Pre-cum-Mains GS Foundation Program for UPSC 2026 | Starting from 5th Dec. 2024 Click Here for more information
What is the News?
The government of India has provided data on the cases registered by Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB) against illegal trafficking of wild animals and the operations conducted by them.
How many cases were registered against the killing or illegal trafficking of wild animals in India?
Between 2018 and 2020, about 2,054 cases were registered for killing or illegal trafficking of wild animals in India.
What are the operations conducted by WCCB against illegal wildlife trade?
Operation Save Kurma: It focuses on the poaching, transportation and illegal trade of live turtles and tortoises.
Operation Turtshield: It was taken up to tackle the illegal trade of live turtles.
Operation Softgold: To tackle illegal trade in Shahtoosh shawls (made from Chiru wool).
Operation LESKNOW: To bring the attention of the enforcement agencies within the country towards the illegal wildlife trade in lesser-known species such as Deer, Wild Boar, Jackal, Mongoose, Monitor Lizard, Sea cucumber and Pangolin.
Operation Clean Art: To drag the attention of enforcement agencies towards illegal wildlife trade in Mongoose hairbrushes.
Operation THUNDERBIRD: It concentrated mainly on illegal trade in species such as Tigers and other Asian big cats, Bears, Pangolins, Reptiles, Red Sanders, Sea-cucumber and seahorses.
Operation Birbil: To curb illegal trade in wild cat and wild bird species.
Operation Wildnet: It was aimed to draw the attention of the enforcement agencies within the country to focus their attention on the ever-increasing illegal wildlife trade over the internet using social media platforms.
Operation Freefly: It was conducted to check the illegal trade of live birds.
Operation Wetmark: It was taken up to ensure the prohibition of the sale of meat of wild animals in wet markets across the country.
| Must read: Conservation Efforts in India |
Source: This post is based on the article “Protecting wildlife: 2,054 cases registered in three years” published in The Hindu on 14th December 2021.
