1.
WPSI PROJECTS
1.1
Poaching & Trade Investigation
Investigation
into poaching and illegal trade of wild tigers
and other endangered species continues to be
the main focus of WPSI. Information and
assistance provided by WPSI over the past
twelve months has led to the arrest of a
number of important wildlife criminals and the
seizure of wildlife products in the States of
Uttar Pradesh (15 cases), New Delhi (2 cases),
Himachal Pradesh (1 case) and West Bengal (1
case). Though time consuming and costly, this
essential aspect of WPSI's work clearly acts
as a deterrent to wildlife criminals. It also
provides up-to-date information on
ever-changing methods of operation and trade
routes, and is the source for WPSI's site
specific and general recommendations to the
authorities for improved wildlife enforcement
and management. WPSI's Executive Director and
Vice President continue to remain in close
contact with a number of key wildlife and
enforcement officials throughout India. The
Society's network of investigators has been
further expanded this year. WPSI has also made
a concerted effort to investigate every tiger
poaching incident that comes to our notice.
The
investigation project received a tragic
setback on 19 October, 1997, when Soumen
Biswas was brutally murdered in Siliguri.
Soumen was a leading wildlife activist in
north Bengal and one of the founders of the
North-Eastern Society for Preservation of
Nature and Wildlife (NESPON). Since 1995,
Soumen had been methodically investigating the
illegal trade in wildlife on behalf of NESPON
and in close association with WPSI. Risking
his life on many occasions, Soumen gathered
invaluable information on the modalities of
wildlife trade and helped in busting several
trade rackets. Police investigations indicate
that his murder was the result of a personal
dispute. Soumen is survived by a young wife
and son. He is deeply missed by his friends
and colleagues.
During
1997-98 the investigation project was
supported by the Barbara Delano Foundation,
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, The Fund
for the Tiger, The Rufford Foundation and the
Resources Conservation Division, Forestry
Department, Council of Agriculture (Republic
of China).
1.2
Database on Wildlife Crimes
WPSI's
database on wildlife crimes has grown
substantially this year. A significant amount
of wildlife crime data, current and past, has
been collected from various sources and
entered into the database. Details entered in
the database include names of offenders,
articles seized, dates and location of
offences, and other relevant information. The
project supervisors continually monitor and
analyse the data in search of inter-state
crime and new trends. Information from the
database has been passed on to a number of
enforcement agencies. General details have
also been provided on request to other
conservation organisations and the news media.
The
collection of data is no mean task and the
project consultant and her assistants spend
significant time in the field, often visiting
remote forest offices, to collect details of
poaching and seizures. After the completion of
WPSI's wildlife trade research project in West
Bengal - where a vast amount of wildlife crime
data was collected, analysed and acted upon -
we have recently received permission to carry
out a similar project in the State of
Maharashtra. WPSI has also been approached by
the authorities in a third State to undertake
a wildlife trade research project.
The
database project has been supported by a grant
from The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The
final report for this project was submitted in
April 1998. WPSI has approached the U.S. Fish
and Wildlife Service for continued funding and
the response to the proposal has been
positive. However, due to U.S. sanctions there
might be some delay before the project
receives final approval.
1.3
Legal Support
WPSI's
legal project largely supports the prosecution
of people accused of wildlife offences. It
also takes important environment policy issues
to court and publishes legal documents to
disseminate knowledge on wildlife related
laws. At present WPSI is pursuing 57 court
cases in the Supreme Court of India, High
Courts and various District Courts. Mr. Sanjay
Upadhyay, an advocate based in Delhi who
specialises in wildlife and environmental
issues, joined WPSI in July 1988.
One
of WPSI's most important cases is a landmark
petition in the Jammu and Kashmir High Court
that questions the fact that the State has a
Wildlife Act that substantially differs from
the rest of the country and requests the court
to direct the State Government to enforce a
ban on the manufacture and trade in shahtoosh.
A leading Delhi-based lawyer and WPSI's Vice
President have been attending all the court
hearings in Jammu.
As
a significant test case, WPSI has also filed a
Public Interest Litigation in the Orissa High
Court regarding the flow of funds to Simlipal
Tiger Reserve and other administrative
problems. The next hearing will take place on
15th October 1998. An incredible total of
Rs.5.28 crores ($12,87,805) of Project Tiger
funds have reportedly lapsed for Simlipal over
the last 4 years.
WPSI's
legal book entitled "Handbook of
Environment, Forest and Wildlife Protection
Laws of India", with a forward by Justice
Kuldip Singh, was released in January 1998 in
collaboration with Natraj Publishers. The book
has been widely distributed to members of the
judiciary and enforcement agencies free of
charge. It has been offered to many others at
a subsidised price. The demand for the book
has been high and a second edition is
currently under preparation.
