Disclaimer: Copyright infringement not intended.

1. Context :

• For many years, tiger poachers were using short routes to China. It mainly goes through Nepal & Tibet.
• But Rhino horn traders used a different route through Assam & into Myanmar.
• Before the Covid pandemic, tiger poachers also started using the Myanmar route more to send tiger parts like bones and skins to China.
• However, By 2022, the Myanmar route became the main way for tiger parts to leave India.
• And authorities struggled to catch them.

2. Problems with Enforcement

• Lack of Coordination: National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA), Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB), & CBI usually work separately. It is making it harder to fight against poaching.
• Staff Shortages: WCCB handles wildlife crime. It does not have enough staff:
  • Only 10 wildlife inspectors are responsible for handling case & 4 positions are empty.
  • 24% of WCCB posts are vacant. 26 empty positions out of 109. These positions are important for tracking wildlife crime.
• Short-Term Staff: Most of the WCCB staff come from paramilitary forces & they stay only for 3 years. It means that they lack long term experience & knowledge in wildlife crime.
• Not Enough Resources: also Enforcement agencies don't have enough funding or staff. It is weakening their ability to tackle poaching effectively.

3. Growing Poaching in Northeast India

• Smuggling Hubs: Cities like Delhi, Lucknow, & Kanpur are well known for smuggling wildlife.
• Usually with the help of Nepalese & Tibetan nationals working with Indian poachers.
• Popular Smuggling Routes:
  • The Mahakali Darchula border (Uttarakhand) & the Sunauli Belahiya border (UP) are routes to Nepal.
  • Siliguri in West Bengal is another route to Nepal.
• So, From Nepal tiger parts are moved into Tibet through routes like Taklakot, Gyirong, & Tatopani.
• There is also a direct route through Shimla & Ladakh to Tibet.
• Post-Pandemic: The Myanmar route to China has become more important for smuggling tiger parts. It is passing through Vietnam or Laos before reaching China.

4. Legal Challenges and Slow Prosecution

• Low Conviction Rates:
  • 1st major wave of tiger poaching (1992-1994) & the 2nd wave (2003-2005). 1400 people involved in the tiger trade were tracked. But only 14 were convicted.
  • While conviction rates have improved in some states. In many areas legal action is slow and it doesn't bring real justice.

Source: IE