Wildlife Crime Control Bureau WCCB Newsletter Quarter: April – June, 2021 Issue:02 Inside this Issue From the desk of Additional Director Wildlife Enforcement New Delhi: We at WCCB, pay our homage to all those Operations people who lost their lives due to the pandemic, COVID-19. — The past one-and-a-half years have been very challenging for Sensitization/Training humanity. However, despite these testing times, country’s Programs wildlife enforcement agencies have been working day-&- night diligently towards saving wildlife. I am thankful to all — Ms. Tilotama Varma Awareness Campaign at the forest personnel and wildlife activists who put their lives Airports at risk to save India’s wild flora and fauna. I would also like to highlight — the relentless, dedicated and courageous effort of my team at WCCB in combating wildlife crime and illegal wildlife trade and for undertaking Celebration of International commendable wildlife operations during this period. Their dedication Day of Yoga towards the cause of wildlife is praise-worthy. WCCB was able to bust several wildlife trade networks across the country, successfully. I thank all WCCB welcomes Shri. Bhupender the central and state enforcement agencies for their support in executing Yadav as Hon’ble Cabinet Minister, wildlife enforcement operations and appreciate their continued commitment. As India’s leading wildlife enforcement agency, WCCB is committed to end and Shri. Ashwini Kumar Choubey illegal wildlife trade across the country. We are also committed to as Hon’ble Minister of State of the excellence and aspire to be a World Class Wildlife Enforcement Agency. Ministry of Environment, Forest I hope you enjoy reading the second issue of WCCB quarterly newsletter. We look forward to your feedback for helping us improve upon our coming and Climate Change and wish to editions. Best wishes to you and your families. Jai Hind! work under their able guidance.— Ms. Tilotama Varma, IPS Ms. Tilotama Varma Additional Director Additional Director, WCCB Picture In Focus “I have no fear of losing my life - if I have to save a koala or a crocodile or a kangaroo or a snake, mate, I will save it.” Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change initiated a social media awareness campaign on illegal wildlife trade, titled as ’Stop Wildlife Trafficking’’. Under this program, WCCB joined hand with UNEP to produce and publicize — Steve Irwin multiple mass awareness materials, in June, 2021. 1 Joint Operations– April 2021 Rajasthan Conducting a joint operation on 07-04-2021, WCCB and Rajasthan Forest Dept. seized 11 live soft-shell turtles and arrested 03 persons from Jaipur and Ajmer locations. Kerala 02 ivory pieces were seized and four persons were arrested in a joint operation carried out by WCCB, Forest Intelligence Cell & Forest Flying Squad of Kerala, on 07-04-2021. Assam Approx. 05 kgs. of dry Pangolin-Scales were seized from the possession of 02 persons, in a joint operation conducted by Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB) and Assam Forest Dept., on 17-04-2021, at Khanapara, West Bengal Acting on intelligence inputs of WCCB, Forest Mobile Squad, Karnataka Forest Dept. seized 90 Sea Fans and arrested one person near KSRTC Bus stand, Shivamogga, on 20-04-2021. 2 Joint Operations– April, 2021 Special Operation Meghalaya A two-day long well-coordinated and successful joint operation was conducted by WCCB along-with Meghalaya State Forest and Police Dept. on 19 & 20 April, 2021 in Meghalaya in which huge cache of wildlife contrabands, including 04 live Pangolins, 43 Tokay Geckos (all dead), 44.28 kgs. of Pangolin-scales, and 02 Elephant Ivories, were seized. Total of 10 persons were arrested in the operation. Kerala Two pieces of Elephant Ivories (approx. 45 Kg.), were recovered from a house at Poonkunam in Thrissur during a joint operation conducted by WCCB in association with DFO Thrissur, Kerala and DFO Flying Squad, Kochi, on 24-04-2021. Tamil Nadu Various wildlife articles, including Ambergris, Musk Deer secretions (Kasthuri), Civet Cat Secretions (Punugu), and Gorochan, were seized from Gandhi Nagar, Chennai by WCCB and Tamil Nadu Forest Dept., on 28-04-2021 3 Joint Operations– June, 2021 Himachal Pradesh A joint operation was conducted by Wildlife Crime Control Bureau and Shimla Forest Dept. on 06-06-2021, resulting in seizure of 03 Leopard Skins, 05 Teeth and 02 Claws, and arrest of two wildlife traffickers from Shimla, Himachal Pradesh. Uttar Pradesh On 10-06-2021, over 200 live Parakeets were seized and four persons were arrested in a successful joint operation by WCCB and STF, Uttar Pradesh. Tamil Nadu On intelligence of Wildlife Crime Control Bureau, RFO, Srivaikundam Range (Tamil Nadu), seized 03 Parakeets and arrested 02 persons, on 08-06-2021. 