1.4
Wildlife Trade Study in Maharashtra
In
August 1997 WPSI completed a collaborative
research project on the control of illegal
trade in wildlife and wildlife products in the
State of West Bengal. Realising the full
potential of such work, WPSI approached the
State Government of Maharashtra for a similar
project to study the totality of wildlife
crimes in this state and recommend measures
for its control. Apart from widespread tiger
poaching, wildlife criminals in Maharashtra
are believed to be active in large-scale
illegal trade in wildlife products such as
tiger and leopard bones and skins, ivory,
reptiles and raptors. After lengthy
discussions, the Maharashtra Government
approved WPSI's proposal.
Maharashtra
is estimated to have the sixth largest tiger
population of any state in India. In the 1989
tiger census, the population in Maharashtra
was estimated to be 417 tigers. The 1993
census reported an alarming decrease to 276
tigers. The State of Maharashtra in western
India will be a greater challenge because of
its larger size and its primacy in financial
and industrial resources of India. Its capital
city, Mumbai, is India's principal financial,
commercial, communication and transportation
centre. The city has the country's largest and
busiest port, handling more than 46% of
India's total foreign trade. Bombay is one of
the centres of India's wildlife trade which is
believed to be supported by a powerful
political and criminal nexus. As in West
Bengal, the aim of the Maharashtra project is
to develop a strategy for the control of
illegal wildlife trade. Two full-time
Maharashtra-based project officers have been
employed by WPSI and field work for this
project started in the first week of September
this year.
Funding
for this project will initially be borne by
WPSI's general funds. A funding proposal is
presently under favourable consideration by an
international, U.K.-based conservation
organisation.
1.5
Ivory Trade Study
This
study on the impact of illegal ivory trade on
elephant populations is being carried out by
WPSI in collaboration with the Asian Elephant
Research and Conservation Centre (AECC). In
1997, India lost close to 107 tuskers to
poachers to feed the illegal trade in ivory in
the Far-east and India's domestic trade
catering largely to foreign tourists. This
year the holocaust has not abated. Over 600
kilos of raw, carved and semi-carved ivory
were seized from traders in Jaipur in August
1998 and Bangalore has had two major ivory
seizures in recent months. India is now left
with less than 1,500 tuskers of breeding age,
putting a question mark on their future
reproduction potential.
In
light of the recent escalation in poaching and
ivory seizures, this project has taken on
greater importance. A follow-up to the WPSI/AECC
report "A God in Distress", which
was published in June 1997, is planned to be
released early next year, in time for the
CITES Standing Committee Meeting in February
1999. It is hoped that the findings of this
report will convince the international
community that the downlisting of the African
elephant in 1997 is in turn taking a
devastating toll on Asian elephant
populations. We hope the report will persuade
CITES member nations to reconsider this
decision.
1.6
Dudhwa Field Survey
Following
the completion of the Corbett and Haldwani
field surveys and after reports of a number of
tragic 'revenge killings' of tigers by
villagers, WPSI obtained permission from the
Uttar Pradesh Forest Department to carry our a
similar survey in the forest areas surrounding
Dudhwa Tiger Reserve.
The
aim of the survey is to formulate better
management strategies for the long-term
survival of tigers in the forests around
Dudhwa. Field work for the project will
commence after the monsoons have abated. The
survey will take about three months to
complete following which a detailed report
along with WPSI's recommendations for enhanced
management strategies will be submitted to the
Uttar Pradesh Forest Department. WPSI will
pursue the implementations of the
recommendations.
1.7
Interim Relief for Cattle Killed by Tigers
WPSI
has made 37 interim relief payments to owners
of cattle killed by tigers in the areas
adjoining Kanha Tiger Reserve. Resentment
against the tiger, and consequently poaching
of tigers, has been drastically reduced and
interaction between WPSI representatives and
the villagers continues to be very positive.
As a result of this pioneering project, the
processing of government compensation claims
has also improved dramatically.
WPSI
has expanded the project and now offers
interim relief payments around Melghat Tiger
Reserve in Maharashtra and Simlipal Tiger
Reserve in Orissa. However, as WPSI's
representatives live some distance from these
areas, the response has been disappointing.
The scheme only works well if the project
representative actually lives in the area of
operation. WPSI is making every effort to find
local representatives who have a good rapport
with the villagers and who can handle a
cash-oriented project.
The
Mactaggart Third Fund has generously supported
this project for two years. As there are still
sufficient funds the project will run for
another year. WPSI's interim relief scheme has
received such high praise that a number of
other funding agencies have also come forward
with offers to support this project.
1.8
Shahtoosh Trade Study
In
November 1997, WPSI released a report entitled
"Fashioned for Extinction: An Exposé of
the Shahtoosh Trade". The report, which
took two and a half years to research,
documents the illegal shahtoosh trade in
detail, from its source in Tibet, to how the
wool is smuggled over high Himalayan passes
into India and bartered at the borders for
tiger bones. It documents the history of
shahtoosh shawls, the people who control the
trade and how the shawls are made.
