Amateur wildlife rescuers turn traffickers

Bhubaneswar: With state forest officials shying away from monitoring wildlife rescuers, several amateurs are taking up rescue operations for publicity. At the same time, many of them are also engaged in wildlife trafficking.

Although top officials claim that the Forest department maintains records of the rescuers, more and more youngsters are doing the daredevil rescue operation stunts for publicity.

“We have a list of rescuers and public must not engage in rescue operation without the permission of forest officials. Any complaint about the authorised rescuers can be addressed to the district forest officials or other top officials of the department,” said Harish Kumar Bisht, Chief Conservator of Forest.

However, according to sources, the state has about 15 authorised rescuers. But, more rescue operations are reported from different parts of the state by amateurs and the people are using social media platform to publicise these rescue operations. But, forest officials are not taking any action against these activities. Significantly, the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB) had given strict instruction against such activities.

“There have been instances of hunted wild animal/ wild animal trophies /articles being displayed on social media by some individuals……..Such public display of hunted animals/ trophies  may  encourage hunting and stimulate wildlife trade; therefore (it) needs to be stopped,” says the WCCB letter dated December 30, 2014 and addressed to chief wild wardens of all states.

In fact, even after having such a clear cut instruction, the rescuers are using social media and the fourth estate for publicity of rescue operations.  A section of the forest officials requesting anonymity admitted that the Forest Department is not properly monitoring these rescue operations.

“Currently, we are not monitoring these activities and we are acting only on complaints,” admitted a top official requesting anonymity.

Meanwhile, senior officials tried to put the monitoring as the responsibility of district officials. “The district forest officials have to monitor the activities of the rescuers and any complaints regarding rescuers can be addressed to our officials,” added Bisht.

But, the ground reality is zero monitoring and experts are demanding stringent laws to prevent freak shows of the rescue operations. “The department has to come up with clear cut guidelines for wildlife rescue operations. They can also issue a notification restricting the publication of such operations on media platforms. Efforts must also be made to prevent such daredevil acts by amateurs. This apart, officials must regularly monitor the activities of authorised rescuers to prevent them from entering into wildlife trade,” said eminent environmentalist and president of Orissa Environmental Society, Sundar Narayan Patro.

With social media getting more popular, experts are also suggesting the monitoring of online platforms. “Forest officials can also take the help of cyber cell for tracking such activities. Officials can also conduct public awareness campaigns to prevent such offences by youngsters. This apart, the department can also come up with training programmes for those interested in wildlife rescue operations. However, their records must be strictly monitored by a special wing of wildlife to prevent these rescuers from engaging in illegal activities,” said former Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forest Bhagirathi Behera. 

Jose K Joseph, OP