4 Joint Operations– June, 2021 Tamil Nadu Joint team of Wildlife Crime Control Bureau and RFO Sivagiri, Thirunelveli Forest Division (TNFD), seized one Deer-Antler & arrested 02 persons at Vasudanallur, on 13-06-2021. Delhi On 15-06-2021, joint team of WCCB & Delhi Forest Dept. seized 20 pieces of dried hemipenises of Monitor Lizards (Tantric Plant Root/Hatha Jodi) & 04 pieces of Siyar-Singhi and arrested one person from Uttam Nagar, Delhi. Maharashtra & Madhya Pradesh On 16-04-2021, WCCB conducted a well-coordinated and successful operation, in which a live Indian Pangolin was seized by joint team of WCCB and Nagpur Forest Division from Nagpur. Three person, residents of Madhya Pradesh, were arrested. Later, search was conducted at the residences of the accused in Madhya Pradesh by M.P Police and Pangolin-scales were recovered along with the arrest of two more persons. Total of 05 persons were arrested for their involvement in the case. Tamil Nadu On 17-04-2021, officials of WCCB conducted a surprise visit at a shop at Crawford Market in Mum- bai and seized two Rose-ringed Parakeets. Two persons were detained. 5 Joint Operations– June, 2021 Himachal Pradesh Acting on an intelligence developed and shared by WCCB, Himachal Pradesh Police seized 4.5 kgs. of pangolin- scales and arrested one person from Hamirpur, Himachal, on 21-06-2021. Bihar Acting on an intelligence developed by WCCB, a joint operation was conducted by Bihar Forest and Police Dept. on 21-06-2021 in which 09 pieces of ivory, weighing 38 kgs., were seized and three persons were arrested from Patna. Haryana Joint team of WCCB and Haryana Forest Department conducted an operation on 23-04-2021 in which 24 turtles (14 black-spotted terrapin turtles & 10 Indian tent turtles) were seized and one person was arrested from Gurugram. 6 Joint Operations– June, 2021 Maharashtra On 25-06-2021, a joint operation was conducted by WCCB and Nasik Forest Division which resulted in seizure of 12 pieces of Hathajodis (male reproductive organ of Monitor Lizard) from a Nasik based person. Tamil Nadu Based on the intelligence of WCCB, Railway Protection Force, Tamil Nadu, detained a passenger at Coimbatore and seized two Rose Ringed Parakeets from his possession, on 27-06-2021. Tamil Nadu On intelligence of WCCB, ACF Dindigul, Tamil Nadu Forest Department, seized one Deer Antler from a house at Dadhanur, in Dindigul, Tamil Nadu, on 28-06-2021. 7 Joint Operations– June, 2021 Madhya Pradesh A joint operation was conducted by WCCB and Madhya Pradesh Forest Department on 28-06-2021 in which various wildlife articles, including 06 Monitor lizard-skins, 14 Cheetal & Sambar-antlers, and 2.5 kg. of Pangolin- scales were seized and two persons were arrested from Barhi, Madhya Pradesh. Haryana On 29-06-2021, a joint operation of Wildlife Crime Control Bureau & Haryana Forest Dept. resulted in seizure of 30 pieces of dried hemipenises of Monitor Lizard (sold as Tantric Plant Root/Hatha Jodi), 04 pieces of Siyar- Singhi and arrest of two wildlife traffickers from Rewari, Haryana. 8 Sensitization/ Training Programs 30 Railway Protection Force (RPF) Personnel attended a virtual Sensitization Program on Wildlife Crime and related issues, conducted by WCCB, on 15-04-2021, at Ahmedabad, Gujarat. On 22 & 23 April, 2021, WCCB organized two-day long virtual Capacity Building Training Program for the Forest Officials of Pune, Maharashtra, in coordination with Office of DCF (T), Junnar. On 27-04-2021, Wildlife crime Control Bureau organized a virtual sensitization program for the Customs Officials of Ahmedabad. 18 Customs Officials including Superintendents and Inspectors, attended the program. On 04-05-2021, WCCB organized a practical session on 'Identification of Wildlife Articles” for the officials of Intelligence Training School, SSB, Kolkata, 30 RPF personnel attended an online workshop organized by WCCB for front-line staff of Railway Protection Force of Northeast Frontier Railway, Alipurduar, on 18-05-2021 9 Sensitization/ Training Programs On 04-06-2021, WCCB, in collaboration with Bhopal Birds NGO. conducted a sensitization-cum-awareness program for the PRI representatives, NGOs and WCCB Volunteers of Madhya Pradesh, Celebrating World Environment Day 2021, WCCB organized a webinar on 05-06-2021. Senior officials from Forest, Customs & Enforcement Directorate; eminent personalities from Academia, and Wildlife Conservation participated in the program. Celebrating World Environment Day on 05-06-2021, WCCB and Air Security Group of CISF, organized a virtual session for CISF personnel, posted at Madurai Airport. WCCB organized an online Sensitization program on "OPS Wetmark", to curb meat market of scheduled Animals/birds or protected live wild animals in wet mar- kets, in collaboration with Nature Conservation Society, Jharkhand, on 07-06-2021. On 08-06-2021, WCCB and NGO Pratiksha, jointly organized an awareness program to curb bushmeat and illegal trade of live wild animals in wet-markets, under 'Operation Wetmark'. 10 Sensitization/ Training Programs Marking World Environment Day, WCCB organized a virtual event on this year’s theme “Ecosystem Restoration”, on 08-06-2021.