Copies
of the report have been distributed world-wide
to the conservation community and the fashion
industry and have brought much international
acclaim to WPSI. Copies of the report were
also sent to customs and enforcement
authorities in Europe, Asia and America. In
fact WPSI has been so inundated with requests
for copies of the report that a second updated
edition was printed in April this year.
Numerous fashion magazines, including Vogue,
and national and international newspapers have
carried stories on shahtoosh, highlighting the
devastating effect of this illegal trade. Many
television stations, including Doodarshan,
NDTV, CNN, NBC, Sky TV, Turner Broadcasting
and the BBC (where WPSI's Vice President was
interviewed by the well-known journalist Mark
Tully) have also covered the story. Interest
in this subject has continued to be high.
The
Wildlife Conservation Society of New York
kindly funded the printing of both editions of
WPSI's shahtoosh report.
1.9
Support Network for Grass-Root NGOs
WPSI's
Support Network to ten selected grass-root
non-government organisations (NGOs) focuses on
providing improved surveillance of tiger
habitats and conducting education and
awareness programs in local communities.
Unfortunately, although almost fully funded,
this project has been delayed due to changes
in the Indian Government's Foreign
Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA). In order
for one NGO to provide financial assistance to
another NGO it is now necessary for each party
to receive FCRA permission from the Home
Ministry. This process has been extremely time
consuming, especially as the NGOs concerned
are small and field-based. Detailed paper work
was recently completed and applications have
been submitted to the Home Ministry. Once
permission is received the project work will
progress at a rapid rate. The project has been
funded by the Body Shop Foundation (U.K), and
the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
1.10
Gujjar Resettlement Outside Rajaji National
Park
Since
1996, WPSI has assisted, in a limited way, the
100 or so Gujjar families that voluntarily
moved out of Rajaji National Park in northern
Uttar Pradesh. An additional 400 Gujjar
families have recently agreed to move to
Pathri colony provided they are given
assistance in joining mainstream rural life.
WPSI along with a local NGO, the Friends of
Doon, has submitted a project proposal to the
Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment to
assist these families. Included in the
proposal is a programme to expand the primary
school at Pathri, the establishment of a
secondary school and a hospital, agricultural
training and assistance to community members,
the establishment of poultry farms, and
assistance to the women to set up a small
scale sewing industry. WPSI has already
provided the community with four pilot bio gas
plants.
If
funding for the project is approved WPSI is
certain that the community will benefit
substantially. They will become largely
self-sufficient and not have to depend on the
forest resources of Rajaji National Park. It
is hoped that other Gujjar families who have
not yet agreed to move out of the park will be
motivated to do so in the near future.
1.11
Wildlife Enforcement Network
While
Indian wildlife protection laws are some of
the best in the world, enforcement of these
laws has been the weak link in the protection
and management of India's wildlife. There is a
lack of informed and trained enforcement
personnel to effectively tackle wildlife
crimes. Without effective enforcement and
follow-up of cases in courts, offenders have
more often then not walked off scot free to
continue decimating wildlife.
This
project aims to improve wildlife law
enforcement in India by providing all the
newly appointed Honorary Wildlife Wardens (HWWs)
and Government Wildlife Wardens with
information to effectively combat wildlife
crimes. WPSI is in the process of providing
the HWWs with copies of the relevant wildlife
laws, and a detailed enforcement manual on how
to identify wildlife products, file charge
sheets and following up court cases. The HWWs
will also be kept up to date on matters
relating to wildlife law enforcement in India
and overseas. The appointment of nearly 500
HWWs throughout India will substantially
increase the number of personnel in wildlife
law enforcement, and this WPSI project aims to
make them a cohesive and informed body.
WPSI
has so far communicated with 333 HWWs in
eighteen states in India. We have received a
large number of very positive replies from
wardens who are keen to contribute towards the
protection of India's wildlife. Information
about habitat conditions and wildlife crimes
is being passed on to WPSI for appropriate
action. The enforcement manual is currently in
press and will be distributed early next
month. A newsletter is also being prepared
which will be ready by mid-October.
The
project is being funded by the National Fish
and Wildlife Foundation for a period of two
years. The first programme report was
submitted to the funders in the last week of
August.
1.12
Wildlife Enforcement Workshops
Last
year WPSI submitted a funding proposal to the
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to hold
training workshops for various enforcement
agencies. The project was approved by the U.S.
Fish and Wildlife Service but the Indian
Government objected to a NGO holding workshops
for government personnel. WPSI thereafter
resubmitted the proposal to hold workshops for
the newly appointed Honorary Wildlife Wardens.
While the project has been approved, there
will be some delay in transfer of funds till
U.S. sanctions are lifted. We have been
informed that this will happen soon.
WPSI's
wildlife enforcement workshops will advise
HWWs on wildlife laws, species identification
and details of the illegal wildlife trade.
