Confronting Wildlife Crime In India: Challenges And Pathways To Effective Implementation

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Dr Shalini Saxena, Anurag Sharma, Pallavi Chhabaria, Prof. Dr. Ashish Verma, Priyanka Mangaraj, Ramendra Pratap Singh

Abstract

Wildlife crime in India has become a significant threat, endangering biodiversity and undermining the country’s efforts for conserving its rich ecological heritage. Despite having well established legislations including the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972 and international treaties such as CITES, there is a lack in effective implementation of wildlife protection laws. There still persist significant barriers in the implementation of these legislative frameworks which pose a threat to many wildlife species in India. Theses barriers include systematic corruption, wildlife trafficking, procedural insufficiencies as well as transnational nature of wildlife crime. Socio economic factors including poverty and lack of awareness also contribute to this issue, as they become inadvertently participants in illegal activities.


This paper focuses on these challenges, delving into legal loopholes, enforcement gaps as well as institutional challenges. It also highlights the need for using technological innovations such a s AI surveillance, forensic tools and drones along with capacity building and enhanced training by enforcement agencies. The role of community engagement along with alternative livelihoods is emphasized to be a sustainable approach for deterring local participation in wildlife crimes. There is a need for inter-agency coordination as well as international collaboration for tackling organized, transnational networks which promote wildlife trafficking. The paper has additionally, also emphasized upon the need for a uniform international legal framework focusing upon the current legal loopholes and enforcement gaps to deter transnational wildlife crime.

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