KOLKATA: Notorious poacher Sansar Chand's six-year jail term order by a Delhi court on Wednesday has raised hopes of tiger conservationists across the country. But there is also a feeling that the law should be stronger in dealing with such criminals. The call has come not just from experts but villagers dotting Sunderbans, the habitat of the Bengal Tiger.
On the first day of a two-day symposium beginning Wednesday, on the Future of the Bengal Tiger', villagers and activists working in Sunderbans called for more stringent laws to battle poachers and those helping them. Tiger conservationists and wildlife activists are trying to pressure the government for a compact policy on Sunderbans. Efforts are on to get a unified policy on Sunderbans involving India and Bangladesh. A summit meet is scheduled in the last week of September or early October to discuss the modalities.
"Man-animal conflict has been there for ages. Poaching is now receiving political patronage. Those who are arrested for poaching are released on bail within a fortnight. These people become even more dangerous after coming out. Exemplary punishment should be given to them," said Tushar Kanti Dhali from Canning.
Sansar Chand was sentenced to six years' imprisonment and fined Rs 50,000 under the Wildlife Protection Act. Chand, known as the Veerappan of north India, had been caught in a leopard skin seizure case in 1995.
"Under the Wildlife Act, this is the maximum punishment that can be given. There has been a beginning," said Bittu Sahgal, tiger conservationist and wildlife writer.
"Not a single poacher has been convicted in a case related to Sunderbans. The law has to be more stringent," pointed out Banamali Mandal, a resident of Sunderbans.
Neighbouring Bangladesh which shares Sunderbans with India has a maximum penalty of five years for poaching. But Bangladesh is also considering making the punishment stricter.
"The Bangladesh Wildlife Act 1973 gives a maximum imprisonment of five years. This has been reviewed and is going to be amended. The maximum punishment can be up to 25 years in jail," said Monirul H Khan, tiger researcher from Bangladesh.
Talks are on the anvil for a joint programme between India and Bangladesh for conservation of Sunderbans. Sahgal said tigers can be protected if Sunderbans are saved.
"People in Sunderbans have to be made aware of the risks involved in climate change. They also have to be made aware of the risks involved in entering tiger habitat. The planning commission has to understand that Sunderbans plays a major role in climate change infrastructure. Unless protective measures are not taken now, we are staring at a disaster. Inappropriate development is as dangerous as poachers," Sahgal said.
A recent report by UNDP states that 15% of Sunderbans will disappear by 2020. "Mangrove swamps contain carbon. If these are lost, we will be contributing to the factors behind climate change. Incentive has to be given to people who move out of Sunderbans. There has to be a uniform relocation policy. If these steps are not taken then the option left is a chaotic migration worse than the partition," Sahgal said.
The director of Sundarbans Biosphere Reserve, Pradeep Vyas, said there were other problems as well. "One of the tigers fitted with a radio collar has moved into Bangladesh. We need to come together for tiger conservation," Vyas said.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata-/Call-for-stricter-poaching-laws-/articleshow/6435504.cms
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