Pangolin scales seized in Odisha

Odisha forest officials arrested two persons with 3.5 kg pangolin scales and a leopard skin at Mayurbhanj district on 30 October 2017.

Sessions court ordered retrial of wildlife case

In July 2014 Special Environment Court in Kurukshetra had convicted three persons for five years imprisonment for killing a black buck at Fatehbad district in January 2012. On the basis of appeal filed by the convicts, Sessions court was set aside the lower court judgment and had ordered the retrial of the case citing reason as no proper procedure were followed during the trial.

Tiger skin seizure case accused acquitted by Juvenile Justice Board

Juvenile Justice Board of Nagpur had acquitted a person (case was registered under Wildlife Protection Act and IPC) who was arrested along with others in Nagpur Railway station, Maharashtra with 2 tiger skins and bones by CBI on November 2009. 

Section 144 imposed in North Cachar Hills district to prevent bird poaching

Dy. Commissioner of Dima Hasao district in Assam imposed Section 144 of CrPC to prevent bird poaching reported from Jatinga village. DC had banned movement of people with sticks, nets and other items used for trapping and killing birds. The DC has also banned use of flash lights, halogens and search lights in the village.
https://www.nelive.in/assam/news/probe-ordered-incident-bird-poaching-jatinga
http://www.sentinelassam.com/story/news/2/dima-hasao-dc-orders-probe-into-killing-of-birds-at-jatinga/2017-10-26/1/323959#.WfLYCWhL-M8

Wildlife trader got bail from Uttarakhand High Court

An illegal wildlife trader from Delhi who was convicted in a case of tiger skin and bones seizure registered at Ramnagar division in January 2009 managed to procure bail from Uttarakhand High Court during the pendency of criminal revision. Prior to this his conviction was upheld by Sessions court in August 2017.

In High Court counsel for the convict contended that the "Courts below erred in awarding the punishment as the role assigned to the revisionist was as simple as he was the purchaser of the alleged skin, which was never sent for FSL. It is contended that the revisionist could not be punished as same is barred by Section 30 and 26 of the Evidence Act. It is further contented the revisionist was on bail during trial as well as during pendency of appeal and he has never misused the bail granted to him."

Bear gall bladders and other articles seized in Assam

Large quantities of suspected bear gall bladders and body parts of other wild animals were seized in a joint operation of different enforcement agencies in Lakhimpur district of Assam.
https://arunachaltimes.in/index.php/2017/10/23/wcb-sleuths-nab-two-smugglers-with-black-bear-and-tiger-organs/

Poachers shot dead a forest guard in Andhra Pradesh

Poachers shot dead a temporary forest guard of Andhra Pradesh forest department during patrolling at East Godavari district on 22 October 2017.
http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/andhra-pradesh/forest-dept-aide-killed-in-hunters-firing/article19902577.ece

Elephant killed in Assam

The carcass of an adult male wild elephant, with its tusks, trunk and tail chopped off and chunks of meat hacked off from the body, was found at Dolopa village in Assam's Sivasagar district on 21 October 2017.
https://www.telegraphindia.com/states/north-east/jumbo-carcass-riddle-180089

Three Indian nationals arrested in Nepal with Chimpanzees

Citizens of India, Nepal and Pakistan were arrested last week in Kathmandu by CIB of Nepal Police with 2 Chimpanzees and other animals, chimps were suspected to be brought from Nigeria.
https://thehimalayantimes.com/kathmandu/six-held-live-chimpanzees-protected-animals-birds/

Suspected poachers shot a forest guard in Pilibhit Tiger Reserve

One forest guard was seriously injured when criminals shot him during patrolling in Pilibhit Tiger Reserve, Uttar Pradesh on 17 October 2017.
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bareilly/-wildlife-criminals-shoot-forest-guard-6-booked/articleshow/61134728.cms

4 wild elephants electrocuted

In three separate incidents 4 wild elephants were electrocuted, 2 in Dibrugarh district Assam, 1 each in Coimbatore district, Tamil Nadu and Jalpaiguri district, West Bengal.