WPSI has designed a curriculum for this
purpose which will be used in a series of
workshops throughout India. It is believed
that this will result in improved detection
and prevention of illegal wildlife trade.
1.13
Operation Kachhapa
The
13,575 dead Olive Ridley turtles that were
counted off the coast of Orissa in 1997-98
sent shock waves through the world
conservation community. WPSI, with the support
of the Barbara Delano Foundation (BDF) decided
to initiate a project, titled Operation
Kachhapa, to save this remarkable species.
BDF's Programme Officer, accompanied by WPSI's
Executive Director and a Project Consultant
visited Bhubaneshwar in May 1998 to hold
discussions with the Orissa Government
wildlife authorities, the Fisheries Department
and local NGOs.
Operation
Kachhapa will be a co-operative programme
between the Central and State Government
authorities, the Wildlife Institute of India,
local non government organisations, fishermen
and the local media. The aim of the project
will be to drastically reduce turtle mortality
and to safeguard the future of the Olive
Ridley Turtle off the Orissa coast. The
project will be coordinated by WPSI.
Project
activities will include an awareness programme
among the public and local fishing
communities, scientific monitoring and
increased protection of turtle nest sites, and
assistance in strictly enforcing the non-mechanised
5km fishing limit. Assistance will include the
establishment of mobile protection camps,
communication facilities, binoculars and the
fencing of nest sites. Sea-going patrol boats
and equipment will be provided to the Orissa
Forest Department.
2.
NATIONAL MEETINGS
The
following is a selection of national meetings
attended by WPSI personnel in India.
2.1
Tiger Link Meeting
WPSI's
Vice President, Executive Director and
Conservation Officer attended the Tiger Link
meeting from 1-3 December 1997. The Vice
President and Executive Director talked about
poaching and wildlife trade issues giving a
description of WPSI's findings over the last
year. They also talked about the importance of
legal follow up of cases against wildlife
criminals. The Vice President explained in
brief the findings and recommendations of the
West Bengal Wildlife Trade Study.
WPSI's
Conservation Officer gave a brief overview of
his Corbett and Haldwani surveys. He mentioned
the main problems threatening the tiger's
survival in these areas and outlined workable
long-term solutions.
2.2
Discussions with the Uttar Pradesh Forest
Department
In
January 1998, WPSI's Vice President, Executive
Director and Conservation Officer travelled to
Lucknow and held discussions with the
Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, the
Chief Wildlife Warden and the State Forest
Secretary. Among the issues discussed were the
problems facing both Dudhwa and Corbett Tiger
Reserves as well as the implementation of the
recommendations made in the Corbett and
Haldwani survey reports.
2.3
Meeting of HWWs in Jaipur, Rajasthan
A
workshop for newly appointed Honorary Wildlife
Wardens (HWWs) was organised by the Wildlife
Wing of the Rajasthan Forest Department.
WPSI's Project Officer and Conservation
Officer attended the workshop in Jaipur on 9
July 1998. HWWs were informed of their
responsibilities and the important
contribution they can make to protect wild
fauna and flora in their areas. WPSI's
representatives outlined the Society's Law
Enforcement Network project through which we
will be providing information and other
assistance in order to assist in curbing the
illegal trade in wildlife and wildlife
products.
2.4
Wildlife Institute of India National Seminar
WPSI's
Vice President, Conservation Officer and
Project Officer for the AECC/WPSI Ivory trade
project attended a National Seminar at the
Wildlife Institute of India in Dehra Dun in
August 1998. A number of papers were presented
and issues debated. Of particular interest was
discussions on the role of Indian wildlife
biologists in the management of Protected
Areas.
2.5
Steering Committee of Project Tiger
The
Vice President and Executive Director of WPSI
attended the inauguration of the Tiger Control
Centre at the Project Tiger headquarters by
Mr. Suresh Prabhu, Honourable Minister of
Environment and Forests. Following the
inauguration, a meeting of the Steering
Committee of Project Tiger was held.
Participants made various suggestion to
improve the effectiveness of Project Tiger.
WPSI's Vice President brought up the issue of
poor flow of funds to the 23 Tiger Reserves.
Mr. Vishvanath Anand, Secretary of the
Ministry of Environment and Forests, said that
a solution to this problem would be found
shortly.
3.
INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCES
3.1
International Year of the Tiger Meeting in
Dallas
WPSI's
Executive Director attended the International
Year of the Tiger Conference held in Dallas
from 10-12 February 1998. Discussions took
place on a number of important issues such as
human/tiger conflict, trans-boundary
co-operation and action, research techniques
and trade in tiger parts.
WPSI's
findings on the serious problem of poaching
and illegal trade in tiger parts were
discussed and the Executive Director stressed
the importance of stepping up wildlife
enforcement activity throughout the world.
