AP reports 28 offences under Wildlife Act in 9 yrs

Visakhapatnam: In the past nine years, Andhra Pradesh reported 28 offences under the Wildlife (Protection) Act-1972. On the other hand, some wildlife activists said that the numbers unnatural wildlife deaths and smuggling of wildlife items have increased in the state but, some offences under the Act have been reported.According to the NCRB report, a total of 28 offences were registered Wildlife Protection Act between 2014 and 2022 across the state. The data said that AP reported nine cases in 2014 and four cases in 2021 under the Act.A few weeks ago, Kadapa district forest department officials nabbed five persons who were accused of smuggling a live pangolin, which is a critically endangered species. A senior officer with the forest department said live pangolins are one of the most smuggled animals in the world as their scales are used in Chinese traditional medicine and exotic luxury food.Murthy Kantimahanti, founder of Eastern Ghats Wildlife Society (EGWS). told TOI that said poachers along Andhra Odisha Border (AOB) engage in smuggling of pangolins to make money. "Pangolins, which are captured live, are illegally trafficked to China. Each pangolin could fetch a fortune for the seller (sometimes Rs 1 crore), which is the major reason for the illegal trafficking of live pangolins, he added.Recently we busted an illegal wildlife trading and rescued 21 exotic animals, including 17 African ball pythons (python regius), three African spurred tortoises (centrochelys sulcata) and one African serval cat (leptailurus serval). Three persons were arrested in Srikakulam district while they were illegally transporting the animals from Odisha to Karnataka," said Palasa- Kasibugga forest range officer (FRO), A Murali Krishna Naidu. "It is difficult to bust illegal wildlife trade unless we have concrete information," he added.Meanwhile, sources said that some gangs have been trafficking wildlife between AOB and Karnataka for several months. Growing demand for domesticating exotic animals in parts of the country has increased cases of wildlife smuggling. Several illegal pet shops and animal markets are now cropping up all over the country, including Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Patna and a few other cities. Snakes, lizards and turtles are the most traded exotic animals in the market because it is easy to smuggle and transport. The officials said some gangs have been involved in the illegal trade of exotic animals and sell them to designated customers at high prices.