The state government is planning to involve the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to probe poaching and illegal trade of body parts of the endangered pangolin. The move comes on the back of cases wherein scales of the insectivorous mammal, which are in demand for their supposed therapeutic value in the Oriental medicine system, were seized.
The animal is facing extinction due to the rate at which it is being hunted. dna had earlier reported on the extent of this illegal trade. The scaly anteater – a solitary, nocturnal creature – has the same protection status as that of a tiger. It is listed in Schedule I.
"We have given orders for strict action. Involving the CBI will be necessary as this is reported to be an international ring," forest minister Sudhir Mungantiwar, who chaired a meeting in this regard on Friday, told dna.
"This is a huge racket," said Vaibhav Naik, Shiv Sena MLA from Kudal in Sindhudurg district, who attended the meeting. He added that 100 pangolin scales were being sold for Rs8,000.
S Ramesh Kumar, deputy conservator of forests (territorial), Sawantwadi, said they had arrested seven people for their alleged involvement in poaching on July 14, and recovered 175 pangolin scales from them. These people sold the scales to one Vijay Sawant from Kudal, who was arrested on July 20. Kumar said investigation was underway and they would analyse the call data records (CDR) of the accused.
Naik alleged that Sawant had employed tribals to poach pangolins and said that CBI's involvement could help trace the roots of the racket, considering its international links.
The Kudal case is the latest in a series of seizures on the Konkan coast. In June, the Ratnagiri police had raided a house in the town and seized 750gm of pangolin scales. In July 2015, a huge stash of 44kg pangolin scales was recovered near Chiplun, while in February this year, 12kg was recovered in Dapoli.
Dr Shekhar Kumar Niraj, Head of Traffic India – a wildlife trade monitoring network in India – said the Maharashtra government has taken a step in the right direction.
"One has to understand that it is an international racket. Hence, the forest department or local police alone will not be able to manage. Having CBI investigate the case will be a huge boost, as they will have access to Interpol," he said, adding that all state governments should keep putting pressure to ensure that poachers are caught.
Meanwhile, activists and officials admitted that these seizures might be "the tip of the iceberg". The poachers allegedly take help from local tribals and communities, who know where the reclusive animal can be located. Some communities also use bile and claws of these animals, and consider its meat a delicacy. Hence, the forest department has roped in NGOs to sensitise them regarding pangolin conservation.
