Centre urged to save Tokay Geckos
Source: The Sangai Express
Lamka, October 12 2012:
In view of the rising cases of smuggling Tokay Geckos from Manipur to South East Asian countries and China, the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau has proposed the Union Government to include Tockay Gecko among scheduled animals.
A one-day training programme of law enforcing agencies about protection of wildlife was held today at the conference hall of Forest Department, Sanjenthong under the aegis of Wildlife Crime Control Bureau, Eastern Region and the Wildlife Wing of Forest Department.
Talking to TSE by the sideline of the training programme, Chief Wildlife Warden Dr Anilkumar said that wildlife and their parts constitute have become the second biggest item of smuggling after narcotic substances.
Following the reported cases of smuggling Tokay Gecko from Manipur to South East Asian countries, wildlife authorities in Mizoram, Assam and West Bengal have been alerted.
Notably, those engaged in Tokay Gecko trade without valid licence in the Philippines are punished with a jail term of 12 years in addition to 1000,000 pesos fine.
Taking advantage of Manipur's location in India's international border with Myanmar, smuggling of wildlife products through the State is quite high, he said.
In the last 2/3 years, 41 cases related to wildlife were registered.
Within the same period, Assam Rifles detected 18 cases, Customs four, police two and Forest Department 17 cases.
The one-day training programme was attended by personnel and officials of AR, BSF, CISF, police, Customs, Narcotics, Postal Service, judiciary and Forest Department.
Deputy Director of the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau, Eastern Region C Behera was also present at the training programme.