22 Nepalis caught smuggling Yartsa Gumba in Valley of Flowers National Park

Twenty two persons belonging to Nepal were arrested from several places near Ghangharia, the base camp of Valley of Flowers National Park in the Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve, District Chamoli, Uttarakhand, INDIA, who were trying to smuggle Yartsa Gambu or the Chinese caterpillar mushroom (Cordyceps sinensis) which costs Rupees 10 lakh per kg ($ 20000/kg) in the local market and much more in the international market. It is used as an aphrodisiac as well as for strength and used especially by athletes as it is not detected in the dope test. The smugglers are found to have links with high profile people. The details are awaited. Will post them soon.

LEOPARD SKIN SEIZED NEAR RAJAJI PARK

A full grown leopard skin was seized from Haripur Kalan village near Motichur Railway crossing by the Dehradun Forest Division in a joint operation of the anti-poaching cell of Uttarakhand Forest Department and the Wildlife Protection Society of India. Two persons have been arrested in this matter. Further details will follow.

TWO LEOPARD SKINS AND GUN SEIZED- THREE ARRESTED

Two leopard skins and one gun was seized along with the arrest of a poacher and a trader in Mussoorie Forest Division, Uttarakhand, INDIA. The skins were seized on 19th July 2011 in a joint operation of Wildlife Trust of India and the forest department. Two persons were immediately arrested, but they managed to escape taking advantage of the tough terrain and night time. Their whereabouts were tracked and the forest department arrested both of them and send them to jail. On 27th July, the forest department was successful in arresting the actual poacher, Mr.Gulab Singh of village Bhaal, Thatyur block of Tehri district along with his licenced gun which he used for poaching the leopards. According to the accused, he had fired a leopard at night 18 months ago, thinking that a wild boar had come to raid his fields. But why did he trade the skin then? The other arrested trader is Mr.Raghubir Singh also of Thatyur. The third person arrested was the taxi driver, Mr.Sanjay Singh, according to whom his taxi had been booked from Thatyur to Mussoorie and he had no knowledge of the crime. He will have to prove his innocence in court. The villagers of the area were very helpful in getting the culprits arrested. This is a major achievement as usually villagers do not give information against their own villagemates.

THREE LEOPORD SKINS SEIZED AND THREE POACHERS ARRESTED

A day long combined operation of the Uttarakhand Forest Department and the Wildlife Preservation Society of India on 22nd July 2011 culminated in the arrest of three persons with three leopard skins seized from them. The seizure took place at night 8 O' Clock at a remote locality called Shama in District Bageshwar of Uttarakhand, India. The main accused is

THREE YEARS IMPRISONMENT FOR IVORY POACHERS of Rajaji National Park

The Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate has awarded three years imprisonment and a fine of Rs.10000 to Mr. Jagdish, the main accused in the Elephant poaching and Ivory Trading case

Three leopard skins seized

Three leopard skins were seized by Uttarkashi Kotwali police today. Two of the skins were found to be of leopards poisoned by insecticide Nuvan and the other one was shot dead. The police arrested two persons Atar Singh s/o Shyam Singh Kathaith and Sohan Lal s/o Mangsiru Singh, both resident of Gram Bagedi, Tehsil Chilyani, dt. Uttarkashi, Uttarakhand, India.

JUDGE DETAINS RANGE OFFICER for ARRESTING POACHER

The District Judge of Champawat District of Uttarakhand,  India, Mr.R.S.Chauhan, while in his judicial capacity allowing a bail appeal of a notorious poacher, also misused his office to

Another wildlife poacher arrested from Pithoragarh

Another wildlife poacher and trader, Mr.Ramesh Ram of village Badalu, Pithoragarh was arrested today 22nd May 2011 in the early morning hours by the police with a leopard skin recovered from him. The skin was fresh and was foul smelling and had three bullet holes. Today evening, he was sent to 14 days remand in judicial custody. According to the accused, he got the skin from another person in village Rongu a few kilometers away. The increasing number of arrests and seizures show that though there has been dedicated campaign to end the crime, the trade is still flourishing due to international demand for the precious skins. Details of the present crime investigation will be posted from time to time. To keep track of these and help control wildlife crime, follow this blog.

Wildlife poacher arrested and send to 15 days remand in judicial custody

Girish Singh s/o Moti Singh of village Shyamlatal, Champawat was arrested on 12th May 2011 by the Champawat Forest Division of Uttarakhand Forest Department, India, following an exposure of his displaying leopard skins for trade to a sting operation team of Tehelka last year. The sting operation had exposed four places of skin trade and with this arrest, all the four events have been brought to light. A few accused are still missing, namely Dinesh Dugtal and Harish. Gulab Sg Kutiyal, Balku and a few others linked to this racket have already been arrested. The poaching evidences and statements of the accused are showing their links to several places within the country like Uttar Pradesh and even Gujarat and outside the country, especially Nepal. For further details and video of the exposure, visit http://www.flixya.com/blog/2898504/Tiger-and-Wildlife-poaching-expose-by-Tehelka 

Leopard skins seized in Himachal Pradesh, India

In a joint operation of WPSI and  Palampur Forest Division, Himachal Pradesh Forest Department, India, seven leopard skins were seized and four persons were arrested.