Kerala - Kochi   

Saving wildlife from poachers

K.S. Sudhi

Kochi: The reports on seizure of panther skins and its body parts from the Neriyamagalam forest range recently have brought to focus the threat faced by another majestic creature. However, Forest officials say that there are no organised attempts to poach panthers in the State. "We believe that there is no established poaching and marketing of panthers, as in the case of elephants," says V. Gopinath, Chief Wildlife Warden.

In the case of panthers, it is mostly accidental poaching and searching for potential buyers. "Panthers are not the target species of the poachers in the State. They may be shooting the panthers that they spot while looking out for other animals," he says.

"The market for tiger skins has been identified as Tibet where people sport it as a priced possession. However, we have not been able to establish the route and market for panther skins," Mr. Gopinath says.

Incidentally, a few weeks ago, a group of leading members of the European Parliament called upon China, Nepal and India "to strengthen efforts to break the smuggling networks involved in the international trade in tiger and leopard skins." The enforcement agencies are taking concerted efforts to check poaching and book the culprits.

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