Wildlife Crime Control Bureau makes sizeable haul of wildlife items in Assam

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: Despite repeated awareness campaigns regarding the need to protect the country's flora and fauna, a section of criminals continues to target animals for monetary gain in Assam and neighbouring States.

This is borne out by the fact that the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB), with the assistance of local forest authorities, carried out several successful enforcement operations against illegal trade in wildlife items in Assam between January and March this year.

On January 27 this year, the WCCB carried out a joint operation at a resort in Sonapur near here and seized 4.1 kg of pangolin scales. Seven persons were arrested in that connection.

On February 7 this year, the WCCB carried out a joint operation with the Digboi Forest Division at Makum in the Tinsukia district and seized 6.3 kg of pangolin scales. Three persons were also arrested.

The next day, a major combined operation was carried out by the WCCB along with police and forest officials of Assam and Arunachal Pradesh at Banderdewa in the Tinsukia district. The items which were recovered included one Royal Bengal Tigerskin, 4 tiger canine teeth, 18 tiger nails and 14.4 kg of tiger bones and skull. Three persons were arrested in connection with the seizure.

On February 19 this year, the WCCB carried out a joint operation with forest officials at Barpeta and recovered a live Chinese pangolin. Two persons were arrested in that connection.

On March 16 this year, the WCCB carried out a combined operation with forest officials and Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) personnel at Guwahati and seized 2 kg of dried pangolin scales. Four persons were arrested in the case.

On March 29, the WCCB carried out a joint operation with personnel of the Nameri Forest Range Office and seized 109 pieces of leopard bones along with 4 canine teeth and 12 nails. One person was arrested in this case.

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