Fillip to wild life conservation; Hunters fined Rs 25,000 each
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, August 03, 2012: Two individuals who hunted and domesticated Tokay Geckos have been fined Rs 25,000 each by the Court of CJM Bishnupur.

The two individuals who have been penalised by Court are Sinam Ranjit Khuman and M Puhanba, both belonging to Kangmong Meisnam Maning Leikai, Bishnupur district.

Talking to TSE today, Chief Wildlife Warden Dr Anilkumar remarked that the Court's judgment was timely and appropriate.

In connection with the attempts to trade/smuggle out Tokay Gecko species of lizard, Forest Department has lodged three cases with the police.

He elaborated that one case each has been registered at Bishnupur, Jiribam and Thoubal.

As conveyed by the Kolkata based Deputy Director of the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau, Tokay Geckos have their own markets in South East Asian countries as decorative items but there is no scientific proof about their medicinal values, said Anilkumar.

A proposal would be put up before all the relevant authorities to check smuggling of the lizard species through an effective coordination mechanism among police, Assam Rifles, enforcement agencies, Customs and the civil administration.

Saying that forest land designated as protected area is relatively small in Manipur, the Chief Wildlife Warden underscored the need for people to understand the importance of protecting forest and wildlife.

There are reports that poachers hired people from Manipur to hunt and kill rhinoceros in Kaziranga National Park but they have not been arrested yet.

Meanwhile, another top official of the department lamented that the annual fund allocated to the department was less than one per cent of the total budget despite the growing concerns to save forest and environment.

Whereas the total plan outlay for the current fiscal year is Rs 3500 crores, Forest Department was allocated only around Rs 9 crores.

Such meager allocation has rendered the department totally helpless.

Nevertheless, the department has already constituted more than 500 joint forest management committees in order to save forest and explore alternative means of livelihood.

Against the sanctioned post of 1500 staff, a large number of posts belonging to different ranks remain vacant.

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