Conservation Round-up

Updates from the world of conservation between Nov 2016 and mid Feb 2017.

- Dipankar Ghose

“The tiger is India’s soul, you can’t lose it” – were the words of legendary conservationist and wildlife biologist, Dr. George Schaller in India during onset of 2017. However, tigers in India did not do too well in 2016 as a total of 98 tiger deaths were reported in that year. This was the highest in the last five years as 72 tigers died in 2012, 63 in 2013, 66 in 2014 and 69 in 2015. India, with more than 60 per cent of the world’s wild tigers, is also the most vulnerable country as far as tiger poaching is concerned. Out of the 98 tiger deaths last year, the cause of death was not ascertained in more than half. Approximately one third of those are suspected to be result of poaching. What was worrying is that a domestic market for consumption of tiger parts emerged in the later part of 2016. Few people were arrested from different parts of Madhya Pradesh during 2016, who were allegedly involved in poaching of at least two tigers. Paws of those poached tigers were cut off to be used in black magic, with a false promise of raining currency notes!

Illegal wildlife trade in live animals was unearthed recently. Three wildlife traders were caught in Mirzapur, Uttar Pradesh with five live caracals and one serval. They were being transported in a swanky SUV and the meticulous planning of transporting those animals from Bihar to Hyderabad indicates involvement of large syndicates in the illegal trade. Live bird trade is still thriving in the country and it will be worrying if the emerging domestic markets report a demand in live wild cat trade.