96% Poaching reported in Meghalaya: Forest minister

UT News Service | SHILLONG, Aug 22: Meghalaya Forest and Environment minister, Lahkmen Rumbui said on Saturday that there is a decline in the number of poaching cases and unlike before, 96% of such cases are being reported now in the state.

“With the cooperation of civil societies and villages, poaching has reduced in the state,” the Forest minister said.

Giving an insight on the prevailing situation, Rymbui said that situation is not like before. He informed that apart from the police, even the Customs Department have been authorised to take action against poaching.

Drawing attention towards the various instances of animals surfacing out of the forest during the lockdown, Rymbui informed that the Forest officials are working in cooperation with the civil societies and villages which has in turn reduced poaching and observed that people are slowly becoming aware of the importance to save guard wildlife.

One of the hot biodiversity hotspots, Meghalaya is home to two national parks—the Balpakram National Park which spread across 220 sq km and the Nokrek National Park spreading across 47.48 sq km.

Earlier this month, two persons were arrested in West Garo Hills for killing an endangered Sambhar deer and in the month of May, ten people were arrested in a village near Pynursla for allegedly killing an endangered Asiatic bear.

NNN