Workshop looks at legal aspects of tackling wildlife crime in Assam

On June 3 an interactive workshop on the legal aspects of wildlife crime was held for police officials of the Golaghat District in Kaziranga, Assam.

Addressing the delegates, Mr. Pallab Deka, Deputy Conservator of Forests, Kaziranga National Park, spoke about the various challenges that forest and police officers face while exercising their duties to save wildlife from organised gangs of criminals and Mr. Gautom Uzir, senior advocate of the Gauhati High court, discussed the various legal provisions that are in place to stop wildlife crime.

“We looked at wildlife crime at a local and a global level and the workshop enforced the seriousness of these criminal activities and how it should be a priority for all concerned enforcement agencies,” says Aaranyak CEO, Dr Bibhab Talukdar who brought the workshop to life with the help of DSWF funding. “The illegal wildlife trade can bring severe threats to national security as rhino horn and other high value wildlife products often trigger the flow of illegal arms to the region through criminal networks.”

The Superintendent of Police in Golaghat, Mr. Manabendra Dev Roy, endorsed the workshop emphasising the need for more concerted efforts in the fight against wildlife crime and the divisional forest officer of eastern Assam wildlife division Mr. Rohini Saikia hoped that the workshop would be useful for the enforcement agencies to secure the future of wildlife in and around Kaziranga National Park.

“Working with local enforcement agencies is an important part of our ongoing protection of wildlife,” added Dr Talukdar.

Find out more about our work to fight wildlife crime in Assam here