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Fake wildlife products passed off as originals, peddled at high rates

In July, the WCCB and Maharashtra forest department officials had detected a case at Velas in Ratnagiri wherein a woman had purchased a fake tiger skin from a scrap merchant believing it to be genuine.

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According to a senior forest official, around 90% of wildlife products being sold are fake —For representation purpose only
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Tempted by the offer of a tiger claw which is rumoured to bring good luck? Or leopard skin, elephant hair, musk deer pod and elephant ivory being sold for similar reasons? Beware, these may be fake products being peddled at high rates to unsuspecting buyers.

Officials from the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB) said the law enforcing agencies routinely seize fake wildlife products being passed off as originals. M. Maranko, Regional Deputy Director, WCCB, Western Region, said that some of the most sold fake wildlife products include tiger and leopard skins and claws, shahtoosh shawls, musk pods and elephant ivory.

"These claws are made from cow and buffalo horns and sold to unsuspecting buyers for a premium," said Maranko, adding that there were no fixed rates for products in this undercover market, with much depending on the negotiations between the buyer and the seller. He said skins of calves and even large sized dogs were painted to pass them off as tiger skins.

In July, the WCCB and Maharashtra forest department officials had detected a case at Velas in Ratnagiri wherein a woman had purchased a fake tiger skin from a scrap merchant believing it to be genuine.

"Bone and even acrylic is used to make fake elephant ivory," said Maranko, adding that fake shahtoosh shawls were also sold similarly. Fake musk pods are made from animal skins, which are sealed with adhesives after being filled with tree bark, agarbatti powder and sprayed with perfume. Bull horns are also cut, polished and dyed for being passed off as elephant hair to be used for bracelets and rings.

However, there is no provision under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 which deals with fake wildlife products. Hence, it is necessary to streamline enforcement and lay down proper guidelines for dealing with such cases, said WCCB officials.

Moreover, many a times, even government agencies are not in a position to distinguish the fake products from the genuine ones and lodge cases. The WCCB is also training officials from the police and other law enforcement agencies for the same.

"Replicas of tiger and leopard skins are also used for making bags. There are no legal provisions in this regard. We cannot arrest these people for imitation," said Maranko.

"Many of these fake wildlife products are made in Mumbai's slums," said a senior forest official, adding that while detecting genuine products from fakes was difficult, buyers refrained from complaining to the police once they realised the con.

"Around 99% of wildlife products being sold are fakes," he said. The animals whose skins were used in the trade are not covered under the Act, which made prosecution tough.

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