Trade continues despite record seizures

By: Sanjeeb Baruah

Even though a few notorious wildlife traders have been apprehended in the recent past as part of concerted efforts of the government and others, illegal trade of animal parts is still on at an alarming rate. 

The recent arrest of two wildlife traders in North Bengal once again highlighted that trade of body parts of endangered big cats is still active.

On July 14, forest officials in North Bengal picked up 65-year-old Ratiram Sharma with 4 leopard skins, 10 kilograms of tiger bones, and 16 kilograms of rhino skin in Joygaon close to Bhutan border.

He was trying to sneak into the Himalayan kingdom with contrabands, which included 125 pieces of tiger bone and 140 pieces of rhino skin in addition to leopard skins.

10 days later, police also apprehended his son Ashok Sharma on the Joygaon road. He was carrying with him 2 leopard skins and one tiger skin. Police suspect that he was on his way to Phuntsholing in Bhutan.

Ratiram, known as "Sansar Chand of the East", is alleged to be in this trade for more than 15 years. What has surprised officials was his unusual style of functioning.

Consignments are mostly transported through a network of fair skinned and good looking women operatives - mainly used to avoid detection.

During interrogation, Ratiram confessed to have supplied atleast 10 tiger skins, more than 500 musk pods (derivative of musk deer) and large quantities of rhino skins to different buyers in the recent past.

 
One of his accomplices is his wife Maya Devi - named during interrogations - has been carrying wildlife articles on his behalf for several years and a previous case is pending against her in Kaziranga. So far she has managed to elude the authorities.

According to V. K. Nag, Asst. Conservator of Forest Cooch Bihar, the father-son duo has been supplying body parts of big cats to their counterparts in Thimpu and from there agents fly-out the consignments to various Southeast Asian countries - Myanmar, Thailand and to Tibet through Paro International Airport.

"This appeared to be an alternate route for consignments to other parts of Asia, especially after security was reinforced along the Nepal border." he said.

Rakesh Singh of Wildlife Trust of India said, “The case needs to be handed over to CBI since it has links outside India in addition to inter-state connections.”

"In a disclosure statement to the investigating officers Ratiram exposed one of the alleged suppliers in Nagaon in Assam from whom he had been receiving body parts of big cats.” said Nag.

This development has now appeared to have established the worst fears raised by conservationists in Nagaon district a month ago.

There were apprehensions that body parts of big cats killed in human-animal conflicts close to Laokhowa and Burachapori Wildlife Sanctuaries over the last three months had landed into the hands of illegal traffickers.

Three leopards and a tiger were killed during this period. Recent disclosures indicated that there are involvements of wildlife traders behind these incidents.

Experts said Ratiram, wanted in more than a dozen wildlife crime - operated in a manner similar to other wildlife crime syndicates, which involved members of the family in the trade.

The recent seizures are close to a number of important wildlife habitats in North Bengal and neighbouring areas and have raised concern that they might have been used to procure wildlife derivatives. (Sanctuaries such as Jaldapara, Mahananda, Gorumara, Chepramari, Buxa etc. are located in the region.)

Body parts seized in the recent past from different parts of the country is only a grim reminder that tigers and leopards are still being killed with impunity. There are also indications that poachers could be targeting less-known sanctuaries particularly those which are inaccessible and not effectively guarded.

“Tough punishments and repeated seizures would prevent people from entering into the trade. The large number of seizures taking place across the country is the result of a determined effort by the government and others.” said Amlan Dutta of WTI.

This year alone about 102 leopard and 17 tiger skins were seized from different parts of the country. The body parts trade is the biggest threat to their survival in the wild. Fragmented habitats, depleting food and water are other serious threats.  

Pix credit: West Bengal Forest Department