Spiny-tailed Lizards seized in Karnataka

Karnataka police had seized 3 Sanda and a case was registered against two persons at Byatarayanapura police station in Bengaluru city on 16 October 2017.

Five people convicted in wildlife case

In January 2017, Madhya Pradesh forest officials registered a case in Narsinghgarh in Rajgarh district against 5 persons in connection with seizure of snakes, body parts of jackal & hyena and leg-hold traps. In 10th October, a court in Narsinghgarh had found guilty in all accused and sentenced them to four years rigorous imprisonment and ₹10,000 fine each. One the convict belong to Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh is a repeat offender in wildlife crime and was a big player in illegal wildlife trade.

Elephant tusks seized in Kottayam district, Kerala

Kerala forest officials arrested a person in Erumeli, Kottayam district with two elephant tusks, a country-made gun and a sword on 11 October 2017.

Five years imprisonment for person caught with rhino horn

In May 2015 forest officials of Jaldapara Wildlife Division, West Bengal had seized a rhino horn and arrested 5 persons. After the trial, a local court in Alipurduar had convicted a person on last month and sentenced him to five years simple imprisonment and ₹20,000 fine. The other four accused were acquitted as the prosecution has not been able to prove the case against them.

Elephant hair bracelets piquing visitors’ interest

What piqued the interest of visitors at Saras Mela, Ludhiana were rings and bracelets made of ‘elephant hair’ — that, too, from the tail of African elephants.
http://www.tribuneindia.com/news/ludhiana/elephant-hair-bracelets-piquing-visitors-interest/479504.html

10 days imprisonment for people caught with sea cucumber

Last month a local court in Rameswaram, Tamil Nadu had sentenced three people for 10 days of imprisonment and ₹ 250 fine each whom were caught with 100 kg of sea cucumbers in October 2010.

All Holothurians are listed in Schedule-I of Wildlife Protection Act. Section 51 (1) of Act says "Provided that where the offence committed is in relation to any animal specified in Schedule I or Part II of Schedule II or meat of any such animal or animal article, trophy or uncured trophy derived from such animal or where the offence relates to hunting in a sanctuary or a National Park or altering the boundaries of a sanctuary or a National Park, such offence shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than three years but may extend to seven years and also with fine which shall not be less than ten thousand rupees".

Same court also dismissed another wildlife complaint filed by forest department, citing reason as "No representation for the complainant. The complainant called absent. On 11.8.17 is also the complainant absent. In spite of repeated adjournment the complainant is not come forward to receive N.B.W after making necessary fee. Hence the complaint is dismissed u/s204(4) of Cr.p.c".

Two persons convicted for violating Captive Elephant (Management & Maintenance) Rule

In February 2013 a captive elephant had killed a girl during the annual temple festival at Cherthala Taluk of Kerala. After investigating the incident  forest department had registered case against five persons for violating u/s 8(1)(2),10,12(a) of Captive Elephant (Management and Maintenance) Rule r/w 51 of Wild Life (Protection) Act. During the trial two accused were pleaded guilty and court sentenced them to pay a fine of ₹ 3500/- each and in default of payment of fine to undergo simple imprisonment for 30 days.

Conviction against wildlife criminals upheld in Haryana

In June 2010 forest officials of Haryana were arrested 3 people with 13 yellow monitor lizards in Kaithal district. Trial court had convicted the accused and sentenced them to rigorous imprisonment for a period of three years and fine of ₹10,000 each. The appeal filed by convicts were now rejected by Additional Sessions Judge, Kurukshetra and held that the prosecution has been duly proved the fact that appellants-accused were found in possession of 13 yellow monitor lizards and thereby committed offence under Section 39(a) of Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972, punishable under Section 51 of the Act.