10/02/2005 - Wildlife
officials in India have caught several people
involved in the illegal wildlife trade of
tiger and leopard skins.
In the Corbett Tiger Reserve — one of India’s
oldest and well known national parks, some
300km from the capital, Delhi — an anti-poaching
team arrested two individuals in possession
of leopard skins and bones, while in Mandla
(in the state of Madhya Pradesh) police seized
a tiger and two leopard skins during recent
field investigations.
“Earlier investigations had indicated the
availability of about ten leopard and three
to four tiger skins in the clandestine market
for sale by poachers and traders residing
in the adjoining district of Kawardha,” said
P.K. Sen, head of WWF-India’s species division.
“Three of the traders were lured into Mandla
District and arrested while attempting to
sell the skins. Further investigations to
recover more skins are in progress.”
WWF- India field staff provided close and
continuous assistance to the authorities during
both these operations.
“Through our Wildlife Trade Monitoring Unit,
which we set up only a couple of months ago,
we have seen an increase in the number of
seizures reported,” Sen added.
Established in 1936 in the northern Indian
state of United Provinces, the Corbett Tiger
Reserve — named after legendary conservationist
Jim Corbett — is one of WWF’s priority protected
areas. Today, the reserve is home to more
than 100 Bengal tigers.
Notes:
• The Bengal tiger (Panthera tigris tigris)
is the most numerous of tigers existing in
the wild today. It is found in Bangladesh,
Bhutan, China, India, Myanmar, and Nepal.
India is home to the largest population.
