tusk seizures. The numbers jumped sharply from 2018 (10 seizures)
to 2019 (36 seizures), indicating a sudden surge in elephant poaching
activities. This trend continued with fluctuating but generally high
seizure numbers in subsequent years, reaching peaks of 48 seizures in 2022
and 46 seizures in 2023.
Such a significant increase suggests a worsening situation regarding
elephant poaching, possibly driven by factors such as increased demand for
ivory, organised crime involvement, or weakened enforcement efforts.
https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/odisha-stf-arrests-person-possessing-leopard-skin-from-kandhamal/article67838665.ece
Odisha STF arrests person possessing leopard skin from Kandhamal
Satyasundar Barik, The Hindu
February 13, 2024
See link
<https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/odisha-stf-arrests-person-possessing-leopard-skin-from-kandhamal/article67838665.ece>
for photo.
Odisha’s Special Task Force on February 13 arrested a person and seized a
leopard skin in Kandhamal district.
The wildlife criminal identified as Gheneswar Pradhan (35) belonged to
Gohibadi village under Dasingbadi police station. During the search, a
country made pistol was also recovered, apart from the leopard hide.
The skin will be sent to Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, for
biological examination. As per the latest information tabled in the State
Legislative Assembly, as many as 84 leopard skins have been seized from
different districts during the past 10 years. The poaching of leopards is
more than 10% of the total big cat population of the State.
Between 2014 and 2019, the seizure of leopard skin has remained in single
digit. From 2019 onwards, there has been a significant spike in leopard
skin seizures. The numbers rose from three in 2019 to 20 in 2021. In 2022
and 2023, 13 and 10 leopard skins respectively were recovered from
criminals.
According to wildlife experts, it requires urgent action to address the
problem of leopard skin smuggling and more effective measures to curb
illegal trade and protect leopard populations.
Elephant poaching has also emerged as a major challenge. During the 10
years between 2014 and 2023, as many as 215 elephant tusks have been
recovered.
From 2019 onwards, there has been a notable increase in the number of
elephant tusk seizures. The numbers jumped sharply from 2018 (10 seizures)
to 2019 (36 seizures), indicating a sudden surge in elephant poaching
activities. This trend continued with fluctuating but generally high
seizure numbers in subsequent years, reaching peaks of 48 seizures in 2022
and 46 seizures in 2023.
Such a significant increase suggests a worsening situation regarding
elephant poaching, possibly driven by factors such as increased demand for
ivory, organised crime involvement, or weakened enforcement efforts.
https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/odisha-stf-arrests-person-possessing-leopard-skin-from-kandhamal/article67838665.ece
