Catch The Trap' drive to prevent wildlife poaching

Hyderabad: The Telangana forest department on Friday launched an intensive ‘Catch The Trap’ drive in a bid to rid forest areas of snares and traps laid by poachers to catch wild animals and birds. The wildlife wing of the department, which said, “Killing and hunting of wild animals using snares, traps, nets, live wire, poison and explosives is a big challenge,” also announced rewards for informants with a promise of keeping their identities a secret. The ‘Catch The Trap’ drive was implemented from December 1 to prevent poaching of wild animals in the forests.

Though wildlife poaching cases are recorded off and on, almost none of them end in prosecution with officials saying just about one per cent of the cases booked actually reach the state.

“This is for the first time that we have launched such a drive and the goal is to rid the forests of the tools used by poachers to trap wild animals and birds. We will also review every pending wildlife case and ensure all of them are followed up on a priority basis. We will also make sure these cases go to the court and the accused are punished,” Mohan Chandra Pargaein, Chief Wildlife Warden told Deccan Chronicle.

Typically, most snares and traps are made from nylon or steel wires, with one of the most popular material being clutch wires used in automobiles which are preferred for their strength. In Telangana, most wildlife poaching occurs in the guise of protecting crop lands from wild animals raiding fields in search of food and in most of such cases, it is herbivores such as deer that fall victim to the traps.

In addition to checking for the traps on animal trails and locations favoured by wildlife inside the forest, forest department staff in all districts has been instructed to also focus on agricultural lands on forest borders and water bodies in and around forests, where poachers usually set up their traps.

The officials said if anyone has any information on such illegal devices or material being used for hunting wildlife or people indulging in such acts can inform to local DFO of that district, or to 9803338666 or 18004255364 with a guarantee that the informant’s information will be kept secret.

Statewide wildlife offences cases

Year – Cases

2016-17 : 77

2017-18 : 72

2018-19 : 58

2019-20 : 101

2020-21 : 72

2021-22 : 7

2022-23 : 12

Animals targeted: Tiger, Leopard, Spotted Deer (Chital), Sloth Bear, Wild Boar, Peafowl among others.