Supreme Court wants action against poachers

Concerned at the depleting population of wild animals due to rampant poaching, the Supreme Court (SC) urged the Centre and state governments on Wednesday to take “stringent action” against violators of Wildlife (Protection) Act.

SC said organised poaching was causing “depredation of wildlife”. Upholding the conviction of notorious poacher Sansar Chand, the court said the accused was “the head of a gang of criminals who do illegal trade in wildlife”.

“They do not poach, but hire people to do the job. Thus, a person like the appellant herein remains behind the scene, and for this reason it is not always possible to get direct evidence against such people,” a bench of justices Markandey Katju and TS Thakur said.

Sansar Chand was first arrested in 1974 with 680 skins of tigers, leopards and other animals. He later established a complex smuggling network to meet the high demand for tiger and leopard parts and skins outside India, particularly in China.