Poachers have been using the networking site to illegally buy and sell animals, discover wildlife officials
NEW DELHI: After wildlife activists and forest authorities blocked their age-old smuggling routes, poachers are now increasingly taking to social networks on the web to get back into business. This came to light when a wildlife official was tipped off about a community, Animal Lovers, on Orkut, where he discovered the new route. He logged on to the site and visited the community as a potential buyer. Soon after cracking the deal, the dealers got in touch with the official and asked him to credit half the deal amount to their account.
Following the leads, officials managed to nab two traders from Meerut, about 70 km from the capital, with the help of the special task force (STF) in Uttar Pradesh. During the course of raids and investigations, it was found that the two traders were not only into supplying animals and birds within the country, but had also smuggled wildlife outside the country through the porous Nepal and Bangladesh borders.
Commenting on the racket, a senior wildlife official remarked, “We have come across such a case wherein smugglers have been using the internet to trade animals, birds, skin and other animal body parts, for the first time. The two accused, who have been arrested, are only a small link of this pan-India smuggling ring.”
Interestingly, the involved buyers and sellers correspond with each other only through the internet, said the official, adding, “Since the buyers and sellers don’t meet in person, it becomes difficult to track them down.”
Apart from illegally trading the skin of leopards and other animals, the duo sold peregrine falcons, owls, rose-ringed parakeets, peacocks and munias.
According to officials, they received bulk orders from Gulf countries as well as animal and bird lovers in India.
“Since it is difficult to smuggle animals and animal products, poachers have started using the internet because they know it is a relatively safe option and would make it difficult for us to trace them,” added the official.
Meanwhile, senior forest officials have alerted all state units to be on the lookout for poachers and traders dealing in animals and rare birds.
v_gyan@dnaindia.net