3.2
ACA 3rd General Assembly in New Delhi
WPSI
hosted the 3rd General Assembly of the Asian
Conservation Alliance (ACA) in Delhi on 23-24
February 1998. Both the previous Assemblies
had been held in Japan. Representative from
all member NGOs of ACA - from India, Russia,
Japan, South Korea, Thailand, and Taiwan -
were present. The ACA meeting was inaugurated
by Professor Saifuddin Soz, former Honourable
Minister of Environment and Forests. The open
session was well attended by a number of other
Indian NGOs, Government officials and the
press.
Following
the meeting the ACA delegates were taken to
Ranthambhore Tiger Reserve. For many this was
the first time they had seen a tiger in the
wild. The Secretary General of ACA, Mr.
Masayuki Sakamoto, also visited South India to
observe the AECC/WPSI collaborative project on
ivory trade.
The
ACA Assembly forwarded a number of resolutions
concerning trade in tiger derivatives, the
effect of downlisting of the African elephant
on ivory poaching, trade in Shahtoosh, and NGO
participation at CITES, to the CITES Standing
Committee Meeting in London in March 1998.
3.3
European Union Workshop in London
At
the invitation of the British Government's
Department of the Environment, WPSI's Vice
President travelled to London in March 1998 to
attend a workshop of the European Union on
wildlife law enforcement. WPSI's report on the
Shahtoosh trade was presented. The
participants, who were largely from customs
and other enforcement agencies, showed a keen
interest in the control of the illegal trade
in shahtoosh shawls into Europe.
3.4
CITES Standing Committee Meeting in London
The
Society's Vice President attended the CITES
Standing Committee meeting in London
immediately after the European Union Workshop.
The principle issue discussed was the approved
sale of limited quantities of African ivory
from Botswana, Namibia and Zimbabwe to Japan
in 1999, and the likely impact of this
decision on elephant poaching. WPSI's concern
regarding the escalation of poaching of Asian
elephants was expressed. The trend in poaching
of tuskers in India is as follows
WPSI
and the Asian Elephant Research and
Conservation Centre, along with the Species
Survival Network, the Asian Conservation
Alliance and a number of other organisations
plan to strongly oppose the opening of ivory
trade at the next CITES Standing Committee
Meeting in February 1999.
3.5
The Species Survival Network International
Summit in Oxford
In
September 1998, WPSI's Executive Director was
invited to attend the Species Survival Network
International Summit in Oxford, U.K. Among the
topics of discussion was the implementation of
CITES regulations and the illegal world-wide
trade in tiger parts, ivory and bear gall
bladder. The promotion of various CITES
resolutions for the Conference of Parties in
Kenya in the year 2000 was also discussed. The
Species Survival Network has a large
membership of conservation organisations
around the world. WPSI joined the network
earlier this year.
4.
OTHER ACTIVITIES
4.1
Workshop on Wildlife Trade in West Bengal
On
26th November, 1997, a wildlife trade workshop
was held at Buxa Tiger Reserve in West Bengal.
Those present at the workshop included staff
of the West Bengal Forest Department, officers
of various enforcement agencies,
representative from a number of NGOs and
members of the press. WPSI's Vice President
and our Legal Advisor from Calcutta, Mr.
Bhaskar Banerjee, attended the workshop.
In
his presentation Mr. Banerjee covered aspects
of the Wildlife (Protection) Act and other
laws relevant to wildlife conservation. WPSI's
Vice President gave a talk on the broader
aspects of illegal wildlife trade including
methods of operation, trade routes and
recommendations for combating this widespread
clandestine trade.
4.2
Launch of Shahtoosh Report
WPSI's
report titled "Fashioned for Extinction:
An Exposé of the Shahtoosh Trade", was
launched at a gathering of the Delhi
Commonwealth Women's Association (DCWA) at the
residence of the Slovak Ambassador on 26
November 1997. During the launch WPSI's
Executive Director gave an illustrated talk on
shahtoosh to the guests. A number of those who
attended were not aware that shahtoosh wool
was obtained by slaughtering Tibetan antelopes
and were shocked to hear the implications of
the trade. Many people offered their support
to WPSI in our fight to combat this illegal
trade.
A
fashion show of shahmina shawls (an
alternative to shahtoosh that WPSI is
promoting) was also held during the launch.
Shahmina shawls have virtually the same
weight, texture and warmth as shahtoosh
shawls. The finest quality Cashmere and
special processing methods are used to make
these shawls. Like shahtoosh, shahmina shawls
will also pass through a finger ring. The
response to both the report and the
alternative to shahtoosh was very positive.
The
Executive Director also gave a talk on the
shahtoosh issue to the Global League of Women
in February 1998.
4.3
Minister of Environment & Forests Releases
WPSI's Legal Book
On
16th January 1998, WPSI released its legal
book titled "Handbook of Environment,
Forest and Wildlife Protection Laws of
India" at Thapar House, in new Delhi.
