More than a decade after tigers went missing from Sariska tiger reserve, Rajasthan has not learned its lessons. After initial brouhaha about putting in place a strict system to save wildlife from poachers and other human activities, everything has fallen into routine.
No wonder that Rajasthan is still on top in the list of states in wildlife smuggling and the population of wild animals in the state is constantly declining. According to latest data from national crime record bureau, with 219 cases under Wildlife Protection Act 1972, Rajasthan was number one in the country in 2014.
According to the wildlife census for 2013 and 2014, there is a decline in all kinds of animal population. Since, tigers’ movement is now closely monitored in addition to the sensitiveness of the issue, the poachers have set their eyes on other animals, especially panthers, hyena, wild boar and deer.
The fact that poachers and smugglers are still active in the state becomes evident from three cases last month.
In the forest of Jaisinghpura Khor near Jaipur, a panther was found trapped in a net setup by poachers.
A similar incident took place in Rajsamand. Luckily, in both cases, panthers were saved but the forest department is yet to get hold of the poachers.
However, just a couple of days prior to this incident the railway police had seized skin of panthers in Udaipur.
According to the wildlife census for the year 2013 and 2014, there is a decline in all kinds of animal population.
Since, tigers’ movement is now closely monitored in addition to the sensitiveness of the issue, the poachers have set their eyes on other animals, especially panthers, hyena, wild boar and deer.
The population of panthers has reduced from 612 to 420, while only 4,038 cheetal (deer) were left in 2014 compared to 23,141 in the previous year. Similarly, wild boar population came down significantly from 21,650 to just 9,732, sambhar (deer) from 22,075 to meager 747 and hyena from 3,449 to 2,509.
Wildlife enthusiast and photographer Vishwesh Shah who has extensively shot Rajasthan’s wildlife and regularly visits forests said that poaching was not the only reason. Reducing forest cover and increasing human interference in forest areas are also responsible for this situation.
