Project Info
Project Description
India shares international borders with Pakistan, Nepal, China, Bhutan and Myanmar, Afghanistan and Bangladesh, thus significantly highlighting India’s important position strategically for Southeast Asia. The Indo-Nepal border has been a highly sensitive area that is covered with acres of dense forests that are home to flagship species such as tigers (Panthera tigris), elephants (Elephas maximus), leopards (Panthera pardus), rhinoceros (Rhinoceros unicornis) to name a few and the frequency of cross border wildlife crime.
There are six protected areas (PAs) that are along the Indo-Nepal border in the states of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. With home to such important species, these protected areas require the highest level of surveillance and vigilance to protect the flagship species that they host. A commonly encountered problem in this region has been snares which serve as a rudimentary and cheap method of trapping wild animals for poachers. The mechanism of snares works in a way that there is a noose at the end where the animal’s head or leg or paw may get trapped and with the slightest tug, the grip tightens, often asphyxiating the victim or cutting off the blood supply of vital veins.
Under this project run by WTI with Uttar Pradesh Forest Department and Environment, Forest and Climate Change Department, Bihar, the frontline forest officials and WTI field team conduct regular anti-snare walks along the forest fringes and sensitive hotspots. During the course of this project, a total of 826 hrs and 31 mins have been covered in anti-snare walks with successfully dismantling 411 snares. WTI team has also collaborated with officials from the Ministry of Forests and Environment, Nepal, to conduct joint anti-snare walks along the Indo-Nepal border and this effort has been appreciated by the Forest Department of both countries.
Poster on commonly traded animals in Illegal wildlife trade at Into-Nepal border
WTI team has also held various discussions with officers from the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB), who have been bestowed with the duty to guard the Indo-Nepal border and brief them on the negative impact of snaring. The team also holds meetings with Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB) at regular intervals to apprise them of the situation at the Indo-Nepal border. After multiple transboundary meetings, the WTI team has also held joint anti-snare walks with SSB officials at the Valmiki Tiger Reserve in Bihar and recovered jaw traps, nets, bows & arrows, spears as well as metal wire snares from forest fringes and agricultural farmlands.
WTI also provides legal assistance to the state Forest Departments of Uttar Pradesh Forest Department and Environment, Forest and Climate Change Department, Bihar, WTI’s legal consultants regularly engage with the frontline forest officials to gather case updates and provide guidance on wildlife crimes in order to ensure that proper investigation takes place. Additionally, frontline forest officials are also empowered through capacity-building training workshops focused on equipping them with a better way to tackle wildlife crimes.
The ultimate aim of the project is to strengthen cross-boundary cooperation between India and Nepal and to minimise the mortality caused by snares. With the help of policy-level changes between both countries, Inland Water Transport (IWT) between India and Nepal can be significantly reduced, and pro-conservation judgements can pave the way for a sustainable future. Our team also encourages the participation of local communities, who live in close quarters of the forest, to sensitise them on the long-term harmful effects of snaring and how their involvement and participation can be instrumental in reducing cross-border wildlife crime.
PARTNERS: Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement (INL), Uttar Pradesh Forest Department, Environment, Forest and Climate Change Department, Bihar and Ministry of Forests and Environment, Nepal
For more information about the project: debobroto@wti.org.in
