India continues to grapple with a serious wildlife crime problem, recording over 2,700 cases between 2020 and 2024. The highest numbers have emerged from West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, and Haryana, signaling hotspots of concern for law enforcement and conservation agencies. Despite a declining yearly trend, the scale of trafficking and poaching remains a threat to India’s rich biodiversity.
Union Minister of State for Environment Kirti Vardhan Singh noted that the responsibility to prevent wildlife crimes rests with individual states and Union Territories under the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972. He emphasized that coordinated action remains key in addressing organized wildlife trafficking across India’s porous borders and remote forest regions.
At the center of this multi-agency effort is the Wild Life Crime Control Bureau (WCCB), which plays a crucial role in collecting intelligence, coordinating raids, and issuing real-time alerts. The bureau works in tandem with state forest departments, police, customs, and international organizations such as INTERPOL to combat trafficking networks.
To build stronger enforcement capacity, the WCCB has conducted extensive training sessions for officers and border forces. These efforts aim to not only improve vigilance but also sensitize personnel to the ecological and legal aspects of wildlife protection.
India fight against wildlife crime is not just about enforcement it’s about preserving fragile ecosystems, protecting endangered species, and honoring the country deep-rooted connection to nature. Through intelligence sharing, awareness drives, and cross-border cooperation, authorities remain focused on dismantling illegal wildlife trade and securing the nation’s ecological future.