Wildlife crime prevention training for J&K forest staff concludes

Srinagar, Nov 30: The Wildlife Trust of India (WTI), in partnership with the Department of Wildlife Protection Jammu & Kashmir, and with support from Astral Foundation and Thin Green Line UK organised a 3-day "Wildlife Crime Prevention Training" at the Nature Interpretation Centre (NIC) in Dachigam National Park.

The initiative will equip the team with the latest knowledge and skills to effectively combat wildlife crime and protect precious biodiversity.

The training saw active participation of 50 frontline forest staff from the North, South, Shopian, Central, and Rajouri-Poonch divisions. The training highlighted the significant challenges faced by authorities in wildlife crime prevention in the region, with insightful contributions from a range of experts.

The training curriculum included an in-depth exploration of the legal and enforcement aspects of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972, as well as key wildlife crime prevention measures.

These covered topics such as anti-poaching patrolling techniques, intelligence gathering, informer networks, search and seizure procedures, crime scene investigation, and the preparation of Preliminary Offence Reports.

The participants were also oriented with relevant provisions under the Indian Evidence Act, the Indian Penal Code, and the Code of Criminal Procedure, empowering them to prosecute wildlife crimes effectively.

Wildlife Trust of India (WTI) is a conservation organisation established in 1998 with a mission to conserve nature, especially endangered species and threatened habitats, in partnership with communities and governments.

In its 25 years of operations, WTI has saved more than 42,000 animal lives, trained and equipped 20,000 frontline forest staff, and assisted the govt in creating 7 protected areas.

The workshop commenced with a welcome address by Parvaiz Ahmad Wani, Wildlife Warden Central Division, alongside Tawheed Ahmad Deva, Regional Wildlife Warden, Kashmir, Intisar Suhail, Wildlife Warden, North, and Rashid Yahya Naqash, Regional Wildlife Warden, J&K Headquarters.

During the workshop,  practical sessions including field investigations, illegal wildlife article identification, cyber wildlife trade awareness, and anti-snare walks followed the theoretical session.

These hands-on exercises provided participants with the necessary skills to tackle wildlife crime in the field.

Lovish Sharma, Advocate at the High Court of Delhi, a Specialist in the Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972, A Pragatheesh, Wildlife Crime Prevention Bureau (WCCB), Biswajeet Saikia, OIC, SRO, Amritsar, WCCB, Jose Louies, CEO, WTI, Dr Tanushree Srivastava, Manager & Head, J&K Projects, WTI and Rudra Prasanna Mahapatra, Manager & Head Training Cell, WTI, were among the key speakers addressed the frontline staff.

While addressing the participants, Jose Louies, CEO, WTI said, "The impact of the previously conducted training was visible in the participants' knowledge levels."

"The next step is to provide assistance to the frontline staff through legal support which will ensure that they will exercise the knowledge during case management in the courts," he added.