Poachers use electrocution to hunt

New Delhi, Feb. 2: Poachers have found that electrocution is the easiest way to kill elephants, tigers and leopards in the wild. All they have to do is steal electricity from an overhead line by hooking a wire and then laying a live line across an animal track. In January 2010 alone, five elephants and one tiger are reported to have been killed by electrocution.

Wild elephants head the list of electrocuted animals and the Wildlife Protection Society of India (WPSI) found that 30 elephants were electrocuted in 2009. In 2008, it was 24 and in 2007 it was 33. Alarmed by the rising numbers, Belinda Wright who heads WPSI pointed out that her organisation conducted a detailed nation-wide investigation and data compilation which has revealed that more than 300 animals have been killed in this fashion.

In 2009, WPSI’s statistics revealed four leopards were electrocuted, in 2008 it was one and in 2007 the number was two. Two tigers were killed in this horrendous fashion in 2009, two in 2008 and one in 2007. In 2003, the WPSI found the 28 elephants and six tigers had died due to electrocution. But wild life activists feel that WPSI’s data has erred on the conservative side. An Orissa-based activist feels the numbers are much larger claiming that in Orissa alone during the last five years, 280 elephants have been electrocuted.

Ms Wright petitioned the Supreme Court giving a state and species-wise mortality count, showing that the commonest victims were highly endangered species such as the elephant, the tiger, the leopard and the Indian rhinoceros. Detailed information on poaching methods and video evidence of poaching were filed, along with recommendations on how to solve the problem. Supreme Court appointed-CEC asked the respondents which included the ministry of power and the Central electricity board and the ministry of environment to resolve this issue.

"We suggested the use of providing insulation on the wires running through the national reserve parks and sanctuaries but this has not happened. There is a non-seriousness in their approach to this urgent issue," said Ms Wright.

Rashme Sehgal

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