Animal News (Except Bigcats)

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Bushmeat trade: Deputy ranger, 4 guards suspended in Chhattisgarh

 Five persons including a deputy forest ranger and four guards were suspended for negligence in nabbing poachers involved in illegal bushmeat trade of monkeys at Rajnandgaon's Devvadvi forest area. 

The illegal trade had come to light 15 days ago with shocking images of hundreds of slaughtered monkeys at Devvadvi region very close to the forest checkpost. Groups of people, locals claim, who had allegedly killed the monkeys, cut them and dried the pieces, packed their meat after processing and then finally transported it to other states, had been seen refuging in the area for more than a fortnight. 

The action was taken after media reports few days ago. Times Of India had prominently reported the matter on April 11 following which the principal chief conservator of forests (PCCF), Ramprakash ordered formation of teams and sent them to Rajnandgaon. Wildlife activists had accused forest officials of being involved while locals claimed that as the news started spreading, officials had chased away the poachers smelling trouble after taking money from them. 

Locals have however demanded that accused officials should also be booked for supporting such a heinous crime of killing of monkeys. Admitting severe negligence on part of forest officials deployed at the zone, department issued suspension orders with immediate effect. He said that additional teams were set up to track poachers and investigations were on. 

Those suspended include deputy forest ranger, Radheshyam Nayak and guards Govardhan Netam, Harendra Thakur, Nagewar Mankar and KL Soni. Divisional forest officer, Arun Prasad said the suspension was done on basis of initial investigation and there may be more suspensions on grounds of negligence following further investigations. 

Residents told TOI that the poachers belonged to Bandesar region in Bastar and had been committing the crime every summer season for the last few years. 

Bushmeat trade of jackal, mongoose and foxes although illegal, is still flourishing in many parts of the country. Few years ago, poachers and nomadic tribe from Andhra Pradesh used to visit south Bastar to kill snakes. Monkey's processed meat and brain is exported to Africa, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, China and other countries through agencies. 

Monkeys are protected under schedule 2 of Wildlife Protection Act 1972 updated to 1991.


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