Professor Saifuddin Soz, the former Honourable
Minister of Environment and Forests, was the
chief guest. During the release Professor Soz
stated that such a legal book was the need of
the hour and praised both WPSI and Natraj
Publishers for producing this publication. The
book release was attended by a number of
senior officials of the Ministry of
Environment and Forests, WPSI board members
and the media.
4.4
Assistance for Palamau and Tadoba-Andhari
Tragedies
On
16 February 1998, two daily wage employees of
Palamau Tiger Reserve in Bihar, Shri Aziz
Quraishi and Shri Sukhdeo Parahiya, lost their
lives in a land mine explosion while
patrolling the forests. The mine is believed
to have been targeted against their Divisional
Forest Officer.
Aziz
was 32 years old and had been working as a
daily wage driver in Palamau since 1991. He
has left behind five children and a young
widow. Sukhdeo was 36 years old. He had also
been working in Palamau for the past seven
years. Sukhdeo has left six children orphaned.
These children lost their mother six months
earlier as a result of a snake bite.
On
hearing about this tragedy WPSI, put out an
appeal on the internet for the two bereaved
families. The response we received was very
positive and so far Rs. 74,843 has been sent
to the families. Further donations have been
received and these will be forwarded once WPSI
receives FCRA permission from the Home
Ministry.
In
another such incident at Tadoba-Andhari Tiger
Reserve, Vinod Lahanuji Sidam, a member of the
Village Wildlife Protection Unit, was brutally
murdered by poachers in May 1998. He was 22
years old and has left behind his ageing
parents and a young sister. On hearing of this
tragedy WPSI provided Rs. 20,000 to his
family.
4.5
Vrindavan Seizure
On
28th February, assisted by WPSI's Conservation
Officer, a team from the Uttar Pradesh Forest
Department seized all the animals of the Veena
Kamal Travelling Zoo at Vrindavan. The zoo was
operating in contravention of a High Court
order and had set up a tent to display caged
wild animals at a mela. The animals seized
included two lions, one leopards, one palm
civet, one leopard cat, two giant squirrels,
two slender lorises, one sloth bear, one stump
tailed macaque, two wolves, two hyenas, one
langur, one mash crocodile, one Rhesus
macaque, two jackals, two foxes, one Rosy
pelican two porcupines and two pythons. The
manager of the travelling zoo was arrested and
the animals sent to Lucknow zoo. Such zoos are
often known to operate as fronts for illegal
wildlife trade.
4.6
Nandankanan Zoo Electricity Cut
On
25 March 1998, WPSI received information that
the electricity had been cut at the
Government's Nandankanan Zoo near Bhubaneshwar
due to non payment of bills. Temperatures were
already high and the only source of obtaining
water for the zoo animals were electric pumps
making the situation very critical. WPSI's
Executive Director immediately brought the
matter to the attention of the Additional
Inspector General of Forests (Wildlife), Mr.
S.C. Sharma, and urged him to take urgent
action. Within hours of receiving this
information Mr. S.C. Sharma contacted
authorities in Bhubaneshwar and electricity
was restored at the zoo.
4.7
Musk Deer Report
In
March 1998, at the request of the U.S. Fish
and Wildlife Service, WPSI prepared a report
on the Musk Deer in India. The report outlined
the status of the species, the conservation
and management programs that are currently in
place, the domestic and international trade in
its parts and the lack of effective
enforcement to protect the species
4.8
Anti-poaching Camp at Tadoba-Andhari Tiger
Reserve
The
Nature Conservation Society Amravati organised
an anti-poaching training camp at
Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve in Maharashtra
from 8-10 April 1998. The camp was attended by
members of the Maharasthra Forest Department,
other state enforcement agencies and some HWWs.
WPSI's Conservation Officer participated gave
a presentation on poaching and the illegal
trade in wildlife and wildlife products
focusing on poaching methods, trade routes and
identification of products in trade.
4.9
Second Consultation on Wildlife Conservation
and People's Rights
WPSI's
Conservation Officer attended the Second
Consultation on Wildlife Conservation and
People's Livelihood Rights, which was held in
Bhikapura-Kishori Village near Sariska from
17-19 April, 1998. Various wildlife issues
including poaching and trade, were discussed
with the other participants. A resolution was
made aimed at reducing some man-animal
conflicts and increased community
participation in wildlife conservation
throughout India.
4.10
Travelling Zoos Shut Down
The
last word on travelling zoos was pronounced by
the Delhi High Court in a judgement delivered
in April 1998. Travelling zoos were given
until 21 July 1998, to surrender their stocks
of wild animals. If they did not do so, the
animals would be seized. This brings to an end
a practice which often involved cruelty by
keeping wild animals in small cages, and
illegal trade in animals including tigers. The
landmark case was filed in 1995 by Ms. Menaka
Gandhi. Throughout this period WPSI kept a
vigil on the movement of mobile zoos and
assisted authorities in seizing three illegal
zoos. It was found that most of these zoos
operate from Mir Shikar Toli near Patna, which
has long been notorious for illegal trade in
wild mammals and birds.
