December 20, 2016 at 10:41 pm

While writing this article today news of a tiger being poisoned has come. It is sad to note that such a struggle for existence is happening with tigers and other wildlife on whom poachers and illegal wildlife trade international network market operates. While these people, gangs and groups try to use their intelligence to the best extent possible in a negative way and are successful at what they are doing.

It is also to be noted this is happening because a huge demand is existing for wildlife products which these people involved in the  illegal trade are catering to. So it is a commercial and economic demand and supply situation on wildlife.

Some of the needs are for the purpose of photo op like trophy hunting, where the animal which is bred in captivity and totally made docile is killed and these people hold a gun and give a pose with the unfortunate animal which is unnecessarily killed to satisfy human ego for the amount paid as an adventure trip and is promoted vigorously by these so called adventure tour safari companies. Till the time they are killed they are made to do other unnatural acts like hugging humans, posing with humans, playing with domestic animals etc.

So what does one practically do to help wildlife which are living a state of life and death situation. Given are a few suggestions which if implemented will help save the lives of the animals. The main problem for the wildlife is mainly one species humans. Those involved in this trade can be tracked in the following way.

1) Good technology camera’s which are effective but priced low can be fitted at vantage points  which can be connected to the main center which can be situated in such a place in the park where the time taken to reach the spot where there is a problem detected from such cameras is the bare minimum.

2) Poachers and other small time criminals who have been used by these traders involved in illegal wildlife trade, who have been caught and are in prison having considerable experience of the forest area can be given a chance and given training after security checks and training. Such programs are already working successfully in many parts of the world.

3) Announce rewards for information of  different amounts on different categories or kinds of criminals involved in these trade and these bounties must be made very very attractive.

4) Checks and counter checks can be done by volunteers or any third party having experience in the particular field, on the quality of output generated by all the people involved  and working as staff in the forest so that the productive among them are well rewarded with different kinds of incentives.

5) Anyone attempting to go into the forest illegally if caught should be awarded life sentences and must be made to do double shift as life guards or assistants to the people on the field and must be kept in check and tracked regularly.

6) Courts must provide instance justice in the case of wildlife by fast tracking without wasting time on the legal process which usually drags on for years.

7) High resolution infrared cameras and signalling systems and thermal imaging cameras which can track humans in the process of indulging in mischief  have to  put in place at the command center and on patrolling vehicles to track and alert the security of their presence. There are many technologies which are satellite based and available at low costs all over the world which can be modified for the purpose.

8) The black sheep in the concerned departments indulging in nefarious deals in eliminating wildlife should be dealt with by using good human intelligence combined with technology and honey traps and should be dismissed from service and should be jailed for life without wasting time in courts as per administrative rules.

9) The staff can also be regularly transferred by not allowing them to get used to a particular place. There has to be a all India plan for this by the government.

10) Regular census and mapping of wildlife with the use of technology which can be used in unlimited number of ways at a low price has to be carried out. People who are able bodied and interested in protecting wildlife can be given a chance to fulfill their dreams and aspirations. Decisions or procedures which take lots of time should be done away with. This should be a annual calendar all over the country.

11) Drones which are another low cost variety and can be mounted with different technologies can also be used as a combination with other technologies suggested.

12) Governments of both the Central and State Government especially the concerned department of forests, water,climate and environment ministries and others concerned should be working in tandem whichever political party is ruling should be the last issue and protecting wildlife the best.

There are many suggestions which can still be made by professionals and people involved in this field who have spent years of time and possess the relevant experience and qualifications and the above can be refined and a perfect workable, achievable, low cost success plan can be worked out. Hope all the best brains do some brainstorming and carry forward this and added solutions to the right decision making authorities.

Remember time is a premium and so is wildlife. What is lacking is a will from all sides to plug loopholes and improve existing mechanisms which have to be reviewed regularly from time to time. Hope the killing and death of wildlife life stops and the right people who matter take this issue seriously do all countrymen before its too late to retrieve things back. Where there is a will there is a way.