Andhra lenient on poachers

HYDERABAD, OCT 17: The killing of a tiger, according to Section 51 of the Wildlife Protection Act, is punishable with imprisonment of on...

HYDERABAD, OCT 17: The killing of a tiger, according to Section 51 of the Wildlife Protection Act, is punishable with imprisonment of one to six years, plus a fine of Rs 5,000 to Rs 30,000.

But in Andhra Pradesh, where a tiger was killed inside a zoo recently by poachers, the maximum punishment awarded to those convicted of poaching tigers has never exceeded three months. In many cases, those found guilty have either been let off with just a warning or a fine. If the accused repeats the offence, he can be jailed for two years to a maximum of six years.

However, in a recent case of killing of three tiger cubs in Warangal district, the accused were awarded jail term only for three months. In another case in Khammam district, a person caught selling two tiger skins was fined Rs 10,000.

According to officials, the accused in as many as 25 cases of tiger poaching have been convicted in the past 10-15 years. 8220;But the punishment was not commensurate with the crime they perpetrated,8221; says Chief Wildlife Warden T. Ramakrishna.

Ramakrishna said he spoke to High Court officials recently and pointed out that even minimum punishment prescribed by the Act for killing tigers was not being awarded by the courts. 8220;But I was told that the magistrates have powers to reduce the sentence and we can only challenge the decision in the higher courts,8221; he said.

He said that the Andhra Forest Department was planning to create awareness by holding seminars for judicial officers at the district and high court level. The government was now planning to hold one such seminar at the AP Police Academy next month, he added.

Speaking to The Indian Express, honorary president of the Blue Cross of Hyderabad and former IFS officer R.K. Rao pointed out that the global trade in wildlife is around 25 billion per year and most of it is carried on in India and other developing countries. 8220;Wildlife poaching is the most sought after illegal trade after narcotics, but the government is yet to act tough,8221; he lamented.