Murder of constable and leopard skin seizure - main accused acquitted

In April 2016 during a raid in Uttarkashi district of Uttarakhand, a constable of Special Task Force of police was shot dead by illegal wildlife traders and police managed to seize a leopard skin and deer antlers. A case has registered against four persons, during the trial 3 accused were used the option of plea bargaining and court sentenced them to 1 year and 8 months imprisonment. Trial against main accused was concluded and Sessions Court had acquitted him.

Tiger poachers convicted

In January 2016 a tigress was electrocuted by poachers in Chhindwara district of Madhya Pradesh, 8 people were arrested in this connection. A local court has now convicted all the accused, 6 of them sentenced to 3 years rigorous imprisonment and ₹10,000 fine each and other two were sentenced to 1 year rigorous imprisonment and ₹5,000 fine each.

Seizure of Molluscs, accused convicted in Haridwar

In August 2009 district police of Haridwar raided a shop and seized 123 Molluscs including 14 pieces of  Cassis cornuta which are listed under Schedule I of Wildlife Protection Act. A case has registered against shopkeeper, now a court in Haridwar district had convicted the accused and sentenced him to 3 years rigorous imprisonment and ₹10,000 fine.

One year imprisonment for illegal entry into tiger reserve

A court in Nainital district convicted a person from Fatehgarh district of Punjab for unauthorized entry into core area of Corbett tiger reserve with one bottle of poison in November 2017 and sentenced him to 1 year rigorous imprisonment.

Person caught with ivory piece convicted

In December 2012, Uttarakhand police seized an elephant ivory piece in Nainital district and arrested a person. After the trial a court in Nainital district had convicted the accused and sentenced him to 3 years rigorous imprisonment and ₹10,000 fine.

Killers of Rajaji tiger convicted

In February 2013, two forest dwellers were poisoned a tiger in Rajaji tiger reserve, Uttarakhand. After the trial CJM court in Pauri had convicted both the accused and sentenced them to 3 years rigorous imprisonment and Rs. 10,000 fine each.

Three people convicted and sentenced to 5 years in leopard skins smuggling

In June 2001, Uttarakhand forest department had seized 6 leopard skins at Haridwar district and a case was registered against 5 persons. During the search of home at one of the accused, leg of barking deer, sambar antlers, porcupine quills and horns of Himalayan Tahr were also recovered. After the trial a court in Haridwar was convicted three persons and sentenced them to 5 years rigorous imprisonment and ₹15,000 fine each. The other two were acquitted.

Sariska poaching: 5 years imprisonment for leopard killing

A poacher arrested in 2005 confessed that he had killed a leopard in Sariska Tiger Reserve, Rajasthan on around two and a half years back. Evidences were collected and a case was registered against three persons. One accused had died during the trial, rest of the two (including a person from Panipat district, Haryana) were now convicted by a court in Alwar and sentenced them to 5 years rigorous imprisonment and a fine of ₹70,000 & ₹25,000 fine each.

Nepali citizen convicted in leopard skin seized case

In January this year SoG of Uttarakhand police arrested a Nepali national with a leopard skin in Pithoragarh distict, after the fast trial CJM court had convicted the accused and sentenced him to four years rigorous imprisonment and ₹10,000 fine.

Leopard skins seizure: Appeal filed by convict rejected

An appeal filed by the convict against the sentencing of three years imprisonment and ₹10,000 fine was rejected by Sessions Court in Panchkula, Haryana. The case was pertains to the seizure of 4 leopard skins by CBI in June 2016.

Bison poaching in tiger reserve, 1 convicted

In July last year Melghat tiger reserve (Maharashtra) officials were arrested a person (11 are still absconding) in connection with killing of a Gaur (Indian bison). After the trial a court in Amravati district had convicted the accused and sentenced him to 3 years rigorous imprisonment and ₹50,000 fine.

Court noted that "It needs to be noted that the present case is of hunting of a wild animal. It is a crime against the nature and natural wealth which has to be preserved at any cost. The offence is serious and the accused is not of young age who does not understand the consequences of his act. Even though he is illiterate, the gravity of killing a wild animal like Bison can be understood and he not only killed the said animal but ate it after cooking. Hence the accused cannot be shown any leniency.
However, considering age of the accused which is about fifty years and the fact that he could not say much in this regard, it would be just to give him minimum punishment provided under Wildlife (Protection) Act."

Tiger bone seizure: Five years imprisonment to 3 persons

In June 2015 Wildlife Crime Control Bureau and STF of Uttar Pradesh police were seized approximate 11 kg of tiger bones including 2 skulls from Bijnore district when they were investigating a previous wildlife crime case registered in Delhi on September 2013.  After the trial a court in Delhi had convicted 3 accused and acquitted 1 person. Convicted persons were sentenced to undergo rigorous imprisonment for five years and a fine of Rs. 20,000/- each.

Court noted that expert witness who has stated that on the basis of lab analysis, the case property was concluded as that both the skulls are of Tiger (Panthera tigris). Witnesses have totally supported the case of the prosecution regarding the recovery of tiger bones and also they all are corroborating each other on all material aspects and there are no major inconsistency or contradictions in their statement. Their statements on record are found to be cogent, inspires the confidence of the Court and there is no reason to disbelieve the same.

During sentencing court pointed that “Despite best efforts put in by the Government of almost all the countries across the globe, wild life offences are not coming down. Such case needs to be dealt with strictly to curb the wild life offences. Moreover, tiger is our National Animal and killing of our national pride should be dealt with iron hands. Convicts have committed offence of the greatest magnitude against the wildlife.”

No sighting of tigers at Palamau tiger reserve since February

Palamau Tiger Reserve in Jharkhand has not seen any tiger or found any evidence of it after February this year, the last formal big cat count at this habitat - six - made in September 2017 by Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, now seeming too good to be true. Baresarn range of the PTR last saw a tiger on camera this February, said its ranger Bhola Prasad. No tiger was trapped on camera, not any pugmark or any scat found after that, PTR officials admit. Also, the habitat's Tiger Protection Force (TPF) has no clue where the big cats could have gone.
https://www.telegraphindia.com/states/jharkhand/tigers-vanish-from-palamau-reserve-241990

Critically Endangered - Great Indian Bustard electrocuted

A Great Indian Bustard (GIB), died after hitting a high-tension wire at Ramdeora closure in Jaisalmer district of Rajasthan on 27 June 2018. This is the fourth GIB, locally known as ‘godawan’, that has died in this manner in last one year.
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/jaipur/another-gib-dies-after-hitting-high-tension-wire/articleshow/64770342.cms

Rhino poacher sentenced to 7 years imprisonment

The Court of Additional Sessions Judge, Golaghat, Madhurjya Narayan, sentenced Manik Das of Sonitpur district to undergo rigorous imprisonment for a period of seven years and also to pay a fine of Rs 10,000 and in default of payment of fine, he will have to undergo simple imprisonment of another three months under Section 51 of Wildlife Protection Act read with (Assam Amendment) Act 2009 for killing a rhino. On January 10, 2015 one bullet-ridden carcass of rhino was recovered on the northern side of Khainala of Chibe Chapori under Sixth Addition of Kaziranga National Park.
https://nenow.in/north-east-news/assam-7-years-rigorous-imprisonment-rhino-poacher.html