Tokay Gecko and sloth bear will include in Schedule-I of WPA

The last meeting of Standing Committee of National Board for Wildlife agreed to support the listing of the three species, viz., Tokay Gecko, Hog Deer and Sloth Bear, to Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act as recommended by the Animal Committee.

Elephant killed in train accident in Jharkhand

A Delhi-bound Duronto Express mowed down an adult female elephant between Gomoh and Matari stations, 35km from Dhanbad district headquarters on 31 July 2013 night.
http://www.telegraphindia.com/1130802/jsp/frontpage/story_17185547.jsp#.Ufs-fNI3CIA

Neck feathers of grey junglefowl seized

50 neck feathers of grey junglefowl were seized in Kolkata on 1 August 2013.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata/Repeat-offender-held-for-trade-in-protected-species/articleshow/21540678.cms

Pangolin scales seized in Manipur

Assam Rifles arrested two persons with 2.05 kg of pangolin scales in Manipur on 30 July 2013.
http://www.ifp.co.in/nws-15971-ar-recovers-banned-wild-life-product/

Pangolin scales seized in Siliguri, West Bengal

West Bengal forest officials seized nearly 70 kg of pangolin scales brought from Kalka, Haryana in Siliguri, Darjeeling district on 31 July 2013. 7 people were arrested including a member of organised poaching group based in Haryana.
http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-newdelhi/pangolin-scales-seized/article4975979.ece

Arrest of Wildlife Criminals

Recently in a Writ Petition filed by accused for quashing an FIR and staying the arrest of the petitioners for a case registered under Wildlife Protection Act, Allahabad High Court pointed out that:

By the amendment vide Act No. 5 of 2009, which has been notified on 01.11.2010, it has been provided in Section 41(1) (b) Cr.P.C. that a person against whom credible information of being involved in a cognizable offence punishable with imprisonment of 7 years or less is reported to the police officer, the accused can only be arrested if the police officer is satisfied that:

(a) there is probability of the accused committing another offence,

(b) for proper investigation of the offence,

(c) to prevent such person from causing the evidence of the offence to disappear or his tampering with the evidence in any manner,

(d) to prevent such person from making any inducement, threat or promise to the witnesses to disclose such facts to the court or to the police,

(e) unless the person is arrested, his presence in court could not be ensured and the police officer has to record the reasons in writing before making such arrest.

Also under the newly introduced provision, section 41 A Cr.P.C. (which has also been added by Act No. 5 of 2009, effective from 1.11.2010), in all cases where the arrest of such an accused is not needed in view of the provisions of section 41 (1) Cr.P.C., the police officer concerned is required to issue a notice directing the accused to appear before him at a specified place and time.

In case the police officer arrests the accused the Magistrate before whom the accused is produced for an order of remand, shall examine the reasons mentioned in the case diary for arresting the accused for satisfying himself that the arrest has been made in accordance with the exceptional circumstances indicated in sections 41(1) (b) and 41 A Cr.P.C described. In case the Magistrate is of the opinion that the arrest has not been made in a bona fide manner, or the grounds for arrest mentioned do not conform with the criteria set out in sections 41(1)(b) or 41 A, or there is no material to substantiate the reasons for arrest, the Magistrate may refuse to remand the accused to custody and may release the accused on personal bond with or without sureties after taking an undertaking from the accused to appear before the investigating officer or the Court when required.

Poachers electrocuted an elephant in Odisha

It is suspected that a team of poachers spread electric wires near the sugarcane field near Rajanagar village in the Athagarh forest range area in Cuttack and killed a tusker on 29 July 2013 night.
http://www.dailypioneer.com/nation/tusker-dies-of-electrocution-in-odisha.html

Peacocks killed in Sariska

Poachers killed two peacocks in Sariska tiger reserve, Rajasthan on 29 July 2013.
http://www.rajasthanpatrika.com/news/Alwar/7302013/city-news/487655

Maharashtra to announce CBI probe in tiger poaching cases

Maharashtra government is all set to announce a CBI inquiry into tiger poaching cases unearthed in Vidarbha region between October 2012 and May 2013. Gang of organized tiger poachers arrested in June first week by the forest and police officials in Mansar near Nagpur have confessed that their separate teams killed at least 11 tigers in the eight months.
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/environment/flora-fauna/maharashtra-to-announce-cbi-probe-in-tiger-poaching-cases/articleshow/21469699.cms

Three leopard skins seized

In two separate incidents three leopard skins were seized on 29 July 2013, Kerala forest officials seized a leopard skin in Kollam district and Uttarakhand forest officials seized two leopard skins in Uttar Kashi district. 

Accused in shahtoosh shawls seizure case acquitted

In February 2003 Delhi Wildlife Department raided an emporium in Delhi and arrested a person with 6 shahtoosh shawls (made from wool derived from Tibetan Antelope). After ten years, a trial court had acquitted the accused. Court observed that the number of contradictions in the testimony of prosecution witnesses regarding incidental aspects and the manner in which the case property was seized and produced before the court, the non-joining of the public/independent witness makes the prosecution story doubtful and it does not inspire any confidence.

Three sloth bears poisoned in Odisha

The carcass of a female sloth bear and two three-year-old cubs suspected to be poisoned were found in a forest near Toranipokhari village, Keonjhar district of Odisha on 26 July 2013.
http://www.newstrackindia.com/newsdetails/2013/07/27/124--Three-wild-bears-die-of-poisoning-probe-ordered-.html

Rhino killed in Pobitora, Assam

An adult male rhino was killed and its horn taken away by poachers in the Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary in central Assam's Morigaon district on 25 July 2013.
http://www.hindustantimes.com/India-news/Assam/Assam-rhino-killed-in-Pobitora-Wildlife-Sanctuary/Article1-1098812.aspx

Killing of deer near Bor, Maharashtra

Maharashtra forest officials arrested two persons, including a woman belonging to hunting tribe, while cooking meat of deer killed in protected forest area of Kondhali,5 km from Bor Wildlife Sanctuary. Apart from 5 kg cooked meat, the staff also seized a deer leg, a big knife, pellets of country-made (Bharmar) gun and 200 gram explosives powder.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/nagpur/Two-held-for-poaching-deer-near-Bor/articleshow/21438104.cms

Forest officials shot dead two bears in Kashmir

Jammu & Kashmir forest officials shot dead two bears which attacked villagers in Bandipora district on 25 July 2013.
http://freepresskashmir.com/two-killer-bears-shot-dead-in-kashmir-051525/