4.11
Burning of Wildlife Products in Nagpur
On
5 June, 1998, the Maharashtra Forest
Department, in an unprecedented move, torched
the stock piles of seized wildlife products.
WPSI's Executive Director flew to Nagpur to be
present for this event and to reiterate WPSI's
support for such action.
4.12
Donation of Motor Boat to Corbett Tiger
Reserve
The
onset of the monsoon in Corbett Tiger Reserve
renders large parts of the park inaccessible
by road hampering the park staff's patrolling
activities. In order to enable the authorities
to continue their anti-poaching patrols
through the difficult wet season, WPSI with
financial assistance from the Fund for the
Tiger, USA, donated a fibreglass motorboat in
July 1998. Park authorities can now regularly
patrol remote areas of the park throughout the
monsoon thus reducing illegal activity within
the Tiger Reserve.
4.13
Harike Wetland Conservation Mission
On
8th July, WPSI's Executive Director met with
Mr. Prakesh Singh Badal the Chief Minister of
Punjab to discuss the issue of the
conservation of the Harike wetland area, an
important Ramsar site. Following this meeting
the Chief Minister ordered the constitution of
the Harike Wetland Conservation Mission.
WPSI's Executive Director was made a member of
this Mission and also a member of the Punjab
State Wildlife Advisory Board.
The
Mission has been asked to submit a
comprehensive report detailing conservation
strategies and an action plan for the
long-term protection and improvement of Harike.
4.14
Purchase of Vehicles
In
1998 WPSI has purchased three much needed
vehicles. A 'Bajaj' Scooter was purchased for
daily office work and a new 'Tata Sumo' was
purchased in March 1998 for WPSI's
Investigation Project. This vehicle was
donated by the Rufford Foundation. A fourwheel-drive
'Gypsy' was purchased in April 1998 for field
work outside Delhi. This Year WPSI also
purchased some excellent second hand
furniture, three more computers, two printers
and a laptop. These purchases were sponsored
by the Rufford Foundation and various other
projects.
4.15
Visitors to WPSI
Meetings
between WPSI representatives and officers of
the Ministry of Environment and Forests,
Project Tiger, State Forest Departments, and
various enforcement agencies over the past
year have been numerous. WPSI has also had
many visits from individuals and
representatives from other Indian conservation
organisations, a number of whom WPSI
continually interacts with in the field.
Visitors
from abroad to WPSI during the last twelve
months have included:
Mr
David Ferguson of the Office of International
Affairs, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, who
visited India in October 1997 and met with
WPSI's team. Discussions were held on the
progress of the Database project, the
Investigation Project into tiger poaching and
illegal trade, the the Support Network for
Grass-root NGOs. Mr. Fred Bagley of the U.S.
Fish and Wildlife Service also visited WPSI in
May 1998.
Mr.
Brian Weirum, Chairman of The Fund for the
Tiger, which helps support WPSI's
Investigation Project into tiger poaching and
illegal trade, visited India in March 1998.
The Executive Director and Conservation
Officer of WPSI met with Mr. Weirum and
screened WPSI's video, 'Bones of Contention'.
Mr Weirum's group was also given a talk on
India's tiger poaching crisis by WPSI's
Executive Director.
Mr.
Peter Knights from the Barbara Delano
Foundation, who visited WPSI in May 1998 to
discuss the Tiger Poaching and Trade
Investigation Project and the plight of the
Olive Ridley turtles. He later accompanied the
Executive Director and WPSI's Project Officer
to Orissa to meet with Government officials
and local NGOs to chalk up a plan to help stop
the slaughter of these turtles off the coast
of Orissa.
Mr.
John Hackney visited WPSI and discussed the
Haldwani Forest Division Survey with the
Conservation Officer and other issues
regarding Corbett.
Other
visitors to WPSI included Mr. Anthony Marr,
(BERT, Canada), Mr. Esmond Bradley Martin
(RHINO, Kenya), Mr. James Cloe (from Nepal),
Debbie Banks (EIA, UK), Alec Secombe (Rhino
Rescue, UK), Clare Lewis (British High
Commission, New Delhi), Ms. Melanie Shepherd
and Nick Carter (David Shepherd Conservation
Foundation, UK) and Steve Galster (Global
Security Network, USA).
4.16
Lectures & Interviews
Shahtoosh
lecture - DCWA (Nov 97) & Global league
of Women (Feb 1998)
Television
interviews included:
BBC
- Shahtoosh
CNN
- Tiger Crisis
NBC
- Tiger Crisis
NHK
Jojo TV Network
'Living
on the Edge' - Asian Elephant conservation,
Tiger Crisis, Shahtoosh
Image
Inc. - Shahtoosh
Collage
Communication - Shahtoosh, Wildlife Trade
Earth
Undercover
Numerous
national and international print media
interviews were given on subjects ranging
from tiger conservation to ivory and
elephant poaching, and from shahtoosh trade
and the Jammu and Kashmir petition to legal
issues.
4.17
WPSI Publications
'Fashioned
for Extinction; An Expose of the Shahtoosh
Trade' [The full text is posted on this
Web site.]
'India's
Tiger Poaching Crisis' (4th Edition)
'Handbook
of Environment, Forest and Wildlife Protection
Laws of India'
Shortly
to be published:
A
wildlife enforcement manual
Copies
of the Wildlife (Protection) Act
4.18
Fund Raising
WPSI
is extremely grateful for the generous support
we have received from BILT Limited and JCT
Limited. We are also greatly indebted to the
following organisations and individuals who
have funded and supported, in cash or kind,
WPSI projects over the past year. We thank
them all for their concern for India's
wildlife and support to WPSI.
¨
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service¨
BarbaraDelano Foundation ¨ The Rufford
Foundation ¨ The Fund for the Tiger ¨ The
Mactaggart Third Fund ¨ The Body Shop
Foundation¨ National Fish and Wildlife
Foundation ¨ Wildlife Conservation Society¨
Japan Wildlife Conservation Philosophy Society
of Japan¨ Resources Conservation Division,
Forestry Department, Council of Agriculture
(Republic of China)¨ The David Shepherd
Conservation Foundation¨Peter Jackson¨ James
Young¨Mini Nagendran ¨ John Hackney ¨
Shanthi Kalpat¨ William Green ¨ Venkat
Nagesh Yerneni¨ Peter Von Berg ¨Michael
Stern ¨ Ram Gopalakrishnan¨The Alfred
Barnston Foundation¨ Sid Ramachandran¨Kathy
A. Eisenhart ¨ Heggere S. Raj ¨Christina
Taft ¨ E. Hooft ¨Pradeep Karla ¨ Vidya
Athreya ¨Ashwini Pamar¨ Rajesh Rao¨Rosa Lee
¨ Donald J. Kahaian¨ Hugh Pond ¨ Connie
Levy ¨Hazel Holey ¨ American International
School, Dhaka¨ Melvin Horton
5.
WPSI STAFF & ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
None
of WPSI's achievements would have been
possible without the dedicated team-work of
our staff, all of whom have worked
exceptionally long hours throughout the year.
This year a number of new staff have been
taken on due to the substantial increase in
the Society's activities.
-
Mr
Brij Bhushan Sharma Conservation Officer
-
Mr
Sanjay Upadhyay Legal Consultant
-
Ms
Bindia Sahgal Projects Manager
-
Ms
Baiju Sanyal Project Consultant
-
Mr
Jayakrishnan K.P. Accounts Executive
-
Ms
Aruna Kamble Secretary to the Vice
President
-
Mr
Dinesh Babu Kannoli Secretarial
-
Mr
Edward Tete Office Peon
-
Mr.
Suresh Kumar Office Peon
-
Mr
Dharam Singh Office Driver
-
Mr
Jayakumar C Conservation Officer - South
India
-
Mr
Pallab Bhattacharya Field Assistant -
north Bengal
-
Mr
Sathyan A.V. Assistant - Ivory Trade Study
-
Mr
Rajeev Kumar Gupta Field Assistant - Ivory
Trade Study
-
Mr
Rajendra Singh Agarwal Field Assistant -
Gujjar Project
-
Mr
Manish M. Moghe Project Oficer -
Maharashtra Project
-
Mr
Nitin Desai Project Oficer - Maharashtra
Project
-
Senior
Field Investigators x 2 Investigation
Project
-
Field
Investigators x 18 Investigation Project
Many
others have given generously of their time
and expertise, in particular Mr Vivek Menon
(Consultant for the Joint WPSI / AECC Ivory
Trade Study), Mr Aqeel Farooqi (WPSI's
Honorary Wildlife Consultant for central and
eastern Uttar Pradesh), and Ms. Manisha
Chauhan who is helping with the Wildlife
Enforcement Network Project .
We
are also deeply indebted to our team of
lawyers, in particular Mr Raj Panjwani, Mr
Bhaskar Banerjee, Mr Mahendra Singh Kachhawa,
Mr M.C. Sharma, Mr B.B. Vashisht, Mr
Arvindra Sharma, Mr Hari Haran, Mr Riyaz A.
Bhatt, Mr Ashok Verma, Mr Murlidhar Sharma,
Mr Sant Saran Mathur, Mr S.K. Gangele, and
Mr Anil Chowdhary, who have battled
important environment issues and wildlife
criminals in courts of law in Delhi, Uttar
Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Orissa, Rajasthan
and West Bengal.
Belinda
Wright
Executive Director, WPSI
